If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, the experienced Bridgewater slip and fall attorneys at the law offices of Gerald J. Noonan can help. We have successfully represented many clients who have been injured in slip and fall accidents, and we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case consultation.
Types of injuries resulting from slip and falls
Slip and fall accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries, from minor injuries like some bruising or cuts and scrapes, all the way up to severe injuries like broken bones, head injuries, back injuries, and spinal cord injuries.
In some cases, slip and fall accidents can even be fatal. If you or a loved one have been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
What can cause slip and falls?
Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere, but they are most common in places where there is a lot of foot traffic, like stores, restaurants, office buildings, and hotels. There are many things that can cause slip and falls, including:
- Wet floors: This is the most common cause of slip and fall accidents. Whether from a recent cleaning, a spill, or a leak, when floors are wet, they can become very slippery, and it can be difficult to keep your footing.
- Poorly maintained floors or sidewalks: When a floor or sidewalk is poorly maintained, it can be a slipping or tripping hazard. For instance, in Bridgewater we get ice in the winter. If left untreated on the sidewalk, it could easily lead to a slip and fall. Indoors, flooring that is worn down or not cleaned often enough can make the floor slippery or cause a trip.
- Loose carpeting, rugs, or floor mats: If these are not properly secured to the floor, they can cause trip and fall accidents.
- Objects in walkways: If there are boxes, cords, or other objects in walkways, they can cause people to trip and fall.
- Uneven or cracked sidewalks, pavement, or other walking surfaces: When you walk on a sidewalk or floor, you expect the ground to be flat. When it suddenly isn’t, it can cause a fall.
- Potholes: Potholes are the result of water seeping into cracks in the sidewalk or pavement and then freezing and expanding. Having a sudden unexpected hole in a walkway can of course cause someone to fall and should be filled in or otherwise dealt with by the responsible party as soon as possible.
Who is responsible for my injuries?
The owner or operator of the property where the slip and fall occurred may be held responsible for your injuries if they owed you a duty of care and if they were aware of the hazard and did not take steps to fix it, or if they should have known about the hazard and had time to fix it before your accident.
In some cases, the person or company who cleaned the floor or sidewalk or did maintenance work may be held responsible if they did not do so properly or did not actually do the contracted work. For instance, if a business hires a company to plow their parking lot and salt their sidewalks, but the hired company fails to do an adequate job and someone slips and falls, injuring themselves, then the contracted company could be held responsible for the injuries rather than the owner of the property.
Where do Bridgewater slip and fall injuries typically occur?
Slip and fall injuries in Bridgewater are most likely to occur at:
- Restaurants
- Convenience stores
- Supermarkets and grocery stores
- Big box stores like Target and Wal-Mart
- Shopping centers
- Home improvement or hardware stores
- Condos and apartments buildings
How can a Bridgewater slip and fall lawyer help?
At the law offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we can help those injured in slip and fall accidents by:
- Investigating your accident: We will gather evidence and speak to witnesses to determine how your accident happened and who may be held responsible.
- Working with engineering and medical experts: We will work with experts in a variety of fields to build a strong case on your behalf.
- Calculating the damages caused by the accident: These include not only the expenses you have already incurred, such as medical expenses, but future expenses as well such as lost wages, any type of therapy, and compensation for pain and suffering.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: We will deal with the insurance companies so that you can focus on your recovery.
- Filing a lawsuit: If we are unable to reach a fair settlement with the insurance company, we are prepared to take your case to trial and will fight for you in front of a judge and jury.
Bridgewater slip and fall attorneys near me
If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall accident in Bridgewater, MA, contact the law offices of Gerald J. Noonan today. We will review your case for free and advise you of your legal options. If we take on your case, we will do so on a contingency basis, which means that you only pay us if we are successful in recovering compensation for you. To schedule your free consultation, contact us today!
Compensation after a slip and fall
After a slip and fall injury, you may be entitled to compensation for various damages, including:
- Medical expenses, both past and future: This includes any ambulance fees, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, assistive devices, and physical therapy.
- Lost wages or earning capacity: If you are unable to work because of your injuries, you may be able to recover lost wages, including what you would have earned in the future had you not suffered your injury.
- Pain and suffering: This is the physical and emotional anguish caused by the accident.
Our Bridgewater slip and fall accident attorneys can help you to understand the kinds of compensation you and your family may be entitled to for your injuries and damages. It’s important to note that you aren’t just due compensation for what has happened to you, but also for your future after the accident.
What to do after a slip and fall
After a slip and fall, there are a few things you can do that may help your case:
- Report the accident to the property owner or manager: This is important for two reasons. First, it puts them on notice of the hazard so that they can fix it and prevent someone else from getting hurt. Second, it creates a record of the accident in case you need to show it happened later.
- Get the contact information of any witnesses: If there were people who saw your accident, get their names and contact information so that they can testify on your behalf if necessary.
- Take pictures of the scene of the accident: It is also important to take pictures of the hazard that caused you to fall. For example, if you fell on a wet floor, take a picture of the water on the floor.
- Get medical attention: Even if you think your injuries are minor, it is important to get evaluated by a doctor because some injuries may not be apparent right away.
- Contact a Bridgewater slip and fall lawyer: An experienced lawyer can help you to investigate your accident, gather evidence, and deal with the insurance companies.
At the law offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we understand how a slip and fall accident can turn your life upside down. We will fight for you to get the compensation you need to move on with your life. Contact us today for a free case consultation.
How long do you have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Bridgewater, MA?
The Massachusetts statute of limitations for personal injury cases, such as slip and falls or trip and falls, is three years from the date of the accident. If you file your personal injury lawsuit more than three years from your accident, the court will dismiss your case, leaving you unable to collect compensation for your injuries.
At the law offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we recommend contacting a Bridgewater slip and fall attorney as soon as possible after your injury. This allows us to quickly begin collecting evidence on your behalf, including talking to witnesses. It’s typically much easier to collect evidence about a case when events are still recent. Think about it, you likely can remember events from last week much better than you can remember events from a year or more ago.
The law offices of Gerald J. Noonan: Best slip and fall attorney near me
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that involved a fall, after seeking medical attention for your injury, you should next contact a Bridgewater personal injury lawyer.
Your Bridgewater slip and fall lawyer can guide you through the legal process of seeking compensation for your injuries, up to and including filing a personal injury lawsuit and representing you in court if necessary.
To start working towards receiving compensation for your injuries, and to ensure the party whose negligent actions led to your injuries is held responsible, contact the Bridgewater slip and fall lawyers at the law offices of Gerald J. Noonan today for a free case consultation.
