Pennsylvania Slip and Fall Attorneys

FIGHTING FOR PA SLIP AND FALL VICTIMS

You’ve likely slipped and fallen at some point, luckily most of us can go about our day after such an incident, but sometimes these falls cause serious injuries. More often than not, there are also responsible parties that should’ve taken more precautions to ensure their properties are safe for people using their establishment or passing through.

If you’ve suffered from a slip and fall, then you want to be sure to consult an experienced legal team to review all of your options. This is true even if your injuries don’t seem that serious. It can take weeks or even months for the full effects of some injuries to become clear, and injuries suffered as a result of a slip and fall can lead to poor health outcomes and even death. That’s why Richard Hollawell and his team are committed to fighting to get you what you and your family deserve.

Contact us today at 1-800-681-3550 or using the form below for a free consultation.

INJURIES AFTER A SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENT IN PA

A number of injuries can occur as a result of a slip and fall, but the most common are:

• Sprained wrists
• Damage to the knee
• Brain injury
• Broken bones
• Shoulder dislocation

These are injuries that can ruin your quality of life and even keep you out of work. That means more financial stress for you on top of the medical expenses you already have to pay.

Even one seemingly minor fall can lead to death. This is true if someone suffers head or neck injury during the fall, but it can also be true in ways that aren’t so apparent. If someone was already elderly or sick, an injury caused by a fall can make their recovery much harder, sometimes they may not be able to overcome the extra hardship. Someone needs to be held responsible when these tragedies occur.

SLIP AND FALLS DUE TO NEGLIGENT PROPERTY OWNERS

You don’t have to accept that you or your loved one’s fall was just bad luck, slip and falls are often the result of negligent maintenance on the part of the property owner. Under liability laws pertaining to premises, the owner of a home or business has a duty to take reasonable care that their visitors aren’t harmed. That means property owners must meet a reasonable standard of care and maintenance to prevent visitors from being injured.

That means that if they leave a spill uncleaned or have a loose railing they should know about the risks they pose and take measures to fix them. Some common types of property negligence include:

• Improper lighting
• Uncleared snow or ice
• Inadequate security leading to assault
• Fire hazards
• Exposed electrical units
• Unsafe conditions like broken stairs, unsecured scaffolding, and defective railings or ramps

GET JUSTICE FOR YOUR PA SLIP AND FALL CASE

If you’ve suffered a slip and fall while visiting a commercial, public, or private property PA premises law may offer you grounds for compensation. When these events occur it’s important to consult an experienced PA personal injury lawyer to make sure your legal interests are being cared for.

It’s important to act quickly in personal injury cases because they are subject to a statute of limitations, meaning you won’t be able to get what you deserve if the case isn’t pursued in a short enough time. You also need to move fast because the negligent property owner may be working against you, taking that time to cover up the negligence responsible for your claim.

If you’ve suffered a slip and fall, contact Richard Hollawell today for a free consultation of your case. Our team has handled hundreds of personal injury cases and serves all of our clients with understanding and compassion.

We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us at 1-800-681-3550 or use the contact form for your free consultation today.

 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SLIPPED IN ICE IN PA

Slip and falls from snow, ice, and other weather-related hazards can be just as dangerous as other kinds of accidents, and maybe even more so. A slip onto hard ice can commonly cause injuries like broken wrists and arms. Personal injury lawsuits can be brought against property owners for snow and ice-related injuries as well. However, in the state of Pennsylvania, there are fairly complex rules that govern when a property owner is liable for weather-related hazards on their property.

Courts in Pennsylvania apply the “Hills and Ridges” doctrine to snow-related injury cases, and this can often serve as a strong defense for property owners. This doctrine applies to any paved areas that pedestrians travel on, and its purpose is to protect property owners from being held responsible for icy conditions that have only recently occurred. For instance, it protects a property owner from being liable for slippery conditions on their property while snow is still falling or in the time immediately following the storm. The thinking is that if courts did hold people responsible during these instances, it would mean that they always have to keep their walkways clear of snow, which would be unreasonable.

However, if you’re pursuing a personal injury case related to an accident that resulted from ice or snow, it’s important to know that the “Hills and Ridges” doctrine does not always apply. It may only be applied when the ice that caused the accident is there entirely naturally, meaning that if the property owner had taken measures like salting the walkway, but someone still slips on the walkway because of any remaining ice, the doctrine could not be used as a valid defense because the ice that remained there was not natural, they were changed by the actions of the property owner. Another exception to the rule would be snow that melted but then refroze because of a lack of proper drainage on the property.

It’s often the case that a property owner will simply allow the snow to melt without any regard for how that melted snow is draining, if they don’t take the proper steps to ensure that the snow drains adequately, then that snowmelt will often become another icy patch when the temperature dips. In this case, the “Hills and Ridges” doctrine will not hold up because, ultimately, the hazard was due to the property owner’s negligence.

The biggest takeaway from cases involving ice and snow that may be applied to all slip and fall-related cases, in general, is that your case will be greatly improved the more evidence you have to document the scene of the accident. Photographs of the hazardous conditions on the property can be the difference between winning thousands of dollars and getting nothing. When it comes to the Pennsylvania law, you’ll want to take photos any of the following:

• Ripples in the ice and snow that show that it previously melted
• Frozen footprints or tire marks in the snow shows that the snow has been there for a while
• Evidence of attempted salting or plowing of the walkway means the snow formation is no longer natural

Having documented evidence from the scene of the accident will go a long way towards proving your case. Our team of legal experts can use this and other forms of evidence to help win you the money you deserve.