If you were hurt when you slipped and fell on someone else’s property in Lawrence, MA, you might qualify for financial damages. A personal injury lawyer from Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers can provide a case evaluation to determine if you might be eligible for compensation.
Call us today at 1-800-LAW-GUYS for a free consultation. When we handle your case, you can focus on getting well, and we can take care of the rest. A slip and fall lawyer in Lawrence, MA at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers will work tirelessly to get you all the compensation that you deserve.
Contents
- 1 Our State’s Law Regarding Property Owner’s Responsibilities to People Lawfully on the Premises
- 2 What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents
- 3 When a Landowner Can Be Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident
- 4 Three Things to Do After a Slip and Fall in Lawrence, MA
- 5 Get Professional Medical Attention
- 6 Talk to a Slip and Fall Lawyer
Our State’s Law Regarding Property Owner’s Responsibilities to People Lawfully on the Premises
In Massachusetts, commercial property owners must take reasonable steps to make sure people who enter the premises legally are not hurt by dangerous conditions. Owners of private property must also perform needed repairs to keep their property in a safe condition.
What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents
Many things can cause a person to slip and fall. Here are some of the common causes of these accidents:
- Food and liquid spills
- Uneven floors and walkways
- Insufficient lighting
- Icy sidewalks
- Broken steps
- Unsecured wires and cables
- Raised threshold
If the cause of your slip and fall accident is not on this list, do not worry. Just call us at 1-800-LAW-GUYS to find out if your slip and fall injury might qualify for compensation.
When a Landowner Can Be Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident
Getting hurt on someone else’s property does not automatically qualify you for financial damages. The owner must have legal liability before the law will make him pay for your injuries. If you were hurt because of an unsafe condition on someone else’s property, we will have to prove all three of these factors to hold the landowner responsible for your losses:
- There was a dangerous condition on the premises.
- The owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
- The owner did not take reasonable steps to correct the situation or post adequate warnings to prevent injuries.
If all three elements are present, the landowner is negligent. If the negligence caused you to suffer an injury, the owner is liable for your damages.
Let’s say that a retail store in Lawrence has large icy patches on the sidewalk and entry area every winter but does not apply chemicals to melt the ice or hire a company to clear the ice and keep the approaches to the store safe for customers. A shopper slipped and fell on a slick spot, suffering paralyzing spinal cord damage from the fall.
We will evaluate the store owner’s liability by applying the three factors to the situation.
- There was a dangerous condition on the premises. The icy patches at the entrance to the store were a dangerous condition.
- The owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Since the slick spots happened every winter, even if the owner was not aware of the problem at that specific time, he should have been.
- The owner did not take reasonable steps to correct the situation or post adequate warnings to prevent injuries. The owner could have protected customers by spreading chemicals on the sidewalk and entry or hiring a company to provide that service, but the owner took no such action.
The store owner was negligent. His negligence resulted in the injury to the shopper. The owner will be responsible for the customer’s losses.
Three Things to Do After a Slip and Fall in Lawrence, MA
Every situation is unique, so the steps you should take right after a slip and fall accident may vary.. You should always do what makes sense in your specific case. Here is some tips about things to do after a Lawrence, MA slip and fall accident:
Get Professional Medical Attention
Even if your injury seems minor at first, you might have more severe harm than you realize. Some injuries do not show signs at first. A person can have internal bleeding or traumatic brain injury even broken bones without symptoms for the first day or so. You should get a medical evaluation to find out if you have hidden injuries.
If you do not get prompt medical care, the defendant can allege that you were hurt from some other event and not the slip and fall accident.. Your medical records will link your injuries to the accident, which will be essential in holding the defendant responsible for your losses.
Talk to a Slip and Fall Lawyer
The property owner’s liability insurance carrier will start working on defense as soon as the company is notified of your fall. The insurer makes a profit by paying people as little money as possible for injury claims. Very few people want to do battle with multi-billion-dollar insurance companies on their own. An experienced slip and fall lawyer can protect your right to fair compensation..
