Newton Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers Stand Up for Victims
Sussex County NJ law firm seeks compensation for victims of injuries related to slips or trips
A sudden slip and fall can do more than ruin your day. You might sustain a serious injury that requires extensive medical treatment, and keeps you out of work for a prolonged period of time. This means medical bills might skyrocket as your income is cut off, all because some party neglected to address a hidden hazard on their property. If this has happened to you in Sussex County, Morris County or elsewhere in North Jersey, Hollander, Strelzik, Pasculli, Vandenberg, Hontz & Associates LLC is here for you. Our Newton slip and fall injury lawyers draw on decades of experience to investigate accidents, assess liability and pursue fair compensation for victims.
Top causes of slip and fall injuries
A slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident is one in which a person encounters a hard-to-see hazard, which directly causes a fall that produces injury. Common causes of incidents that lead to premises liability claims include the following:
- Wet, slick surfaces
- Uneven surfaces
- Broken tiles
- Debris
- Faulty or missing handrails
- Dark passages and staircases
- Potholes
Slip and falls are also common construction accidents. When these falls occur from a high surface, a worker’s injuries could be catastrophic or fatal.
What to do after a New Jersey slip and fall accident
After an accident, the potential defendant usually removes the hazard that caused the fall. This is not necessarily to destroy evidence, but to prevent a similar accident. Therefore, immediately after your accident you should take steps to preserve evidence that might be useful in your claim, such as:
- Taking cellphone photos of the scene, including the hazard
- Getting identifying information of potential witnesses
- Seeking immediate treatment for your injuries
If you delay consulting with a doctor about your condition, the defendant might allege that a subsequent event caused your injuries. Don’t try to be heroic by saying that you feel fine, and getting up as if nothing happened. Adrenaline often masks fall injuries, so the pain might not set in for hours or even days. Nevertheless, social media posts of you looking healthy while engaging in physical activity could severely undermine your case. Finally, don't talk with representatives of an insurance company who will seek a premature, low settlement.
Common injuries from slip and fall accidents
In our practice, we’ve seen a wide range of specific injuries stemming from slip and fall accidents, including:
- Concussions and traumatic brain injury
- Bone fractures, especially vertebrae, wrists, hips and coccyx
- Impalement
- Compressed discs
- Torn cartilage and ligaments
Pain and immobility from fall injuries can linger, and many victims never achieve full recovery. In the most severe cases, someone who loses their footing because of a hazard could suffer fatal harm.
Negligence and duty of care in slip and fall cases
A property owner, tenant or manager with control over premises can be liable for a slip and fall if they breached their duty of care. A business owner has a duty to inspect their location regularly to identify potential dangers. If one exists, they must remedy them or provide adequate warning to customers. Homeowners must warn social guests of known hazards. There is no duty of care toward adult trespassers, except to refrain from deliberately harming them. However, property owners have to guard against child trespassers who might be drawn to attractive nuisances, such as accessible swimming pools, lest their curiosity lead them into harm’s way.
Determining liability for a slip and fall injury in NJ
You can win damages against a defendant in a premises liability case if they did not take reasonable steps to prevent the dangerous condition that led to your fall. Our Sussex County personal injury lawyers examine the facts to uncover lapses in safety protocols and delays in action that might constitute negligence. We then work tirelessly to obtain maximum compensation for the parties who contributed to your injury.
Contact a North Jersey slip and fall injury attorney for a free consultation
Hollander, Strelzik, Pasculli, Vandenberg, Hontz & Associates LLC represents victims of slip and fall accidents throughout North Jersey, including Sussex and Morris counties. To schedule a consultation, please call 973-737-1023 or contact us online. Our offices are in Newton and Succasunna.
