Slip/Trip & Fall Accidents

Overview

Many serious injuries occur as a result of slip and fall, or trip and fall, accidents.   Slip / trip and fall, accidents are quite common, and often occur as a result of the negligence of the property owner and/or business owner. Property owners and business proprietors have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition.   Where a slip / trip and fall accident occurs, the property owner and/or business owner can be held responsible if it:

• created the dangerous or defective condition; or
• knew about the dangerous or defective condition; or
• should have known about the dangerous or defective condition.

Proper investigation and use of experts is crucial in slip / trip and fall accident cases.   It is essential to obtain photographs of the accident site and witness statements soon after the accident.   Further, retaining an expert, such as a professional engineer, early-on can greatly impact the outcome of the case.   The injured party has a sizeable advantage regarding investigation of these types of cases, for the investigation often takes place before the target defendant and its insurance carrier are aware of the accident or the potential lawsuit.   Hence, it is essential for the injured person’s attorney to promptly investigate.

Jason Shapiro, founder of Shapiro Law Offices, devotes an entire chapter to the proper handling of slip / trip and fall accident cases in his textbook, The Lawyers’ Guide to Personal Injury Law.   Discussed are the multitude of types of slip / trip and fall accident cases, and how to best approach each type of case.   Shapiro Law Offices has shown its level of expertise in this area by obtaining millions of dollars in recoveries for victims of slip / trip and fall accidents.