Fortunately, New Jersey law provides an avenue for injured individuals to receive compensation from negligent property owners. However, the process can be difficult to navigate and incredibly frustrating.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a trip and fall accident, a lawyer can make a significant difference in securing the compensation you deserve. A Princeton slip and fall lawyer can guide you through the legal process and protect your rights.
How Can a Princeton Slip And Fall Attorney Help You?
There is a reason that lawyers have to go to law school for three years and pass the bar: the legal process is intricate. Navigating this system as a layperson can be daunting. A Princeton slip and fall lawyer can guide you through this process and help you build a compelling case.
- Evaluating Your Case: At your initial consultation, one of the talented attorneys at the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. will analyze your case and determine if you have a valid claim against the premise’s owner.
- Collecting Evidence: A Princeton personal injury lawyer will collect medical records, witness statements, photos of the accident, and any other evidence to build your case. This evidence is essential to proving that the owner’s negligence caused your injuries.
- Communicating with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with. An attorney will handle all discussions with the insurance company and try to reach a fair settlement that compensates you for your injuries.
- Representing You in Court: Sometimes, insurance companies are not willing to play ball and will not agree to a fair settlement. In these cases, lawsuits are necessary. A lawyer will properly present your case to a judge or jury and fight for your rightful compensation.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Princeton
Falls can happen in both familiar and unfamiliar locations. While there are countless reasons for these accidents, several are extremely common.
- Wet or Slick Surfaces: One of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents are wet or slippery floors. Whether it is a spill in a grocery store or a puddle in an entryway, unaddressed slick surfaces can turn a simple errand into a traumatic event.
- Loose Materials: Unsecured tiles, cracked pavement, or uneven walkways can create tripping hazards that lead to life-altering falls.
- Poor Lighting: Hazards can hide in dimly lit spaces. If people cannot see the hazards, they are more likely to fall victim to them.
- Exposed Wiring: Wires not safely bundled up or secured to the floor can pose serious tripping hazards.
- Lack of Handrails: A missing or loose handrail can pose a major hazard. People often automatically reach for this support when they are losing balance. If the handrail is missing or loose, the fall can be much more serious.
- Uneven Surfaces: Poorly maintained flooring, uneven steps, and loose floorboards are hazards because people expect to walk on flat surfaces. If there is an uneven surface, people are more likely to lose their footing and be seriously injured.
- Improperly Maintained Stairs: Stairs are some of the most common tripping hazards, especially when paired with inadequate lighting, loose carpeting, or broken handrails.
Common Injuries in Princeton Slip and Fall Accidents
A fall can result in countless types of injuries. These injuries range in seriousness. Some of the most common injuries are:
- Head Injuries: Falls can lead to severe head and even brain injuries. When someone hits their head on a hard surface, severe consequences can follow.
- Broken Bones: One of the most common slip and fall injuries is broken bones. These can range from a displaced fracture, where a bone snaps in two, to a comminuted fracture, when the bone shatters into three or more pieces.
- Shoulder Injuries: When a person tries to catch themselves during a fall, they frequently can sustain shoulder injuries. This can be a dislocated shoulder or a torn rotator cuff.
- Hip Fractures: An injury common among older individuals after a fall is a hip fracture. These injuries can require extensive surgeries and lifelong medical treatment.
- Sprains: Knees, ankles, and wrists are commonly sprained after a fall. These injuries may quickly heal, but they can also cause life-long problems as the victim ages.
- Bruises and Lacerations: Even minor falls can lead to bruises and lacerations. Additionally, these injuries can lead to more serious conditions, especially if the victim is elderly or in poor health.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Injury in The Princeton
Falls are jarring, traumatic experiences, and the actions you take immediately after can have a significant effect on your future personal injury case.
- Seek Medical Attention: Your first priority should be your health. This will serve the dual purpose of documenting your accident and getting you the needed treatment.
- Report Your Fall: After a fall, you should report your accident to the property manager. This will further document your accident, which can be used as evidence in your personal injury case.
- Document the Scene and Your Injuries: You should take photos of the cause of your fall and the environment you fell in. You should also take pictures of your injuries.
- Contact an Attorney: Once you have received adequate medical treatment, you should contact an experienced slip-and-fall attorney. A lawyer will protect your interests and ensure the other side does not twist your words to cheat you out of the compensation you are owed.
What Compensation is Available to Princeton Slip and Fall Injury Victims?
In personal injury lawsuits, you must prove your damages to receive compensation. There are two types of damages you can claim: compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Compensatory Damages: These damages aim to put the victim in the position they would have been if the fall had never happened. There are two subsets of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
- Economic Damages: These damages compensate victims for quantifiable monetary losses. These are the direct expenses that the victim incurs because of an accident. Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Economic damages are easy to calculate and are the basis of most injury claims.
- Non-Economic Damages: These damages are not quantifiable. These are indirect, intangible, non-financial costs. They include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Punitive Damages: These damages are much less common in personal injury cases. The goal of punitive damages is to punish the negligent party’s conduct. The offending party’s conduct must be bordering on criminal and show a conscious indifference and disregard for the effect of their actions on others.
New Jersey is a comparative negligence state. Under comparative negligence, the fault for an accident can be divided amongst multiple parties. In order to recover, you must be found to be no more than 50% at fault for your injuries.
Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations in Princeton
A statute of limitations is a law that dictates the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. In New Jersey, you have two years from the date of your fall to file a lawsuit. This is a strict deadline, and if you miss it, you can miss out on any chance of getting compensation.
However, if your injury happened on property owned by the Port Authority of New Jersey there is a one-year statute of limitations to file your lawsuit. Additionally, there are separate forms to give the Port Authority notice of your injury. Other government agencies also have different processes for processing a claim. In these cases, it is essential for you to contact an experienced lawyer to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Princeton Slip and Fall Lawyer?
Many people understandably do not want to hire a lawyer because they are discouraged by the possible astronomical fees. Many victims are already dealing with medical bills and do not want even more expenses to pile up, so this fear is well-founded.
At the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., you do not need to worry about fees because our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. A contingent basis means a client only has to pay unless you win a monetary judgment in or out of court. A client only pays the attorney a pre-agreed percentage of the overall recovery. This means there is no upfront cost for you and no cost if you do not win.
How Much is My Princeton Slip and Fall Case Worth?
The average slip-and-fall settlement in the United States is between $15,000 and $45,000. The value of your case is heavily dependent on the circumstances surrounding your accident and the severity of your injuries. Additionally, you must prove that the owner was negligent to receive a settlement.
There is no cap on the amount of compensatory damages you can receive in New Jersey.
Contact a Princeton Slip and Fall Lawyer Today For Legal Help
After an accident, you need to focus on healing, not the legal process. Let our Princeton slip and fall attorneys deal with the insurance companies and legal system. At the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., our Princeton slip and fall lawyers will help you by offering experienced, compassionate legal help. We understand you are going through a traumatic time and want to help. Contact us at (215)799-9990 for your FREE consultation TODAY!