A slip and fall injury can be one of the most devasting injuries a person can suffer in their life. Recovery after a slip and fall injury is often lengthy, with some cases requiring surgery. The medical costs alone can skyrocket quickly. If your slip and fall injury was caused by a property owner’s negligence, recovering the money you need to heal may prove challenging.
When you visit a person’s home or go out in public, you expect to be safe while there. If you suffered a slip and fall injury in Parsippany, NJ because of a property owner’s negligence, you may be able to bring a premises liability lawsuit. Slip and fall cases are sometimes difficult to prove but could be the best way to get the compensation you need for recovery and treatment.
Our Parsippany, NJ slip and fall injury lawyers will use their knowledge of slip and fall accident law to help you maximize your compensation. Call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free case evaluation today.
Who to Sue in a Parsippany, NJ Slip and Fall Case
You must file your Parsippany, NJ slip and fall lawsuit against the party responsible for safety at the location where you were injured. It is not always apparent whom you should sue in your slip and fall case.
Properties like retail stores and restaurants are private places open to the public. They are usually maintained by a tenant who rents the property rather than the owner. In such cases, you would need to bring your case against the tenant since they would be directly responsible for the safety of the premises.
Property owned by the public is usually maintained by a local municipality, like a city government. Public spaces could include streets, public sidewalks, and parks, but there may be different parties responsible for injuries in different “public” locations. For example, a Parsippany, NJ park is generally maintained by the local government, but cleaners, community organizations, or other contractors may also share the responsibility for the conditions of the park. Property owners are also usually responsible for slip and falls on their sidewalks, even if they are technically “public property.” You could lose out on potential compensation if the appropriate parties are not named in your lawsuit.
What to Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall Accident in Parsippany, NJ
No one is prepared for a severe injury from a slip and fall accident but knowing what to do just after an accident could significantly improve your chances of winning your lawsuit.
Report the Accident
Report the accident to the property owner or tenant. Private businesses typically fill out reports for slip and fall accidents which serves as important evidence later. If the slip and fall occurred in a private residence, put the owner on notice of the accident. Your Parsippany slip and fall lawyers can also help you report these accidents and send notice to the proper parties to preserve evidence.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Do not delay seeking medical treatment for your slip and fall injuries. Your medical records will be one of the most important pieces of evidence used to support your case, so it is important to start the documentation process as soon after the accident as possible. Delays in treatment call into question the credibility of a plaintiff’s slip and fall claim, a point the defense will be sure to mention at trial.
Document the Accident
One of the best things you can do to help your slip and fall case is to document as much as you can. Photos of the area where the accident occurred or the dangerous condition that caused it can be immensely useful in proving your case. Also, be sure to take photos of your injury after it happens, otherwise, the only evidence of your injury’s severity will be your testimony and any medical records supporting your statements. Deliver all evidence to your Parsippany slip and fall lawyers.
Do Not Post Information on Social Media
Sharing parts of your life on social media can be fun but sharing the details of your slip and fall accident could be disastrous for your case. Information you share about treatment or your mental state relating to the accident could be used against you in court. You should expect that insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will check your social media for anything that undermines your slip and fall claim. Any inconsistencies in your story between what you say online and what you say in court could be used to call your testimony untrustworthy.
Do Not Speak to an Insurance Agent
Just like you should not share information on social media, do not make statements to a property owner’s insurance agent. The main goal of an insurance adjuster is to shift the blame away from a property owner and on to you. Your Parsippany, NJ slip and fall injury lawyers will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf so that you are not pressured by aggressive insurance agents.
Statute of Limitations to File Your Slip and Fall Injury Claim in Parsippany, NJ
The “statute of limitations” is just a legal term for the deadline to file your slip and fall claim with the court. In New Jersey, your slip and fall lawsuit will be dismissed if it is not filed within two years after the accident happened. Put simply, you will lose your chance to recover any potential compensation if you miss the two-year deadline to file your Parsippany, NJ slip and fall suit.
The rare exception to the statute of limitations rule is for minor children. A child injured in a slip and fall accident has two years from their 18th birthday to file a claim with the court.
How a Parsippany, NJ Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Can Help
Your Parsippany, NJ slip and fall injury lawyer will need to prove that the property owner or tenant is liable for your injuries. Extensive medical records, reports, expert testimony, and witness statements are just some of the types of evidence needed to support your slip and fall claim. Your Parsippany, NJ slip and fall injury lawyer will help you manage the litigation process and conduct settlement negotiations on your behalf to maximize your reward.
Call Our Parsippany, NJ Slip and Fall Lawyers for Help Today
If you have been the victim of a slip and fall accident, our skilled Parsippany, NJ slip and fall lawyers will fight to get the compensation you deserve. Call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free case review.