Port Richmond Slip & Fall Lawyer
Potential accidents lurk around every corner, and they might happen in some surprisingly ordinary places. A slip and fall accident might sound like no big deal, and many people dismiss it as such, but victims might be badly hurt. Fractures, injured limbs, and head injuries are possible. Speak to a lawyer about your accident immediately, as your claims might be worth substantial compensation.
Often, negligent property owners are responsible for slip and fall accidents. They have a legal duty to keep their property safe for guests, and failing to maintain the property might make them responsible for resulting accidents. To prove your claims, we need evidence. Photos of the unsafe premises can be extremely helpful. If there was security camera footage, we should try to obtain it. Whatever we need, we should move quickly to get it. Not only might it disappear, but we only have 3 years to prepare your case and file it in court. Contact an experienced attorney to help you begin your case so you can get the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Call (718) 841-0083 and speak to our Staten Island slip and fall lawyers at The Carrion Law Firm about starting your case with a free, confidential legal review.
Responsibility for Slip and Fall Accidents in Port Richmond
A person might trip or slip and fall almost anywhere. While some are quick to accuse the injured person of being clumsy, this is often not the case. It was not your clumsiness that caused the accident but some dangerous conditions on the property where the accident happened. The danger might have appeared to be minor, like a small puddle on the floor, but a bad fall might lead to severe injuries.
Property owners may be held responsible for slip and falls if the accident happens because of some hazardous conditions on the property. Property owners have a legal duty of care that requires them to make sure their property is safe for guests. This means removing or repairing hazardous conditions the owner knows about and making reasonable inspections for potentially unknown hazards. If a hazard cannot be removed, guests should be warned of the danger so they can avoid it.
Remember, property owners only owe this duty to certain people. Generally, if you are an invited guest or expected to show up without an invitation (e.g., a customer entering a store), the property owner owes you a duty of care. Unknown trespassers or people who are not permitted to be present are not owed a duty of care and might be unable to sue them for damages after an accident.
Evidence You Need to Prove Your Slip and Fall Case in Port Richmond
Evidence is the lifeblood of nearly any civil lawsuit, and our slip and fall attorneys will need strong evidence to prove that the defendant is responsible for your slip and fall accident in Port Richmond. Depending on how badly you were hurt, you might be able to start collecting evidence immediately after the accident while you wait for help to arrive.
Take photos and record videos of the property where you fell. Be sure to include pictures of what you believe caused the accident, whether it was a puddle, an uneven staircase, or something else. Photos of the area where the accident occurred are important because the property owner will likely clean up the area where you fell, eliminating any evidence of whatever dangerous conditions existed to cause the fall. As such, it is crucial that you or someone with you take some quick photos of the area to preserve the dangerous conditions as evidence.
If you fell inside a business (e.g., grocery store, restaurant, retail store), there might be security camera videos depicting the accident. This kind of evidence could be extremely valuable. A video of the accident can be very powerful and show a jury exactly what went wrong. Such evidence is often difficult for defendants to refute.
Medical records might also be necessary. People tend to be very dismissive of these kinds of cases. We need to show the jury just how badly you were hurt. If we do not, they might not take your injuries very seriously.
How Long You Have to File a Slip and Fall Case in Port Richmond
You might want time to think about your legal options before making any final decisions, but you should not take too much time. Your case must be filed within the limitation period set by the statute of limitations. According to C.V.P. Law § 214, personal injury cases in New York must be filed no later than 3 years after the injuries first occurred. Put another way, your 3-year limitation period begins on the day of the accident.
While 3 years might sound like more than enough time, plaintiffs quickly realize just how much time and effort goes into preparing a civil case. You might spend months or more working with your lawyer to find all the evidence you need to prove your claims. You might spend more time developing legal strategies, assessing damages, and tracking down witnesses. In short, a lot of time and effort goes into a case, and you should start as early as possible to maximize your time to prepare.
What Your Attorney Can Do to Help Your Port Richmond Slip and Fall Case
Your lawyer should help you communicate with the defendant and their attorneys. It is not a good idea to speak directly to the defendant about the case. In fact, you should avoid direct contact with the defendant about anything for the duration of the case. Your lawyer should be your main point of contact for almost everything.
Although paperwork and documents sound boring, they are a driving force behind the legal system. Claims, motions, complaints, and all sorts of other elements of your case likely need to be documented and filed with the court. Not only must paperwork be filed with the court, but it must contain specific details and meet certain rules regarding formatting. Often, only attorneys familiar with personal injury cases in Port Richmond are prepared to handle this.
Talk to Our Port Richmond Slip and Fall Attorneys Today
Call (718) 841-0083 and speak to our slip and fall attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm about starting your case with a free, private legal review.