Understand Your Legal Options After A Slip-And-Fall Accident
If you were hurt in a slip-and-fall accident on private property and you suspect that the property owner was negligent, The Greene Law Firm PLLC can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other damages. And by taking legal action against the negligent property owner, you may be prompting more responsible behavior that prevents other people from getting hurt in the future.
What Were The Circumstances Surrounding Your Accident?
In order for a slip-and-fall case to be successful, you must first show that a dangerous condition existed on private property. You must also show that the property owner/manager knew (or should have known) about the hazard. Finally, you must show that the hazard was not addressed despite knowledge of it and the time/opportunity to rectify it.
Here are some examples of slip-and-fall accidents that would likely be actionable:
- Slipping in a grocery store because water is leaking from a freezer that had been malfunctioning for some time
- Slipping on a freshly mopped floor in a coffee shop because an employee didn’t put up a sign warning of the wet floor
- Slipping on a snowy/icy sidewalk because the property owner failed to shovel or salt the surface in a timely fashion
- Slipping on the hard marble floor of a bank lobby because there are no area rugs to absorb rain/snow commonly tracked in by customers
Slip-and-fall accidents commonly occur in retail spaces. But certain major retailers aggressively challenge any claim filed against them. It takes the help of a skilled attorney, like those at our firm, to win a successful settlement or jury award.
Fighting Against Time Constraints
In Kentucky, the statute of limitations for slip-and-fall actions is just one year. If you don’t take legal action within that timeframe, you essentially forfeit your right to sue. Therefore, it is important to discuss your legal options with an attorney as soon as reasonably possible after the accident. Even if you don’t yet know the full extent of your injuries, it is a good idea to at least get the legal process started.
It is also critical to act quickly to preserve evidence in the case. A dangerous or hazardous condition in a store or other public place will likely be addressed soon after an accident has occurred. And witnesses to the accident may forget the details or become difficult to find after some time has passed. When you hire our firm, we immediately set to work investigating your case so that we can maximize your legal options.
Do Not Let Yourself Be Blamed For The Accident
Property owners and insurance companies will not hesitate to blame victims for their own injuries. Their goal is to completely absolve themselves of liability or to otherwise limit the amount of fault assigned to them.
For this reason and others, you need to be very careful when speaking to property owners and insurance adjusters about the accident. You could say something innocent like “I should have watched where I was going,” and that statement would likely be used against you. If a court determines that you share blame for the accident or your own injuries, your financial recovery will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
After a slip-and-fall accident, seeking the help of a skilled attorney is a good way to avoid saying anything that could jeopardize your case. You could direct all questions to your attorney and not have to answer them yourself.
Tell Us Your Story In A Free Consultation
To discuss your legal options with an attorney from The Greene Law Firm, contact us to schedule a free initial consultation. Call our Louisville office at 502-430-0467 or reach out online.