Springfield Slip and Fall Attorneys

When Is Someone Else Liable for a Slip and Fall?

Not all falls involve third-party liability. If you were simply not looking where you were going, you may have a hard time convincing a judge and jury you deserve compensation for your injury. To file a claim, you must be able to prove there was some dangerous condition that led to your fall. This could be:

• Untreated snow or ice
• Spilled liquids or other slippery substances
• A freshly mopped floor that did not have a caution sign set up on it
• A cracked or heaved sidewalk
• A stairway that was not up to code

You must also be able to prove the property owner was or should have been aware of the hazard. For example, if it snowed overnight and you visited a store when it opened the next morning, there would be no excuse for a manager to be unaware of the potential for ice on the premises. However, if someone dropped a carton of eggs in the middle of the grocery store and you stepped in the mess a minute later, it’s entirely plausible for an employee not to have seen the issue, much less had the chance to deal with it.

Providing evidence someone was aware of the dangerous condition can be tricky, depending on the circumstances of your case. We can investigate the accident by looking at surveillance cameras, talking to witnesses, and seeking other sources of proof to show your claim is valid.

How an Attorney Can Help You

If you were seriously injured in a slip and fall, you will probably see better results if you retain an experienced slip and fall lawyer to represent you. Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. can assist your claim in many ways.

Protecting You from Unfair Blame

No one wants to pay an expensive slip and fall claim, whether it’s a store owner or an insurance company. The at-fault party may fight back by trying to pin some of the blame on you. Because of our state’s comparative negligence rule, your settlement can be reduced by the percentage of fault you are found to hold.

This means a company could save thousands of dollars if they can prove you did anything to contribute to the accident, including wearing unsafe footwear, ignoring posted signs warning about the hazard, looking at your phone instead of where you were going, or parking in other potentially negligent behaviors. Our attorneys can form a strategy to fight back against these accusations, so your compensation is not unfairly reduced.

Calculating Your Damages

Another trick insurance adjusters may use to reduce a settlement is understating the expenses you’re likely to face. If you’ve been seriously injured, you may need months of initial treatment along with continued care or assistance. Your claim should include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical needs
• Lost wages
• Decreased earning capacity
• Accommodations/assistive devices
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If you were injured in a way that will result in a lasting disability, your entire future will change. We can bring in medical and life care experts to calculate the damages you’re likely to accrue in the near and far future. With this number, you’ll know what a fair settlement looks like.

Handling Paperwork and Negotiations

Most people haven’t ever filed an injury claim in their life. The process is complex and can be frustrating, especially to anyone who is also dealing with a severe injury. You may also find yourself dealing with an insurance adjuster who wants to pay you the minimum amount possible because doing so will save their employer money. When you hire Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C., you can pass off all the hard work to a team with years of experience.

We know how to build a strong case for injury victims and leverage evidence in negotiations. Further, our team has multiple skilled litigators who can take your case to court if you don’t receive a fair settlement offer. Especially if you’ve been badly hurt, you need a lawyer who will do what it takes to help you receive the compensation you deserve.

Our Springfield Slip & Fall Lawyers Are Ready to Help You

Our caring team knows how difficult it is to suffer a life-changing injury. Anyone in this situation deserves full support—and the chance to hold a negligent property owner accountable.

Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. offers free, no-obligation consultations to injury victims to help them understand their rights and options. After listening to your story, we can offer caring, honest guidance to help you plan your next steps. We can also create a unique strategy to help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.