In some situations, getting up, dusting yourself off, and moving on after you slip and fall is easy. However, if you sustain an injury from a fall caused by a negligent property owner or manager, you should seek guidance from a dedicated personal injury attorney.
Injuries resulting from slips and falls often require extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Likewise, these injuries prevent many people from returning to their jobs. Fortunately, a Racine slip and fall lawyer can help you navigate the legal system and fight to get you the compensation you deserve after an injury of this nature.
Where do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
Cartoons and comedy skits sometimes portray unsuspecting characters slipping on banana peels, but injuries after a fall are no laughing matter. Medical care is expensive, and rehabilitation can last for years. In addition, time away from family and work can be financially and emotionally costly.
These incidents can occur in many settings and scenarios, including:
Broken bottles on the floor at a grocery store
Carpeting in a hotel lobby or hallway that is not secured properly
Municipal parking lots that are not treated for ice in the winter
Poor lighting in parking garages or lots, along walkways, or in stairwells
Holes in a person’s or business’ yard that are not filled in
If a property owner, landlord, or manager does not appropriately maintain a dangerous area, and someone slips and falls, they may be responsible for paying the injured party compensation. A tenacious attorney in Racine could investigate the circumstances of a slip and fall accident to determine how it occurred and
What a Slip and Fall Attorney Does for Clients
To be awarded compensation for their injuries slip and fall victims must prove the defendant negligently or intentionally caused an accident. In civil lawsuits, the evidence must connect a plaintiff’s injuries to a defendant’s negligent actions. A legal team member could help with this process by gathering and studying the evidence like police reports, medical charts, store security reports, eyewitness testimony, security camera footage, and any video or photos. The attorney will then piece together evidence that supports the injured party’s account of what happened.
Contributory Negligence
Unfortunately, a claimant could be responsible for their damages in some circumstances. For example, Wisconsin’s contributory negligence law allows a plaintiff to collect a damages award if they are not more responsible for the accident than the defendant. Compensation is adjusted according to the degree of fault found by both parties.
Attorneys Attempt to Negotiate Before a Trial
Those injured in slip and fall accidents should look for a personal injury attorney who is a skilled negotiator. Often, a settlement can be reached with an insurance carrier or the defendant’s attorney before a trial is scheduled. However, if the parties cannot agree, the case will go to trial. A knowledgeable lawyer could work to build a case that proves another person is responsible for an incident while following applicable filing deadlines.
A Racine Slip and Fall Attorney Employs Skills to Prevail
If you slip and fall, you could end up severely injured and struggling to pay your bills, especially if you cannot work while recovering. If a dangerous condition caused you to fall, you might be entitled to compensation from the negligent party that caused your injuries.
Our legal team at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. coordinates your case from the first meeting to ensure you are compensated quickly and for as much as possible. A slip and fall lawyer from our Racine location will investigate, negotiate, and litigate your case after building a credible claim to get you compensated. Call today.