Morristown Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Helping Injured Victims of Slip and Fall Accidents in Morristown, NJ
In New Jersey, as in all states, owners of residential and commercial property have a duty to maintain the premises so as to minimize the risk of injury to anyone legally visiting the premises. When they fail to meet that obligation and you suffer needless injury, you have the right to seek full and fair compensation for your losses. An experienced Morristown slip and fall accident attorney can help protect your legal rights.
At the Law Offices of Howard D. Popper, we have fought for the rights of personal injury victims for more than 35 years. Attorney Popper has received numerous awards for his aggressive and effective personal injury representation, including selection to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an elite organization comprising less than 1% of all lawyers nationwide.
For an appointment, contact our office online or call 973-993-8787. Your initial consultation is without cost or obligation. We have offices in Morristown and Newton.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Morristown
Slip and fall accidents may stem from a variety of factors, including:
- Slippery substances, such as ice, water, oil, or food by-products on a floor, stairs, sidewalk, or thoroughfare
- Broken or damaged flooring, steps, stairs, pavement, curbs, or other surfaces
- Torn carpet or linoleum, or damaged or missing tile or other flooring
- Poor or inadequate lighting on an inside or outside thoroughfare
- Clutter or debris on a pathway, hallway, staircase, or other walkway
- Failure to take reasonable steps in response to dangerous weather conditions, including snow, ice, or rain
- Broken or missing handrails or safety barriers
Determining Liability in a Morristown Slip and Fall Case
Liability in a slip and fall case is typically based on a legal theory of negligence. To prove negligence, you must show that another person’s failure to act reasonably caused you to slip and fall, leading to your injuries. Liability is established through evidence, which can include the observations of witnesses, as well as physical evidence or pictures from the scene of your slip and fall accident.
The jury will consider all facts presented at trial to determine which version of the facts is more believable. Based on that determination, the jury will allocate fault and establish damages, if appropriate.
What To Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Morristown
The steps you take immediately after any personal injury, including a slip and fall, can have a significant impact on your potential physical and your financial recovery.
Before you do anything else, you need to do whatever is necessary to protect your health. Immediately assess your injuries. If you’ve suffered any type of injury to your head, neck, or back, it’s in your best interest to stay right where you are until emergency responders arrive, as those types of injuries can easily be made far more serious by any type of movement. Don’t try to shake off your injuries—acknowledge that you’ve been hurt, and take all necessary precautions to prevent further injury, including traveling to the hospital by ambulance, if necessary.
Even if you’re able to walk away from the accident, seek immediate medical attention, whether at a hospital emergency room, urgent care facility, or the offices of your primary care physician. Be sure to tell medical professionals about anything that seems out of the ordinary. Don’t focus on the obvious injuries and neglect to mention the seemingly minor ones. Often, injuries that don’t initially appear serious can have long-term consequences.
If possible, gather as much information as you can about the scene of the slip and fall. If there were witnesses, get their names and contact information. Take pictures, if you can, using your phone if necessary.
The sooner you retain qualified legal counsel, the better, as they will help to fully protect your legal rights.
Compensation After a Morristown Slip and Fall Accident
You have a right to recover damages (typically monetary compensation) for your losses suffered in a slip and fall caused by someone else’s negligence. Under personal injury law, those damages are commonly categorized as:
- Economic damages—Economic damages are commonly associated with specific and easily quantifiable monetary losses, such as lost wages or income, unreimbursed medical bills, and damage to or loss of personal property
- Non-economic damages—These are losses that are not tied to a specific, tangible financial loss and are therefore more difficult to calculate. Non-economic damages include:
- Compensation for physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering, such as chronic pain, depression, or anxiety
- Damages for the loss of companionship or consortium, defined as the inability to have close personal relationships because of your injuries
- Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life when you cannot engage in ordinary activities of daily life, or must give up activities that used to bring joy, because of your injuries
Schedule a Free Consultation at Our Morristown Office
At the Law Offices of Howard D. Popper, we can help protect your rights. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your options after any type of personal injury, including losses suffered in a slip and fall accident. To set up an appointment, contact our office online or call 973-993-8787. We have offices in Morristown and Newton.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accident Cases in Morristown, New Jersey
Who can be held liable for a slip and fall injury?
Liability in personal injury cases is most often based on a legal theory of negligence. Under that approach, any person or entity (like a business) can be liable if it can be shown that they failed to act as a reasonable person would and that the failure to act reasonably caused an accident that resulted in your injuries.
What compensation can I recover after a slip and fall accident?
You have a right to recover damages for all losses suffered in a slip and fall accident, including lost wages and income, unreimbursed medical expenses, physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship or consortium, and any property loss or damage. In addition, you can pursue damages for your loss of enjoyment of life, commonly defined as the inability to engage in those activities that gave you joy before the accident, or to engage in the ordinary activities of daily life.
What injuries are most common in slip and fall accident cases?
The most common slip and fall injuries are soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, bruises, or tearing of ligaments, tendons, muscles, or cartilage. Other common injuries from slip and fall accidents include broken bones, head or brain injuries, neck and back injuries, and spinal cord trauma.
What if I was partially at fault for my slip and fall accident?
When an injured person in New Jersey is partially to blame for causing an accident, the legal principle of comparative negligence applies. Under this approach, the jury determines the full amount of the injured party’s losses, as well as the degree to which the injured person is responsible for causing the accident. The total damages are then reduced by the injured party’s percentage of liability.
How do insurance companies handle slip and fall claims?
Insurance companies have a vested interest in paying as little as possible to settle
your claim. Accordingly, they often engage in tactics to try to get you to either settle for less or abandon your claim altogether. Such tactics include delays, denials, and offering far less than you deserve to cover your losses.