Slip and Fall accidents happen far too frequently around New Bedford. A working-class town like ours has plenty of pitfalls for slipping and falling on the job or at home. Slip and fall accidents are generally associated with wet floors. However, this isn’t always the case. Slip and fall accidents can involve loose floorboards or overcrowding in a shopping mall. No matter if the cause of your fall came by a wet floor, a misplaced floor sign or dim lighting, the result is an injury. Injuries may be accidents, but most accidents involve some degree of negligence.
Whether it is the accident victim or the facility, one party is generally responsible for some negligence. The facility in question will usually have some form of negligence; the real question you need to ask is how much?
A slip and fall accident claim is nothing to delay. The personal injury attorneys at Goldberg Law Group, , possess more than 50 years of combined legal experience protecting the people of New Bedford. No one in our community gets pushed around by big insurance companies.
If you’ve suffered a slip and fall accident in New Bedford, call Goldberg Law Group, today.
What To Do After A Slip and Fall Accident
Immediately after you’ve fallen, first check if you are okay. If not, immediately call 911 and request medical help. Medical treatment is always the most important thing to take care of! If anyone was a witness to the fall, try to get their contact information. If you are able, take photographs of what exactly caused you to fall, this can be very important later on when trying to prove your case! If you are in a place where you are able to report the incident, do so at your first opportunity. Then, head straight to an ER or an Urgent Care facility to have your injuries documented. Medical documentation is crucial evidence for your claim.
Inspect The Facility Where You Slipped and Fell
The next thing to do is to figure out what caused the fall. The cause isn’t always as apparent as it seems. Any number of factors could cause a fall, such as:
- Waxed or wet Floors
- Objects in Busy Walkways
- Loose surfaces
- Potholes in Heavy Foot Traffic
- Crowd Trampling
Be aware of any “wet floor” signs in the building. Keep an eye out when walking in a store or mall for promotional posters or decorative plants. During times of heavy foot traffic like Black Friday, it’s a safe bet your risk of falling and being injured are significant. Once again, if you are able, document the area with as many photographs as are necessary. Close-ups, all angles and panoramic shots are all important to document the cause of your fall.
Do I have a Slip and Fall Case?
If you suffer a slip and fall injury, you must initially present two critical factors to a personal injury lawyer: negligence and injuries. During a consultation, your attorney will look for two things to build a case:
- Did a doctor document your injuries?
- Can you prove that someone else was at fault for causing your injury?
Based on the answers you give, a personal injury attorney can determine if you have a case. An experienced New Bedford personal injury lawyer will make an accurate determination if you are able to make a claim for compensable damages like pain and suffering, lost wages and scarring..
Documented injuries are easy to prove, primarily when evaluated by a doctor. The challenge for your personal injury lawyer is proving that the party in charge of the premises where you fell was negligent and that negligence caused your injuries.
Complications with Slip and Fall Cases
The facility and its liability insurance company will be on the defensive from the get-go. Some common points used by the defense in a slip and fall case are:
- A majority of the negligence falls on the victim
- Other patrons avoided the accident, proving victim negligence
- Facility rules were ignored by the victim
- Warning signs were present on the premises
At Goldberg Law Group, , we’ve seen all these tricks and more litigating slip and fall cases in New Bedford. Over fifty (50) years of combined legal experience pays off in court, so keep that in mind when you’re looking for a personal injury lawyer in Bristol County.
How Much is My Slip and Fall Case Worth?
The extent of your injuries and mitigating life circumstances play a significant part in the amount of compensation you may be entitled to. Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other items of damages will add to your monetary damages. Something like pain and suffering or mental anguish is known as non-monetary damages. These are difficult to prove, but an experienced personal injury lawyer will know how to sway a court by using:
- Expert Witnesses
- Personal testimony
- Friend & Family Testimony
The liability insurance company representing the facility will fight against all your claims. The insurance company does not want to dole out more money than necessary.
When Do I Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
Do not waste time if you’ve slipped or tripped and fallen in New Bedford. Call the personal injury attorneys at Goldberg Law Group, today at 508-775-9099 for your free, confidential consultation. New Bedford is our home, and we want to make sure the people in our community have peace of mind. Peter M. Goldberg & the Goldberg Law Group have practiced personal injury law for a combined 50 years and know every trick insurance companies pull to deny you compensation. Trust our firm to advocate for you.
