Trusted Detroit Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers for Your Case

Providing Compassionate Legal Representation to Fall Victims in Detroit, Michigan

Accidents can and do happen. However, if you slip and fall and suffer a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, they should be held liable, and you should be able to seek compensation for medical bills, property damage, and other losses associated with the fall injury.

Because of complex Michigan laws, it is recommended that the injured person or the representatives of the deceased hire a legal team with years of experience representing slip-and-fall claims. Our trip and slip-and-fall lawyers have extensive experience proving that business and property owners are negligent and that the negligence resulted in injuries sustained in an accident.

Our personal injury law firm would proudly represent your legal rights as you seek to hold a business or property owner accountable for negligently allowing a premises liability accident to occur. It is common for insurance companies and property owners to attempt to shift the blame onto the shoulders of injured victims. A business owner or property owner will do everything possible to avoid responsibility when someone gets hurt due to a dangerous condition on their property. An experienced slip-and-fall lawyer can assist you in improving the property owner’s negligence in pursuit of a fair and full settlement for physical and emotional pain.

Our Michigan personal injury lawyers offer their legal services on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t pay us a dollar in legal fees unless we successfully win a settlement for your personal injury claims. Additionally, our slip and fall injury lawyers offer free consultations to prospective new clients interested in retaining our legal services. Schedule your risk-free case evaluation today.

What is Considered a Slip and Fall Accident?

Sometimes referred to as premises liability accidents or trip and fall accidents, a slip and fall accident is an incident where an individual suffers serious injuries or is killed due to a dangerous condition on another business or person’s property. If the dangerous conditions existed and the property owners were aware of it, should have been aware of it, or attempted to hide the hazardous conditions, they may be held liable for damages sustained.

In Michigan, personal injury claims are filed in fall accidents that occur on someone else’s property when those accidents are due to the property owners’ or managers’ negligence. A slip-and-fall accident may not be a legal concern if the accident was caused by the injured victim’s own negligence or lack of attention. Personal injury cases built around slip and fall incidents involve the accident being caused by another person, such as the business or property owner.

Slip and fall cases fall under the umbrella of premises liability claims. Michigan premises liability law can be complicated. It is often too much to ask for personal injury victims to navigate the legal system while they are still recovering from serious injuries.

It is highly recommended that you retain the professional legal representation of a fall injury lawyer when seeking a fair settlement for medical expenses, property damage, and other losses. To discuss your premises liability claim in more detail, please contact our Michigan law firm to schedule your free case review today.

What is the Michigan Premises Liability Law?

Slip and fall accidents fall under Michigan law of premises liability. Property owners and certain managers have a legal duty to ensure that their properties are reasonably safe for invited visitors, customers, and others. If a dangerous condition is not promptly dealt with or warning signs are not posted to alert visitors of the hazards, property owners could be held liable for any severe injuries sustained in a slip-and-fall accident on the property.

However, it is important to note that Michigan’s premises liability law does not extend to trespassers on the property. A trespasser does not have the legal right to be on the property in the first place, and injuries sustained on the property are typically not the property owner’s fault.

Premises liability laws apply to both residential and commercial properties in Michigan. Any potentially dangerous condition must be addressed on any and all properties.

Property owners must use proper warning signs to warn of the risks if a dangerous condition exists and cannot be immediately repaired. For example, if a liquid spill leaves the floor slippery, a caution sign can be used to warn customers and visitors of the hazard. The property owners and staff would then be expected to clean up the spill within a reasonable amount of time to reduce the risks of falls occurring. If no sign is posted and there is no attempt to address the slippery floor, the property owners may be held accountable for any injuries sustained in a fall accident.

Michigan premises liability laws also apply to the property owners or managers of medical facilities, apartment buildings, and other properties.

What Are Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Detroit, MI?

Slip-and-fall accidents cause over a million emergency room visits annually. In many cases, these accidents are preventable and may never have occurred had precautionary measures been taken by managers and property owners.

A slip-and-fall accident may occur because of a number of factors, including the following:

Black ice
Debris
Electrical cords in walkways
Elevators and escalators
Failing to use entrance mats
Failure to meet building codes
Failure to post warning signs
Floor transitions that are difficult to detect
Hazards left on walkways
Inadequate lighting
Lack of non-slip materials on stairs or sloped floors
Loose or broken handrails
Open drawers or cabinets
Poorly maintained stairways and handrails
Potholes in parking lots and sidewalks
Rainwater tracked in by visitors
Recently mopped floors
Snowy surfaces, such as sidewalks, parking lots, and stairs
Spilled liquids on tile floors and grocery store flooring
Splashed grease
Substandard flooring materials
Torn, ripped, or improperly installed carpets
Trash left in a walkway
Uneven or broken sidewalks, which can cause tripping
Wet, waxy, or icy floors

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one out of every 10 falls results in a physical injury. Slip and fall accidents impact seniors and older adults more than others, with more than 1,000,000 fall-related hospitalizations every year. The majority of hip fractures and hip fracture deaths were caused by slip and fall accidents. Additionally, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur Most Commonly?

Slip-and-fall and premises liability accidents can occur just about anywhere. However, certain locations see premises liability claims more frequently.

These include the following:

Airports, train stations, and bus stations
Apartment complexes
Bars
Businesses
Commercial buildings
Condominiums
Construction areas
Escalators and elevators
Gas stations
Government buildings and parks
Grocery stores and supermarkets
Factories and manufacturing plants
Health clubs and gyms
Hospitals and nursing homes
Hotels and motels
Kitchens
Movie theaters, concert venues, and sports arenas
Parking lots
Private homes
Public transportation
Ramps
Rental homes
Restaurants
Shopping centers and retail stores
Schools and colleges
Sidewalks and streets
Stairways
Store aisles
Swimming pools and swimming pool decks

Regardless of where the slip and fall accident occurred, if the accident was the fault of the property owner’s negligence, you should be allowed to file a premises liability lawsuit in pursuit of all compensation for your injuries. Our personal injury law firm has a proven track record of success in helping injured clients and the families of deceased loved ones pursue justice and financial recovery following a slip and fall accident. To learn more about how we may assist you and yours during this difficult time, please contact our Detroit law office to schedule your free initial consultation today.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident?

After a slip and fall incident, it is important that you take immediate action to look after your well-being and safeguard your personal injury claim. Doing so can maximize the compensation you stand to recover and simplify the legal process for your personal injury attorneys.

Immediately following a personal injury accident, it is vital that you seek professional medical attention. Even if you believe your injuries to be relatively minor, they may worsen with time, and it is nonetheless important that you have comprehensive medical records showing your severe injuries following the accident.

While at the accident scene, take photographs and videos of your injuries, the conditions that led to the fall, and other vital pieces of evidence that could be useful to your slip and fall accident attorney. If you are too badly hurt to document the scene of the accident yourself, consider asking an eyewitness to do so for you.

You should notify the manager or property owner of the accident and file an incident report right away. Accident reports provide written information about the incident and will be sent to insurance companies representing the properties in question. Be sure to include all relevant information in your accident report, including what time the fall happened, where it happened, what dangerous conditions led to it, and the severity of your pain and suffering.

If there were any witnesses to the slip and fall accident, get their names and phone numbers so that, if your case goes to court, they may provide convincing testimony to back up your case.

It is essential that you preserve any and all evidence related to the accident. If you were wearing specific clothing or carrying items that were damaged during the fall, preserve those items as they were at the time of the accident. Repairing or washing damaged property could endanger your personal injury claim.

Never admit fault, say you’re sorry, or attempt to diminish the severity of your injuries. Doing so, especially in the presence of an insurance adjuster, could diminish or devalue your slip and fall accident claim.

As soon as possible following the accident, contact slip-and-fall lawyers to discuss your case in more detail. Our legal team can assist you and your family members throughout the process of filing a premises liability lawsuit.

What Are Common Slip and Fall Injuries?

The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) estimates that one out of every three Americans over the age of 65 will experience a fall incident every year. The institute estimates that approximately half of these older adults have already fallen previously. The most severe slip and fall accidents result in fatal injuries. However, even if the fall does not result in death, the injuries could be severe and result in long-lasting complications and health conditions.

Common types of slip and fall accident injuries include the following:

Back and neck injuries
Brain bleeds and subdural hematomas
Broken bones, particularly broken hips
Concussions
Dental injuries
Deep cuts, lacerations, and bruising
Disfiguration
Head trauma
Herniated discs
Internal bleeding and organ damage
Nerve damage
Shoulder injuries, including dislocated shoulders
Soft tissue injuries, like torn ligaments and tendons
Spinal cord injuries
Sprains and strains
Torn rotator cuffs
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Wrongful death
And more

If you have suffered serious physical pain and suffering following a slip and fall accident, our law firm would be proud to represent your legal rights and pursuit of adequate financial recovery. As your legal representatives, we will gather evidence relevant to your case, negotiate terms with the insurance company, attempt to prove fault on the part of the property owners, and represent your interests in a court of law if necessary.

Do You Need the Legal Counsel of a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident or have tragically lost a loved one in such an accident, do not attempt to represent yourself and handle the legal process on your own. It is strongly advisable to retain professional legal counsel from experienced slip and fall lawyers to assist you throughout the legal proceedings of filing your premises liability lawsuit.

We are proud of our legacy and reputation within the legal community. Our law firm has a proven track record of success in helping injured clients and their families recover compensation for injuries that were not their fault.

As your legal representation, we will meet with you to discuss the facts relevant to your slip and fall accident case, including identifying potentially liable parties and determining what your case could be worth. We will investigate the accident scene, gather evidence, interview witnesses, obtain police reports and accident reports, and find every means possible to prove negligence on the part of the property owner. Additionally, we will deal with the insurance companies involved in your case, aggressively negotiating for the maximum compensation you deserve.

How to Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case?

Under the Michigan statute for premises liability laws, property owners and managers have a legal duty of care to make sure that their properties are properly maintained to prevent injuries from befalling lawful visitors. If they fail to address or fix dangerous conditions in a timely manner, this may be considered negligence, and you may have a valid slip-and-fall lawsuit on your hands.

To win a slip and fall accident case, your slip and fall attorneys must establish negligence on the part of the defendant.

This can be accomplished by the following:

The defendant had a duty of care to keep their property reasonably safe
There was a dangerous condition or hazard on the property that posed an unreasonable risk of harm
Either the defendant knew of the dangerous condition or otherwise should have known
The defendant had adequate time to remedy the condition or alert visitors of the risks but failed to do so
As a result of the negligence and failure to properly fix or warn of the hazardous conditions, you suffered real damages and injuries

Multiple parties can be involved and held accountable in a slip-and-fall case. Most often, the parties held negligent include business owners, managers, and property owners. However, management companies or even government municipalities could be held accountable in some cases. As your legal representation, we will attempt to hold all at-fault parties accountable for their actions.

What Types of Compensation Could Be Awarded in Slip and Fall Cases?

With a successful slip and fall accident lawsuit, you can recover compensation for your injuries, property damage, and other losses associated with the accident. The extent of the damages you stand to recover will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, how those injuries affect your life going forward, and the circumstances of the accident.

Economic damages may include the following:

Past medical bills and future medical expenses
Lost wages and lost income earning capacity
Home health care services
Nursing home services
Rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses
The cost of prescription medications
Long-term care
Funeral, memorial, and burial expenses
Property damage

Non-economic damages may include the following:

Emotional distress and mental anguish
Physical pain and suffering
Loss of companionship or consortium
Disability, disfigurement, or dismemberment
Loss of self-esteem or quality of life
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Wrongful death

In slip-and-fall cases where the negligence was malicious or especially wanton, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the at-fault party.

What is the Time Limit for Filing a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?

Michigan has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Injured victims typically have three years from the date of the accident to file their slip-and-fall claim. If the deadline passes without a lawsuit being filed, victims are usually barred from recovering any form of compensation.

There are some exceptions to the rule, however, such as whether the accident was the fault of a government entity or if the injured party was a minor at the time of the accident.

It is imperative that you seek professional legal representation without delay. Acting quickly and working with your lawyers can ensure that you do not miss the deadline for filing your premises liability lawsuit. The sooner you speak with slip-and-fall lawyers, the more time they will have to gather evidence, investigate your case, and negotiate with the insurance company.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Experienced Michigan Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys Today

In many slip-and-fall accident cases, it is fairly common for the insurance company to offer a lowball settlement to the injured victim or their family in an attempt just to make the case go away. It’s essential that you understand that you needn’t accept the initial offer made by the insurance company. You are allowed to negotiate for better terms. Our legal staff would be proud to assist you in that aim.

Sigal Law Firm has years of experience representing the Detroit area in a variety of personal injury cases, including slip and fall cases. We provide compassionate legal services to injured clients and grieving family members in hopes of making them whole again.

To learn more about our legal services and how we may help guide you through the process of filing your slip and fall claim and fighting for what your case is worth, please contact our Detroit law offices to schedule your free initial consultation today. You may reach us at 248-671-6794.