A bad fall can cause serious injuries that disrupt your daily life and cost a lot of money and time to treat. If you get hurt because someone else didn’t take proper care of their land or property, they may be responsible for compensating your losses. However, it can be challenging to prove that a landowner is responsible for your injuries.
Fortunately, help is available from the skilled attorneys at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. Our Reading slip and fall lawyers have significant experience fighting and winning on behalf of people in your situation. Recently, Attorney Christine Clarke and Managing Partner Rich Godshall won a $900,000 verdict in a nearby county for a client who fell and broke her leg due to an unsafe apartment stairwell. Our renowned attorneys will fight tirelessly for your best interests and help you reclaim your life.
Making Someone Else Pay for a Slip and Fall
When suing someone over a slip and fall, it’s important to understand that landowners aren’t automatically responsible for every accident on their property. To make a property owner pay for the losses you suffered, you and your Reading slip and fall attorney need to prove that they were legally “negligent.” This means proving that:
- The property owner you’re suing (the “defendant”) had a legal duty to take care of their land in a way that kept you safe from harm
- The defendant didn’t live up to their duty and instead acted recklessly or carelessly, leaving their land unreasonably unsafe
- You slipped or tripped and fell because of an unsafe condition on the defendant’s land that wouldn’t have been a problem if they had followed their legal duty
- Every loss you seek to get paid for through your claim was caused by your slipping or tripping accident
However, landowners do not owe everyone on their land the same “duty of care.” What counts as a violation of this duty can vary depending on your reason for visiting the property, as our slip and fall lawyers can explain.
Partial Liability for Tripping Accident Claims
Another legal concept that can cause problems during a slip and fall lawsuit is “comparative fault.” This is the amount of fault an injured person holds for causing their injuries through their own behavior. If you were negligent, a court might assign you a percentage of fault for any injuries you suffered, even if your accident was still mostly the landowner’s fault.
Pennsylvania law allows courts to reduce the total amount of money you can receive through a successful case result based on your share of the total fault. For instance, a person found 25% at fault for their own injuries could only get paid for 75% of the total value of their damages. Your lawyer will play a key role in fighting accusations of comparative fault and pursuing full compensation for your trip and fall case in Reading.
Talk to a Reading Slip and Fall Attorney Today
Filing a lawsuit against a negligent property owner may be the best way of getting the resources you need to recover from your injuries. Support from a winning attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can make a world of difference in the outcome of your case.
The help you need is just a phone call away. Let a Reading slip and fall lawyer handle every aspect of your case while you focus on healing. Call today for a consultation.
