Although many trips and falls are minor occurrences, some can lead to severe injuries with long-lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If your fall happened on someone else’s property because they failed to keep the premises safe for visitors, you could be compensated for your injuries. Property owners, business owners, and others who invite people to or allow people on their property must maintain safe premises and fix any potential hazards.
Contact a skilled attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers immediately if you were hurt in a fall on someone else’s property. An Allentown slip and fall lawyer like Jon Ostroff can review your situation and find out who was responsible. One of our clients was a contractor who sustained shoulder and spine injuries after falling through a trapdoor in a home he was remodeling. We recovered $380,000 from multiple parties on his behalf. Our team has the expertise to identify and pursue the responsible parties and fight tirelessly for the compensation our clients deserve.
Severe Injuries Could Result from a Slip and Fall Accident
Slips and falls lead to millions of emergency room visits—the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that three million older adults are treated in the emergency room for falls every year. Children and younger adults also make many ER visits due to falls.
Every accident is different, but some injuries are common in slip and fall cases. Injuries our Allentown attorneys often see when people fall include:
- Broken bones in the arm, wrist, and hands
- Neck and shoulder hyperextension (whiplash)
- Dislocated shoulder
- Rib fracture
- Sprained or broken ankle or leg
- Broken hip
- Facial injuries
- Fractured skull
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
Any of these injuries could require emergency medical treatment, and some could require surgery and rehabilitation.
The landowner who allowed dangerous conditions to exist on their property may be responsible for your injuries. Your experienced Allentown slip and fall attorney can make the landowner pay for your pain and suffering, medical costs, lost wages, inconvenience, embarrassment, and other losses.
What to Do after a Serious Fall
Building a case against a property owner requires proof that they did not keep the property safe. Your lawyer in Allentown will investigate to collect evidence for your slip and fall case. There are several things you can do to maintain your physical well-being and help your future claim for damages:
- Do not get up until you have been checked by paramedics.
- Ask the owner or manager to call an ambulance. Even if you don’t think you’re seriously hurt, it’s important to have a doctor check.
- If you were with someone when you fell, ask them or a witness to take pictures of the area where you fell.
- Get the names and contact information of the property manager and any witnesses, if possible.
- Don’t talk to insurance companies or defense attorneys without seeking legal counsel.
- Once you are in private, write down or record on your phone everything you can remember about what happened.
- Contact a skilled lawyer as soon as possible.
It’s also best not to drive after a severe fall. If you don’t take an ambulance, have someone drive you to the hospital or your doctor’s office or ask the property owner to provide a taxi. Getting immediate medical care is essential. Many injuries that people suffer in falls don’t show symptoms right away, and it’s essential to have a medical exam to protect your health. In addition, a doctor’s medical record made soon after the fall is vital evidence in your case.
Act Quickly to Hold the Owner Responsible
The law at 42 Pennsylvania General Statutes §5524 says you must file a lawsuit claiming money for injuries within two years of the accident. The timeframe could be even shorter if you fell on government property. If you miss the deadline, a court could throw out your case without even hearing it.
The law has some exceptions that could apply in particular cases. However, the best way to protect yourself is by calling one of our Allentown injury attorneys as soon as possible after a slip and fall. We will preserve your rights and help you file the court papers on time.
Contact an Allentown Slip and Fall Attorney for Guidance
If you got hurt in a fall because a careless or irresponsible property owner didn’t keep their premises safe, you deserve payment for your suffering. An Allentown slip and fall lawyer can fight for the compensation you need to cover your losses and make your best recovery.
Don’t wait to act against the property owner who injured you. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers to speak with one of our seasoned attorneys today.
