Although a trip and fall may seem like a minor incident, some falls can lead to significant and even permanent injuries.
If you needed to seek medical care or miss work after a serious fall, you may be struggling to pay for the necessary treatment.
A Bangor slip and fall lawyer could review the circumstances of your fall to determine whether your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence.
If so, damages could reimburse your injury-related losses and compensate for your pain and inconvenience. Speak to a dedicated attorney to learn your legal rights in pursuing restitution.
Some states distinguish between business customers and social guests when determining liability for an injury, but this is not the case in Maine.
All property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe for any visitor who has permission to enter.
A property owner could be liable for any hazard that injures a visitor if they knew or should have known about the danger.
Owners or managers who cannot repair a hazardous condition immediately must warn visitors and block access to the dangerous area.
Various conditions might cause a fall and lead to owner liability, including:
Although property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe, visitors also have a responsibility to use reasonable care.
If you as a plaintiff are partially responsible for your own injuries, Maine Revised Statute §156 allows you to collect reduced damages so long as you were less than 50 percent at fault.
A knowledgeable lawyer in the area could gather evidence demonstrating that the landowner had primary responsibility for your fall.
Sometimes, people are reluctant to speak with an attorney after a fall, especially if they were at a friend’s home or a favorite local business.
They might feel a lawsuit could cause hard feelings. An injured person might also believe they can negotiate a reasonable settlement on their own if their injuries did not require significant medical intervention.
However, a layperson will likely undervalue the amount of compensation needed to cover all their losses.
Insurance companies often exploit people who do not have the legal background necessary to accurately calculate their losses.
After a slip and fall, working with a Bangor attorney is the best way to protect one’s best interests.
A legal professional could contact the property owner’s insurance company and handle negotiations. If necessary, a skilled lawyer could also file a lawsuit and represent a slip and fall victim in court.
It can be challenging to keep a clear head in the moments after a serious injury. However, there are several actions to take after an accident that could strengthen a slip and fall claim for monetary damages.
For instance, it is a good idea to obtain the contact information of witnesses and take pictures of the scene, if possible.
However, injured people should limit their conversations with property owners, business managers, or employees about what happened.
Avoid apologizing or taking responsibility for the fall, as an insurance company is likely to construe such words as an admission of fault.
It is critical to seek medical care after a fall, as many injuries may not present symptoms immediately. Prompt diagnosis and treatment could prevent fall injuries from worsening.
In addition, an insurance company might question whether the claimant’s condition resulted from a fall.
A medical record dated soon after the incident could serve as convincing evidence that the fall caused the injury.
It is also recommended that slip and fall victims contact legal counsel soon after an accident for help gathering evidence and building a claim.
If someone else’s negligence caused a fall that necessitated medical treatment, required time off from work, or otherwise disrupted your life, you could be entitled to damages.
Consult a Bangor slip and fall lawyer at Mann Law to learn your options for pursuing compensation.
Our principal attorney Chrissy Mann has over 20 years of litigation experience, and she is respected as a skilled, fair, and compassionate advocate for her clients.
In 2010 and 2011, she was one of the few lawyers in Maine to be awarded the New England Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in personal injury law.
In 2012, she was selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list.
The experience and relationships of Mann Law are invaluable. While you work on your health, we take care of everything else to win your case. As personal injury lawyers, the bottom line is about getting you what you deserve.
As lawyers who care, we are also focused on you. While you work on your health, we handle everything else to win your case.
Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we can advocate for you.
