Every year millions of older adults and significant numbers of younger people experience a slip and fall that results in serious injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), unintentional injuries, including falls, contribute to more years of potential life lost than any other cause of death.
National estimates reveal that unintentional falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries treated in hospital emergency departments for almost all age groups. Further, accidental slips and falls are the leading cause of injury deaths in individuals 65 years and older.
Those who suffer injuries in a slip and fall accident may have a premises liability claim against the property owner or occupant.
Portland slip and fall cases are rarely straightforward, and these claims require a detailed understanding of complex procedural, evidentiary, and substantive tort concepts. Contact the trustworthy and skilled slip and fall lawyers at Mann Law for a free and confidential consultation.
What is a slip and fall lawyer? A slip and fall lawyer is a personal injury attorney who provides representation to those who have suffered injuries because of another’s negligence. The primary goals of a slip and fall attorney are to make their client “whole again” and to discourage others from engaging in conduct that led to the incident.
An experienced and trustworthy Maine slip and fall lawyer will address the following areas when handling a case.
A slip and fall attorney should provide clients with information about their rights and remedies. This explanation includes reviewing relevant federal and state laws and conveying how these laws may impact a case or recovery.
Personal injury cases are complex and involve many procedural and evidentiary rules. Missteps at any stage of a personal injury claim can have long-term consequences on a slip and fall victim. An attorney can assist a client with understanding the various avenues to relief and the best possible way to achieve a favorable outcome.
Insurance companies are for-profit entities and work to maximize their financial standing. Dealing with insurance companies after an accident can be an arduous process fraught with bureaucratic red tape. A personal injury attorney can negotiate with insurance companies to help come to a settlement.
Most personal injury cases settle before reaching litigation. However, litigation may be necessary in some cases to achieve an appropriate damage award. In these cases, an experienced attorney can represent personal injury victims in all stages of a trial.
In addition, there are many other aspects that a personal injury lawyer can help claimants with during their lawsuits. A slip and fall lawyer can:
Slip and fall lawyers are crucial to successful outcomes and favorable compensation settlements. It is essential that injury victims consult with an attorney to discuss their rights and remedies after a fall.
Should I get a lawyer for slip and fall? Slip and fall cases are the most common types of premises liability lawsuits. However, despite the prevalence of these lawsuits, they present many challenges and are hard to win.
When these types of accidents occur, they tend to involve the negligence of a property or business owner. In many cases, these entities have a team of lawyers and a fierce insurance company to prevent paying out significant sums to those injured by a slip and fall on their property. This fundamental power imbalance leaves victims in a precarious and daunting position.
Further, Maine’s personal injury statutes establish strict filing, notice, and evidentiary rules. Failure to abide by these laws can result in a dismissal and a bar to recovery.
An experienced slip-and-fall lawyer can help balance the scales and ensure that accident victims receive the best possible representation and secure appropriate compensation from the at-fault party.
With nearly 4,000 active lawyers in Maine, slip and fall claimants can find it overwhelming to decide what firm and attorney to retain for their personal injury lawsuit. Although attorneys must meet specific minimum qualifications to remain active and in good standing, there are certain characteristics that only the best slip and fall lawyers possess.
What are the characteristics of the best slip and fall lawyer in Portland? The best slip and fall lawyers in Portland are experienced, trustworthy, empathetic, passionate for justice, attentive to detail, and committed to their clients. In addition, the best slip and fall attorneys in Portland, Maine, have
Those facing significant injuries or damages from a slip and fall accident should consult a top-rated, experienced personal injury law firm. Many issues and aspects can affect a claim’s success, and choosing the best attorney is the first step to a favorable slip and fall claim.
Responsibility depends on who controlled the property where you fell. Property owners and occupants in Portland have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. If they knew about a dangerous condition like a wet floor, broken step, or icy walkway and failed to address it, they may be liable for your injuries. An attorney can investigate the circumstances and identify all responsible parties.
If you are able, report the incident to the property owner or manager right away and ask for a written record. Take photos of the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area before anything is cleaned up or changed. Collect contact information from any witnesses. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you feel fine, since some injuries take time to appear. These steps can be critical to protecting your claim.
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, future treatment costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any long-term impact on your ability to work or enjoy daily life. Every case is different, and the value of a claim depends on factors like the severity of your injuries and how clearly another party’s negligence caused the fall.
Maine follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially responsible for the accident, as long as you were not more at fault than the other party. Your compensation would be reduced by your percentage of fault. An attorney can help evaluate how fault is likely to be assigned in your specific situation.
At Mann Law, we conduct a thorough investigation of the accident, gather evidence such as surveillance footage and maintenance records, consult with medical professionals, and negotiate directly with insurance companies on your behalf. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to court. You receive direct, attentive communication throughout the entire process.
No. Unlike some states, Maine doesn’t distinguish between business customers and social guests when it comes to a property owner’s duty to keep the premises reasonably safe for anyone with permission to be there.
Yes, if they knew or reasonably should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or adequately warn visitors. You don’t have to prove the owner personally caused the hazard, just that they had notice of it and didn’t address it.
No, the same rule applies. Under Maine’s modified comparative fault statute, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault in a slip-and-fall case just as it would be in a car accident, and you can still recover as long as you’re not found more than 50% at fault.
An “open and obvious” hazard can reduce or complicate liability, since property owners generally have less duty to warn about dangers a reasonable visitor should have noticed themselves. This doesn’t automatically defeat your claim, but it’s a common defense worth preparing for with an attorney’s help.
If you recently fell on another’s property or at a local business, the owner of the property may be responsible for your damages.
At Mann Law, we’ve assembled a dedicated team of Portland slip and fall lawyers who are uniquely dedicated to both our clients and their cases. We understand unexpected injuries can have a major impact on your life, and we want to help connect you with meaningful compensation for what you’ve been through.
Our attorneys have nearly 20 years of hands-on experience successfully handling premises liability cases, and we look forward to speaking with you to see what we can do to help.
To learn more and schedule a free consultation today, call 207-618-6531 today. You can also connect with us through our online contact form. We take all slip and fall cases on a contingency basis, meaning we will not collect any fees unless we can connect you with compensation for your injuries.
