It is normal for people to slip or trip occasionally. Most of the time, individuals can quickly recover from a fall by catching themselves or fixing their balance without actually hitting the ground. Even if they fall to the ground, most can still pick themselves up and walk away with little to no damage.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some falls could cause severe, life-threatening injuries that are especially devastating if sustained due to someone else’s negligence. If you fell while on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to receive damages in a personal injury legal claim. A Bangor slip and fall lawyer can assess your case and advise you of your legal options. Reach out to Gideon Asen LLC today to discuss your circumstances with a personal injury attorney.
How Bangor Slip and Fall Cases Work
Legal claims involving slip and fall accidents fall under an area of personal injury law known as premises liability. Local property owners have a duty of care to protect invited guests on their land, meaning they are responsible for maintaining areas of concern and taking preventive measures against potential causes of harm on their property. When landowners or property managers fail to uphold this duty of care, and somebody sustains an injury due to falling on their property, they may be held financially responsible for covering the costs associated with these damages.
If a claimant fell while visiting someone else’s property, they might be eligible to collect damages. A local slip and fall attorney can investigate their accident and help determine the liable party.
Conditions That Could Cause a Slip and Fall Accident
For a slip and fall claim to succeed, an injured claimant must prove that they suffered harm while on another person’s property due to unsafe or hazardous conditions. Landowners are responsible for any dangerous conditions on their property that could cause a person to fall and injure themselves.
Some examples of dangerous conditions on a property that could cause a person to fall include:
- Broken or defective stairs, steps, or handrails
- Poorly lit hallways, stairwells, or walkways
- Broken decks or porches
- Wet floors due to spills or leaked materials
- Freshly mopped surfaces
- Uneven walking surfaces in a parking lot or sidewalk caused by cracks or potholes
- Slippery sidewalks, entryways, or walkways due to uncleared snow or ice
- Bunched up carpets
- Electrical cords or other protruding objects on a floor
It is important to note that just because a property contains dangerous conditions does not mean the property owner is automatically legally responsible for any injuries due to that hazard. An injured claimant must show that the property owner knew about the dangerous condition on their property and failed to act within a reasonable timeframe to remove or warn people about it. Alternatively, the claimant can demonstrate that a reasonable landowner should have known about the risk through routine property inspections and maintenance.
A seasoned Bangor attorney can investigate the circumstances surrounding a fall to evaluate the possibility of litigation.
Let a Bangor Slip and Fall Attorney Help You
Insurance companies frequently offer inadequate settlement figures to slip and fall cases. If someone else’s negligence caused your slip or fall on their property, dedicated legal counsel can help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your damages.
A Bangor slip and fall lawyer has the experience necessary to prove why a property owner was negligent and legally responsible for your injuries. Contact us at Gideon Asen LLC to discuss your case today.
