What To Do When You Fall On a Business Property

The lawyers at Hoffman, Sternberg & Karpf, LLC handle many cases that involve people falling down due to the negligence of a Bucks County business.  Whether it be a slippery substance that causes someone to slip and fall; or a defective condition of the property such as uneven sidewalks or walkways, these types of events can cause serious injuries.

If the property is in disrepair or the owner knew about the risk and ignored it, you could have a claim.  Your claim could be for medical bills, lost wages and money for your pain and suffering.  But before you make a claim, the lawyers at Hoffman, Sternberg & Karpf, LLC would have to ask a lot of questions, depending upon the case, about the dangerous condition and what the property owner knew. 

For example, was the entrance to the building covered by ice? Was it obvious the porch was infested with termites, falling apart, or likely to collapse? Were there signs warning of danger? Or was it a hidden condition?  If there is a hidden condition or defect, a property owner can claim he didn’t know about it and can’t reasonably have been expected to know about it or fix it. If the property owner has done everything possible to keep the property safe, the fact that you fell and got injured may not be his fault.

One of the important questions is whether or not the property owner, or its employees, caused the dangerous condition.  Did a waitress at the restaurant spill soda right in front of your path to the restrooms? Did the owner divert you off the sidewalks to a detour over an uneven rocky path?  Did the grocery store clerk knock over a jar of sauce and not clean it up?

The main takeaway is to realize that success with these type of cases is dependent on many rules and laws that protect property owners as much as they protect people who have been injured. If you fell and were injured on someone else’s property you should contact an experienced attorney who can analyze whether or not you have a claim, and then file the claim against all parties that may be liable for your injury.

If you have any questions about a slip and fall injury, please call the lawyers at Hoffman, Sternberg & Karpf, LLC. at (215) 953-8955.