What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident on Private Property
Our New Jersey premises liability attorney explains what to do if a slip and fall accident happens on private property and your rights in filing a claim.
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries. When they happen on private property and due to the negligence of the property owner or manager, our New Jersey premises liability attorney helps you hold them accountable. Find out what to do when this type of accident happens and your rights in seeking compensation in a claim.
Slip and Fall Accidents: A Leading Cause of Personal Injuries
The National Safety Council (NSC) warns that slips and falls are one of the leading causes of personal injury. They are also among the most preventable. They generally happen due to negligence on the part of property owners, either in failing to properly maintain the premises or to warn visitors that dangerous conditions exist.
While slips and falls are common in public places, such as stores, restaurants, and office buildings, they are just as likely to occur on private property, such as when visiting someone’s home, walking on the sidewalk in front of a neighbor’s house, or when dropping off packages or misdelivered mail. If a slip and fall does happen, take the following steps:
- Notify the property owner, the police, or other authority immediately, so that an accident report can be filed;
- Make note of the circumstances surrounding your accident and any witnesses at the scene;
- Take photos, if possible, of the surroundings;
- Seek medical care immediately, regardless of the severity of your symptoms.
When Slips and Falls Happen on Private Property
Property owners owe a duty of care to invited guests and visitors to maintain the premises and warn them of potential dangers. If you are visiting someone at their home or other private location and a slip and fall accident occurs, you have the right to hold them liable for losses you suffer either through a claim against their property owner’s insurance policy or through a premises liability lawsuit.
This situation is more complex if you were not an invited guest or were trespassing on private property. The New Jersey Courts advise that, in general, the following applies:
- A property owner owes a duty to not injure trespassers through willful and wanton conduct;
- They have a duty to warn trespassers of potential hazards on the property, though this is a lesser duty than if they were invited guests;
- If the property owner knows people trespass on their private property regularly, such as children cutting through a yard on their way to school, then their duty of care to maintain the premises and warn of potential dangers increases.
Contact Our New Jersey Premises Liability Attorneys
When slips and falls leave you suffering serious personal injuries, Leonard Legal Group helps you get compensation in a claim. Call 973-984-1414 or contact our Morristown premises liability attorney online to request a consultation today.