Your Paterson, NJ, Slip and Fall Lawyers

Next, we need to build your case. It’s important that we have the strongest possible case to pursue a settlement for you because New Jersey uses a concept called “modified comparative negligence.” Under this New Jersey law, the amount of responsibility you share in a slip and fall accident cannot be greater than that of the person who caused your injuries. In simple terms, this just means that if you are 50% or more responsible for the accident, you won’t have a right to compensation.

In addition, any settlement you receive will be reduced by the percentage of responsibility you hold. That means if you are 10% responsible, you will only get 90% of the final settlement value.

For that reason, we must gather enough evidence to support a strong case for you. We will put together witness testimony, medical records, documents, photographs of the scene, doctors’ testimony, and even journals that you keep of your struggles. Anything we can get to support your case, we will handle it.

This is the part of your case that can take a long time, but we ask for your patience and we will keep you informed and involved as much as you like the entire time. First, we will issue a letter to the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. In this letter, we will outline how much your settlement is worth, and why we think you deserve that amount. They will respond, usually with a lowball offer, and pick apart our demand letter.

From there begins a back-and-forth process that can sometimes take months as we negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Peter N. Davis & Associates have been advocating for injured New Jerseyans for decades, so you can trust that we will be advocating for you every step of the way.

No matter how hard we work to negotiate your settlement, sometimes negotiations break down and we must go to court. Going to court is extremely rare for slip and fall cases because court cases tend to be long, drawn-out, and expensive. We will only advise going to court if we cannot negotiate the fair settlement you truly deserve.

If we do have to go to court, however, be assured that we will be your loyal advocate. We’ve been fighting insurance companies since 1989, and we are ready to stand up for your rights.

Once a settlement is reached, it’s time to receive that check! Our team will work to prevent any delays in receiving your check. We understand how important this settlement is as you heal from your injuries, so we will make sure you get what you need as quickly as possible.

The property owner will likely have a big insurance company on their side who will work hard to pay you as little as possible or escape liability entirely. Having an experienced Paterson, NJ, slip and fall lawyer in your corner will help even the playing field and give you the best chance at getting the full amount you deserve.

You don’t have to talk to the property owner’s insurance adjuster and it’s important that you never agree to or sign anything they give you unless you’ve spoken with an attorney first. In many cases, it’s much better simply to refer the insurance adjuster directly to your lawyer. At Peter N. Davis and Associates, we know how to stand up to their tactics and will fight to protect your best interests.

If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident, you could be compensated for a wide range of damages, including your medical bills, lost wages and future earnings, pain and suffering, depression, panic attacks, lost relationships and comfort, and more. An attorney can evaluate your case and help you determine what you’re owed.

It’s difficult to know upfront exactly how long it will take to resolve a case, so it’s important to be as patient as possible and contact a lawyer for help. Negotiating a fair settlement in these situations often requires you to wait to find out how long your medical treatment will last and there will likely be a lot of back and forth between your lawyer and the other party’s insurance company. Be assured, though, that our lawyers will fight every step of the way to protect your rights and get you justice as quickly and efficiently as we can.

If you’ve been injured in an accident on a friend or family member’s property, you may be hesitant to open a claim and damage your relationship. A common misconception with personal injury cases is that you’re suing the property owner, but you’re actually suing the insurance company. Insurance is designed to financially protect the property owner in the event of an accident, so your loved one isn’t personally paying out of pocket for your compensation.

Slip and fall accidents can be complex when it comes to fault. Premises liability is a legal term that states that a property owner or business owner is responsible for injuries that occur on the property, so fault depends on who is responsible for maintaining the safety of the property. For example, a landlord may be responsible for most maintenance on the property, but the renter may be responsible for maintaining the safety of the steps where you fell. Regardless of where you were, our team is here to help you determine who was at fault for your injury and help you seek the compensation you’re entitled to.

Slip and fall injuries in the workplace can be complicated. A workers’ compensation claim may be necessary to pay medical expenses and replace lost wages in some cases. However, some falls that occur on company property are the fault of another company, such as an outsourced maintenance company responsible for snow removal. You can seek compensation from their insurance. In these cases, it’s best to get the help of an experienced Paterson, NJ, slip and fall lawyer.

Cities and municipalities have a responsibility to maintain the safety of streets, sidewalks, and government buildings. If you were injured by slipping and falling on a broken sidewalk, for example, you may be able to seek compensation from the city. However, these cases have strict deadlines and requirements, so it’s important to speak to a lawyer to help you pursue what you deserve.

While injuries resulting from street crime are separate from injury claims, premises liability may be involved. If the property owner provided insufficient security, such as inadequate lighting in a parking lot, that could have encouraged criminal activity leading to a slip and fall injury. It’s important to remember that these cases are complicated and completely separate from the criminal case. Our lawyers at Peter N. Davis & Associates can help you determine if a slip and fall injury claim is appropriate for your circumstances.

Patient slip and fall injuries in nursing facilities and hospitals are common, but seeking compensation is complex. Falls that occur in these environments can result from improper building or premises maintenance or staff carelessness, recklessness, or abuse, making the cases unique. These injuries can occur during short hospital stays, outpatient care, or long-term nursing care. Our experienced attorneys can review the details of the case to determine if the accident was caused by the carelessness of staff or the property owners and whether a premises liability case is the right choice for you.

Negligence is a legal term that means proving that the other side was responsible. There are three things we have to prove to show negligence in your case:

• The first thing we prove is that the other party had a responsibility to provide a safe environment. This is the easiest to establish, especially in a slip and fall case.
• Next, we have to prove that they did not uphold that responsibility by failing to address a dangerous situation, and that this led to the accident. For example, if a loose bit of carpet on the stairs causes you to trip, and the other party should have known that it was there but failed to fix it or warn you about it, they have violated their responsibility.
• Finally, we need to show that you got hurt and that your injuries are a direct result of the accident.

You are responsible for paying your medical bills, even if someone else caused your injuries. But, you have a right to seek the compensation you recover the expenses you have paid.

There are options if you are worried about covering your medical bills. If you have private health care coverage, your insurance carrier may cover your bills while we seek a settlement in some cases. Either your health insurance carrier will pay the bills or they will become part of the money damages and get paid at the end of the case.

If you have worries about paying your medical bills, talk to Peter N. Davis & Associates! Our Northern New Jersey attorneys can advise you on how to best go about covering your bills while we seek compensation for your injuries. Get your free case review today to get started at no cost!