New Jersey Slip and Fall Lawyer

Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents

In general terms, a “slip and fall” accident refers to a situation in which a person is injured by slipping, tripping, and/or falling due to a dangerous condition or hazard on a premises. Such falls can happen inside or outside of a building and be caused by a variety of unsafe or defective conditions, such as uneven flooring, wet floors, poorly lighted steps, or, in the case of outdoor accidents, weather-related or hidden hazards. An icy patch outside a door, a crack in the asphalt, or even a pothole can be the cause of a slip and fall in a parking lot, for instance.

When you are injured due to poor property maintenance or unsafe, defective, or hazardous conditions on someone else’s property, you could be entitled to financial compensation. Our New Jersey slip and fall lawyers understand the complex and sensitive nature of these cases. When you turn to The Law Offices Of James C. DeZao, P.A., we will inform you of all your legal options and devise an innovative legal strategy based on the details of your case.

Get started with a free initial consultation; call (973) 358-6134 or contact us online. 

Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident?

Slip and fall cases fall under premises liability law. In New Jersey, premises liability laws outline the duties, responsibilities, and obligations property owners have to different types of visitors, including invited guests and customers (invitees), those who lawfully enter the property (licensees), and individuals who enter a property unlawfully (trespassers).

Generally speaking, New Jersey property owners must:

• Properly maintain buildings and premises
• Remove or repair dangerous conditions or hazards
• Warn visitors of dangerous conditions or hazards that cannot be removed or repaired
• Refrain from causing willful injury or harm to anyone who visits the property, including trespassers

If a property owner fails to take reasonable measures to prevent foreseeable injury, and someone is hurt in a slip and fall accident as a result, the property owner could be liable for the injured party’s damages. As the person bringing the claim (known as the “plaintiff”), you will need to prove that the property owner owed a duty of care based on your status as a visitor, that they violated this duty of care, and that you were injured as a result of the property owner’s failure to uphold the duty of care.

Additionally, to hold a property owner liable for your damages, you will likely need to prove that the dangerous condition or hazard that caused the incident was one the property owner knew about or reasonably should have known about. The law does not hold property owners liable for dangerous or defective conditions which they could not reasonably have known existed.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Slip and Falls?

There is a common misconception that slip and falls most often occur as a result of the victim’s own clumsiness or negligence. However, this is not the case. In fact, most slip and fall accidents result from unsafe property conditions or hazards that should have been removed or repaired. At the very least, the existence of these hazards should be communicated to visitors so that they may take the necessary measures to avoid being injured.

Specifically, some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:

• Wet or slippery floors
• Recently mopped or waxed floors
• Spills and fallen merchandise
• Uneven flooring
• Torn or ripped carpeting
• Tripping hazards, such as cords lying in walkways
• Cluttered walkways and aisles
• Potholes
• Defective stairs, stairwells, and steps
• Missing handrails
• Poor lighting
• Improper property maintenance
• Defective escalators
• Accumulated ice or snow
• Missing signage, such as wet floor signs
• Building code violations

Property owners should take the necessary steps to repair, remove, or warn visitors of unsafe or hazardous conditions. When they fail to do so, and innocent people are hurt, they can be held legally responsible for victims’ economic and non-economic losses.

Call (973) 358-6134 or contact us online for a free consultation. There are no fees for you unless/until we recover compensation on your behalf.