Slip and Fall is the commonly used term in the personal injury industry for when an individual is made to fall to the ground because they lost their footing. You may also suffer a trip and fall as well, which from a claims perspective is handled in a similar manner to a slip and fall.
A Slip and Fall accident can happen in any number of ways and in any number of locations, whether it be on a sidewalk, in a grocery store, a parking lot, in somebody’s home or on their property.
The owner of any property you enter onto has a duty to keep their premises safe, so you if you fall because of ice, snow, a pool of water, debris, poor maintenance, poor lighting or any other kind of hazards you have a claim.
Notice Periods
If you have Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall accident on municipal property you may have 10 days from the date of the accident to give the municipalitie’s clerk written notice of the accident.
Without providing this notice, you may not be able to proceed with a claim and may lose your right to sue! Therefore, it is imperative that you contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible following a Slip and Fall to ensure that your legal rights are preserved.
Limitations
It is also important to be aware that since January 1, 2004, anybody who has a Slip and Fall accident has 2 years from the date of the accident in which to issue a claim. However, if you were involved in a Slip and Fall before January 1, 2004, the general limitation period is 6 years, but it may also be a much shorter time period, perhaps only as long as 3 months depending on whose property you fell on. Again it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible following a Slip and Fall to make sure that your rights are preserved and that you have not missed your opportunity to be compensated for your losses.
Conclusion
Aside from the notice and limitation periods, you should always try to secure a photograph of the area where the Slip and Fall occurred and the names and contact information of any persons who witnessed your Slip and Fall, since liability is often at issue when it comes to Slip and Falls.
