When you visit a store, a mall, a restaurant, or walk down the sidewalk in Ann Arbor, you probably never stop to wonder about hazardous conditions on the floor or ground that may cause a fall. But, when hazards exist, property and business owners owe a duty to their visitors to warn them or to repair or remove the dangers.
When property and business owners and occupiers fail in this duty, Christensen Law can help you hold them liable for injuries and damages suffered due to those hazards. Our Ann Arbor slip and fall lawyer is here to take the burden and stress out of seeking the compensation owed to you.
Our team has more than 30 years of case experience they can put to work protecting your rights and your financial future. You can schedule a free initial case review and learn more about your options for pursuing compensation for your personal injury.
Hiring a Lawyer for a Slip and Fall in Ann Arbor
You may wonder whether you need a lawyer to pursue compensation for your slip and fall injuries after an accident in Michigan. There is no legal requirement that you hire an attorney to assist with your insurance claims or lawsuits. However, working with our lawyers can give you a team of legal allies who will spare no resources when it comes to getting the money you deserve. Insurance companies are known for being aggressive in trying to settle a claim for the least amount possible, and dealing with them directly may result in accepting a much lower amount than you are owed.
Christensen Law is dedicated to getting justice for those harmed by another party’s negligence. We know how a serious injury can turn your life upside down, so we aggressively and doggedly pursue the financial awards our clients need to aid in their recovery and get back on their feet. We do the work required to build your case and secure your damages so you can focus on your health and your family.
Our Ann Arbor, MI, premises liability attorneys can help by:
- Thoroughly investigating the facts and circumstances of your accident and recovering critical evidence, such as an accident/incident report, surveillance video footage, eyewitness statements, and accident scene photos
- Identifying the party or parties responsible for the hazard that caused your fall
- Filing claims for compensation with insurance companies and handling all related paperwork and deadlines
- Working with engineering and other experts to develop a strong, persuasive legal argument showing how the property or business owner bears legal responsibility for the negligent conditions that caused your accident
- Aggressively negotiating on your behalf to secure a settlement that provides you with full and fair compensation for your injuries and damages
- Preparing your case for court or trial and advocating on your behalf before a judge or jury if necessary
Our experienced attorneys can help you understand developments in your case and advise you on the next steps in your case. We pride ourselves on our attentive, responsive, and compassionate representation. We will be with you every step of the way to act as your legal advocates.
We Put Clients First After Their Slip and Fall Accidents
Our firm’s story began with our founding partner, David Christensen, and his personal commitment to stand up for those searching for help during difficult times. He started Christensen Law with the goal of helping those whose lives have been upended by tragedy.
This foundation guides our altruistic approach to legal representation. We strive to be a voice for the unheard and will fight to safeguard our clients’ futures by ensuring their financial stability is not jeopardized due to someone else’s reckless, wrongful, or negligent actions.
Our personal injury case results include thousands of successful outcomes, hundreds of trial wins, and record-setting multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for individuals and families just like you. What truly sets us apart is our dedication to those we serve. Just read one of our many positive client testimonials:
“Christensen Law…is an awesome law firm. They were knowledgeable on my situation, responsive, and supportive. The staff worked together and were available to answer questions. Most importantly, I felt they were ethical and responsible.” -Wendy Henn
How Much Is My Slip and Fall Case Worth?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slip and falls can cause severe injuries, including hip fractures, broken bones, and head injuries. If you suffered harm during a slip or trip and fall injury caused by negligence, those responsible should pay for your medical treatment and other related losses.
Our skillful attorneys will work tirelessly to identify and secure every cent owed to you or your injured loved one. We prepare every case for trial and will not accept a quick and easy settlement that does not satisfy your losses. We have earned a reputation for success at trial and will not back down until we see your case through to the end.
In general, we can seek compensation for the following in a slip and fall case:
- Past and future expenses for medical treatment or the costs of all the treatment you will require for the injuries you suffered in your accident, including hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s office visits, pain and other prescription medication, physical and occupational therapy, mobility assistance equipment, or other medical devices or equipment
- Long-term care costs if your injuries cause you to suffer a disability, including personal care assistance or even home alterations to accommodate disabilities
- Lost income for the time that you miss from work while recovering from injuries
- Future lost earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to your old line of work or from returning to any form of gainful employment
- Pain and suffering or the physical and mental distress and anguish brought about by your injuries
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life caused by consequences of your injuries like disabilities or physical disfigurement
- Wrongful death compensation on behalf of a fatally injured loved one, including medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, loss of the deceased’s income, support, and services, and loss of consortium or companionship
Time Limit for Filing a Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Under Michigan law, you have a limited period, known as the statute of limitations, to file a lawsuit for compensation for injuries and damages suffered in a slip and fall accident. According to Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805, in general, the deadline for pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident or your loved one’s passing. However, certain circumstances can shorten or lengthen this window.
If you do not file your case before the statute expires, the court will almost certainly permanently dismiss your lawsuit, meaning you will lose your right to pursue compensation in court. Waiting too long can also hurt your bargaining power when it comes to insurance claims.
In addition, if you suffer a slip and fall on publicly owned property and want to bring a case against the government, you must serve a notice of your claim within six months of your accident, according to Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.6431.
These complexities and more should be left to the capable hands of our lawyers, who can tell you more about how time limits can affect your case and help you get started before it is too late.
What Do You Have to Prove in a Slip and Fall Case?
Securing compensation for your damages requires proving that a property or business owner or manager is legally liable for the negligent or dangerous condition that caused your slip and fall. Our Michigan lawyers will gather evidence establishing your right to financial awards. We will also push back against bad-faith tactics, allegations that you caused your accident, and other strategies insurance agents and opposing counsel may use to deny responsibility or pin it on you.
You Must Prove You Were Legally on the Property
Proving the liability of a property owner or business for a slip and fall case will also involve establishing your reason for being on the property. A visitor to a property falls into one of three categories:
- Invitee – Someone who enters another’s property, with permission, for the benefit of the property owner or operator, such as the customers of a business. Owners or operators owe the highest duty of care to an invitee to warn of dangers or hazards on the property but also to regularly inspect the premises and clean or repair any hazardous conditions.
- Licensee – Someone who enters another’s property, with permission, for the licensee’s own benefit, such as a social guest or a door-to-door salesperson. Property owners or operators owe licensees a duty to warn of dangerous or hazardous conditions the licensee likely will not see or avoid.
- Trespasser – Someone who lacks permission to be on the property. Property and business owners need only refrain from recklessly or intentionally causing injury to a trespasser, such as with a trap. However, property and business owners do have a duty to protect child trespassers from dangers and hazards that might attract them (“attractive nuisances”), like a swimming pool or trampoline.
Evidence We Can Use to Support Your Slip and Fall Case
Our Ann Arbor slip and fall lawyers will show that you were legally on the premises at the time of your accident and that the owner knew or should have known about the hazard that caused your fall. We will put in the hours of effort necessary to construct a robust case, leaving you free to focus on your health or care for your hurt family member. We can:
- Obtain medical records, official accident reports, and other relevant documents
- Locate and interview eyewitnesses
- Track down available cell phone or surveillance footage of your slip, trip, and fall
- Consult with doctors about your injuries, future medical costs, and physical pain and suffering
- Work with accident reconstructionist to develop a clear understanding of the cause of your fall
- Collect bills, invoices, pay stubs, receipts, and other proof of your losses
- Consult with vocational experts and economists about your current and future accident-related expenses
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
People often suffer slip and fall accidents due to some condition or hazard on the ground that causes them to lose their footing, even during a regular walking motion. Some common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Standing water
- Snow and ice
- Oil or other slick substances
- Mud, dirt, gravel, or other outdoor materials tracked inside
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Loose or torn rugs or carpeting
- Broken or loose hardwood flooring or tiling
- Abrupt transitions between flooring surfaces, such as going from carpet to hardwood
- Broken or crumbling stairs
- Broken or missing handrails
- Uneven flooring or surfaces (like a curb or half-step)
- Uneven steps or stairs/lack of hand railings
- Trash, debris, or objects on the floor
- Unsecure wires laid across walkways
- Furniture or open cabinets or doors
Property and business owners have a legal duty to warn of or remedy hazardous conditions. When they fail to do so, and these conditions cause a slip- and -fall accident, we can hold them liable. We will ensure responsible parties pay – not your or your loved ones.
Places Where Slip and Fall Accidents Occur
A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere. Our lawyers can help with accidents occurring at:
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Hotels
- Theaters
- Swimming pools
- Grocery stores and supermarkets
- Department stores
- Malls
- Fitness facilities
- Parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Residential complexes
- Government or publicly owned buildings and facilities
What To Do if You or Your Loved One Suffered a Slip and Fall Injury
If you or someone you love suffered a slip and fall while on someone else’s property, you should take the following steps immediately after your accident. Doing so can help strengthen your case for compensation:
- Report your accident to the property or business owner. You should report your slip and fall accident to the property owner or business manager as soon as it happens. When your accident occurs at a commercial establishment, you should ask to speak to a manager or risk management officer. They will likely prepare an accident or incident report, which serves as proof that you notified the business of your accident and will detail the manager’s investigation. You should obtain a copy of the report and get the contact and insurance/risk management information for the property or business, so you know who to contact later to make a claim for compensation. If you could not get this information at the time of your accident, our lawyers can do it for you.
- Take photos or videos of the accident scene. If possible, try to photograph or video the accident scene, including whatever caused your fall, any warning signs or other safety equipment in the area, any visual obstructions, the lighting conditions, and the weather conditions outside (if applicable). You should also try to document and preserve the clothes you were wearing at the time of your fall, especially your footwear.
- Follow up with your doctor or other medical provider. Even if you do not initially feel like you sustained an injury in the fall, it may be a good idea to get a full exam from a doctor or other medical provider. A healthcare professional may be able to identify and treat injuries that are not immediately apparent, such as a concussion. Furthermore, documenting the injuries you suffered in your fall will strengthen your claim that those injuries resulted from your accident.
- Speak to an experienced personal injury attorney in Ann Arbor. Our slip and fall attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and options after your accident. We can also begin contacting insurance companies on your behalf to start the process of seeking the compensation you deserve for your losses.
Get Help from Our Ann Arbor Slip and Fall Lawyer Now
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident in Ann Arbor, MI, due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve financial compensation from the property or business owner where your accident occurred.
Our Michigan personal injury lawyers will seek damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Do not wait another day to start the slip and fall legal process.
Contact Christensen Law now for a free, no-obligation consultation with a slip and fall attorney in Ann Arbor, MI. You can discuss your case and learn more about how a dedicated, skilled slip and fall lawyer can help you seek the financial recovery and justice you need and deserve.
