Slip and fall accidents can happen virtually anywhere and anytime, leaving victims with bad injuries. We help victims in the aftermath determine whether they have a lawsuit and, if so, how much that lawsuit is worth.
Property owners typically bear liability for slip and falls, even if it does not appear that way initially. We can show how exposed wires, loose carpets, broken floorboards, or other hazards caused the accident, not your clumsiness. Eyewitness statements help prove this, as do photos and videos. We can document damages with medical bills, income records, and journals describing victims’ pain and suffering. Some cases settle fairly out of court, while others go to trial, where victims claim jury awards.
Call our slip and fall lawyers at (617) 925-6407 for a free case assessment from the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.
Who Bears Liability for Slip and Falls in Hopkinton?
When you enter someone else’s property, they owe you a duty to ensure it is reasonably safe and hazard-free. If they breach that duty and you suffer injuries, you can sue them for compensation.
Some of the most common slip and fall scenarios occur in restaurants. If staff does not clean up spilled food or drinks fast enough, patrons might slip. Falls from bad lighting or broken floorboards also warrant lawsuits.
Homeowners owe visitors a duty of care as well. Uneven surfaces, exposed cords, and loose rugs, cause trips, slips, and falls.
If you fell in apartment building common areas because of a hazard, the owner would also be liable.
Many victims attribute slip and falls to their own clumsiness, not someone else’s negligence. Often, the true reason is a hazard that should have been addressed but was not, like exposed wires or a broken floor tile. Let our lawyers examine your case to see if someone else is liable for your slip and fall and you can file a lawsuit.
Ways to Document Damages from Hopkinton Slip and Falls
There are various ways to document victims’ damages after slip and falls. We will need proof of economic damages, like medical costs and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.
Hospital Bills
Hospital bills prove the cost of medical treatment. Give us copies of bills from all providers. These bills should correspond with your medical records, detailing the different therapies, surgeries, or treatments you received.
Income Records
Income records show your previous wages and what you would have kept earning if not for the accident. Medical records and physician testimony prove your injuries prevent you from working. Experts can also estimate reduced earning capacity after victims suffer permanent injuries.
Journals
Victims can document their non-economic damages by keeping journals. There, you can note how your injuries have affected your quality of life. Victims can keep track of the physical pain from their injuries and the emotional distress of intense medical treatment. Victims can also testify during trials for slip and falls and describe their pain and suffering for jurors.
When Should I File a Lawsuit for a Slip and Fall in Hopkinton?
Suffering injuries that land you in the hospital means incurring expensive damages. Even mild fractures require X-rays, splints or casts, and follow-up appointments, all of which add up to thousands of dollars.
For worse injuries, like displaced fractures or head and back injuries, medical expenses are even greater. You should file a lawsuit to recover these damages so you do not have to pay them yourself.
See if you have a case right away by contacting us straight after your slip and fall. Massachusetts gives plaintiffs three years to file lawsuits, and we may need much of that time to prepare yours.
Rushing filing before you know your lawsuit’s value is inadvisable. If you file before you know all damages, current and future, you might accept lowball settlements. Once plaintiffs sign settlement agreements, cases end, and victims cannot seek additional compensation.
Our slip and fall lawyers will file your case after we know your total damages but before the statute of limitations runs out.
Do You Need Witness Statements for Your Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Hopkinton?
Eyewitness statements are some of the strongest evidence in slip and fall lawsuits. While you do not need them to get compensation, witness statements are important, so we will prioritize getting them.
Talk to witnesses before leaving the accident location to get medical attention. Rather than discussing the accident, ask for their names and phone numbers so we can contact them shortly.
Eyewitnesses can confirm how and why you fell. They can dispel assertions that you fell on your own accord or intentionally. Eyewitnesses can also testify about visible injuries you sustained at the scene.
Along with eyewitness statements, video footage is useful. Retail stores, restaurants, and other common locations for slip and falls often have security cameras, and we can demand any relevant footage is preserved.
Should You Settle a Slip and Fall Lawsuit or Go to Court in Hopkinton?
Many slip and fall cases settle without trials. Some go to court because liable parties refuse to increase their offers, and victims cannot afford to settle for less than what they deserve.
Aggressive negotiations can yield good out-of-court offers. We can leverage video footage, eyewitness statements, and other compelling evidence over the defense. Settling too fast has drawbacks. The first few offers are generally low and may not cover non-economic damages.
Massachusetts courts are not limited when awarding compensatory damages in personal injury lawsuits. If you go to trial and the jury finds the defendant liable, it awards damages. Awards are based on the relief requests we make in complaints, so their accuracy is important.
Call Our Lawyers to Discuss Your Injury Case in Hopkinton
Call (617) 925-6407 for a free case review from the Law Office of John J. Sheehan’s slip and fall lawyers.