Brookline, MA Slip & Fall Lawyer

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Tripping, slipping, or falling because of an obstruction or hazard can be dangerous for victims, causing injuries and expensive damages. When such accidents happen due to negligence, victims may file injury claims against at-fault parties.

Slip and fall incidents from negligent property maintenance can happen in residential homes, workplaces, commercial establishments, and businesses. Specifically, stairwells, hallways, crowded worksites, and anywhere with improper lighting or uneven flooring are common locations for falling and tripping accidents. After an incident, victims should immediately photograph the area. They might not be able to return later, and evidence might otherwise be lost if not photographed. Then, you should go straight to the hospital so you can get your injuries diagnosed and begin treatment. While you recover physically, we can prepare your compensation claim and file it by the deadline. Victims who do not bring claims within three years could lose their chance to get compensatory damages, and our lawyers can ensure you avoid that situation.

To get a free and confidential case evaluation from our slip and fall lawyers, call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan now at (617) 925-6407.

Where Slip and Falls Happen in Brookline, MA

Negligent property maintenance can put you at risk of injury virtually anywhere, from a neighbor’s home to a commercial establishment. Specific areas for slips and falls include stairwells, sections of uneven or unsecured flooring, poorly lit hallways, and crowded worksites.

Slip and falls in stairwells present a high risk of serious injury. Victims might trip over loose carpet treads or fall because of poorly secured railings. These accidents could end in serious contusions, internal injuries, fractures, and head injuries for victims.

Any uneven, cracked, loose, or poorly maintained flooring could put visitors at risk of injury. Tripping from standing height does not eliminate the chance of victims suffering spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries, though hand, wrist, and ankle fractures may be more common.

Proper lighting reduces the risk of injury in any location. Unfortunately, dim lighting, particularly in stairwells or hallways, can prevent victims from seeing obstructions or flooring changes, leading to slips and falls.

Falling, tripping, and slipping accidents are also common on crowded worksites. Workers might trip over wires, tools, or other materials, suffering injuries that temporarily prevent them from returning to work. These injuries can result in lost wages and other damages. When injured during a workplace slip and fall in Brookline, your path to recovery may be to file a Workers’ Compensation claim, which our lawyers can assist with.

Your Checklist for After a Slip and Fall in Brookline, MA

Take pictures before leaving the accident’s location to go to the hospital. Documenting the area can enable you to preserve crucial evidence, like the location of an obstruction or hazard. Then, get medical treatment so doctors may diagnose your injuries and build your medical records from the accident. As you physically recover, our attorneys will prepare your lawsuit so we can file it before the statute of limitations runs out in Massachusetts.

Document the Area and Preserve Evidence

Property owners are typically liable for slip and fall injury damages. This means that they may have access to accident scenes after victims leave. Because of this, documenting the area as it is immediately after an accident is important. This helps preserve the scene, which is unlikely to remain intact for long. Photos can show the nature of the hazard, such as insufficient lighting, loose carpeting, or a spilled meal in a restaurant, before the property owner can address it.

If others were present during the accident, such as fellow patrons in a retail shop, ask for their contact information before you leave. Then, give their details to our slip and fall lawyers. We can schedule interviews soon afterward to preserve their statements.

Get Medical Care to Prove Your Injuries

Not all slip and fall injuries, like soft tissue damage or hand and wrist fractures, are immediately very painful or obvious. Victims might think that, with rest and ice, they will heal soon enough. Unfortunately, many slip and fall injuries require some level of medical treatment, and injuries could worsen if that care is delayed.

When you go to the hospital, doctors can perform physical assessments, ask you about the accident, and administer X-rays and other imaging tests to diagnose your injuries. From there, you should continue seeking the appropriate care, such as from specialists if referred.

Causation is one of the four vital elements of personal injury claims. It requires our lawyers to show that the defendant’s negligence caused your specific injuries. If you wait to get medical care, the defendant might argue that your injuries were from another accident since your medical records do not align with the incident’s date. Avoiding this is crucial, and so is getting an immediate diagnosis.

Prioritize Your Financial Recovery

Under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A, victims of slip and falls due to negligence have three years to file lawsuits. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, victims may be in and out of the hospital or emotionally reeling from their injuries. Our lawyers can prioritize your financial recovery on your behalf while you physically heal by immediately gathering evidence. During our investigation, we may speak to eyewitnesses, enlist expert witnesses, obtain and review incident reports, and get available security camera footage. We can aim to file a case capable of proving liability well before the three-year deadline so that you can get the compensation you need sooner. This requires us to monitor your losses, namely medical expenses and missed income. Non-economic damages are similarly impactful, and our attorneys will also quantify your pain and suffering before filing.