How Do You Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Accident in Massachusetts?

Many slip and fall accidents are caused by property owners’ careless behavior. Victims of such accidents can incur painful and debilitating injuries. Fortunately, property owners may be held liable for slip and fall accidents that occur because of their negligent conduct.

To prove negligence for a slip and fall accident in Massachusetts, you must show that a property owner acted carelessly in the maintenance of their premises. There are multiple ways to show that a property owner acted negligently. For instance, plaintiffs can demonstrate that a property owner knew of a hazard and did not act to fix it. Also, plaintiffs can establish that a property owner should have known about a hazard because of its location. There are several types of evidence that can be used to prove that property owners acted negligently.

If you were injured because of a slip and fall accident in Massachusetts, get help recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced Massachusetts personal injury lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.

Ways to Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Accident in Massachusetts

Property owners are responsible for maintaining their premises for the safety of visitors. When property owners act negligently, serious slip and fall accidents can happen. Therefore, property owners who fail to maintain their premises can be held accountable for accidents caused by their careless behavior. There are multiple ways to prove that a property owner acted negligently:

Prove that a Property Owner Created a Dangerous Condition or Knew of It

One way to prove negligence for a slip and fall accident in Massachusetts is to prove that a property owner created a dangerous condition or knew of it. For example, a plaintiff in a slip and fall case may prove negligence by showing that an apartment owner knew of a broken lightbulb in a public hallway and did nothing to remedy the situation. In that case, the apartment owner can be held liable for slip and fall accidents that occur because of poor lighting in the hallway at issue. Our Boston personal injury lawyers can help prove that a property owner created a dangerous condition or knew of it.

Prove that a Property Owner Should Have Noticed a Hazard

Additionally, plaintiffs can prove property owners acted negligently by showing that they should have noticed a hazards because of its location. For example, a victim may prove negligence by showing that a restaurant owner should have known about a loose rug at his building’s entranceway. In that case, the restaurant owner can be sued for slip and fall accidents that occur because of the loose rug that was not fixed. Potential plaintiffs can reach out to our Massachusetts personal injury lawyers for help assessing the validity of their cases.

Prove that a Hazard Existed for so Long that a Property Owner Should Have Noticed it

Lastly, victims can prove negligence for slip and fall accidents by proving that a hazard existed for so long that a property owner should have noticed it. For instance, a plaintiff can prove negligence by showing that a wet spot in a grocery store aisle remained there for hours without being cleaned up. In that case, the grocery store owner may be held responsible for slip and fall accidents that occur because of the unattended wet spot. Victims of such accidents can contact our experienced Boston slip and fall injury lawyers for guidance and support when seeking monetary damages.

Evidence Used to Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Accident in Massachusetts

In most slip and fall accident lawsuits, defendants will be represented by insurance companies and defense lawyers who will attempt to shift blame for plaintiffs’ injuries. By arguing that defendants were not at fault, insurers can avoid paying the full value of plaintiffs’ claims.

Accordingly, plaintiffs typically must present a wide array of evidence to show that property owners were at fault for their accidents. The following are common types of evidence used to show that property owners acted negligently:

Witness Statements

Witness statements can be very valuable when proving that a property owner acted carelessly. For example, a fellow tenant at an apartment building can help establish that an apartment owner knew about the broken light bulb that contributed to a victim’s fall.

Witnesses may provide either oral or written statements. Our experienced Malden slip and fall injury lawyers can offer guidance and support when reaching out to potential witnesses for their testimony.

Photos from the Scene of an Accident

Photos from the scene of an accident are another common type of evidence used to prove negligence. Photos from the scene can help establish important details surrounding an accident. For instance, photos showing a loose rug at a restaurant’s entranceway can be used to show that a property owner should have known about the hazard because of its location. Accordingly, victims of slip and fall accidents should always take photos at the scene. Afterward, our Massachusetts slip and fall injury lawyers can help review the relevance of any photos taken during a free case review.

Surveillance Footage

Surveillance footage is also regularly used to prove negligence in slip and fall accident lawsuits. Like witness statements, surveillance footage can help explain the events that occurred before, during, and after an accident. For example, surveillance footage showing a wet spot that remained in a grocery store’s aisle for an extended period of time can be used to show that a property owner should have noticed the hazard.

However, recovering surveillance footage can be a difficult task. Parties in the control of such evidence may not behave cooperatively with plaintiffs. Our Somerville slip and fall injury lawyers can help obtain pertinent surveillance footage in your case.

If You Were Injured Because of a Slip and Fall Accident in Massachusetts, Our Lawyers Can Help

If you were injured because of a slip and fall accident, seek assistance from our experienced Wakefield slip and fall injury lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for free case review.