Erie Slip and Fall Accidents – What Do You Need to Know?
Many businesses in Erie and throughout Pennsylvania are taking extra precautions to protect customers and employees from COVID-19. Some businesses require customers and employees to wear masks. Other businesses may restrict the number of people in the location. However, are businesses continuing to protect customers from other dangers?
While the liability for COVID-19 claims is debated, the laws regarding premises liability remain the same. If you are injured in a slip and fall or other accident while on another person’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. However, you must establish that the property owner was liable under the state’s premises liability laws before you can receive compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses.
Our Erie slip and fall attorneys investigate accidents and injuries to determine fault and liability. We gather evidence and work with our clients to build a strong case against the property owner. If you were injured in a fall or other accident, contact our office now for a free consultation with a slip and fall lawyer in Erie.
What Do I Have to Prove in an Erie Slip and Fall Case?
In most Erie slip and fall claims, you must prove the following legal elements — duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
- Duty – Under Pennsylvania’s premises liability laws, property owners have a duty of care to maintain the property in a safe condition for guests and invitees. In some cases, a duty of care could extend to a trespasser, such as a child, who wanders onto the property.
- Breach of Duty – A breach of duty occurs when a property owner fails to take reasonable care to maintain safe premises. In most cases, we must establish that the owner of the property knew or should have known about a condition on the property that could cause an injury, but did nothing to fix the problem or provide sufficient warning of the hazard to guests.
- Causation – We must also show that the hazard on the property was the reason that you were injured. For example, boxes were stacked very high on a shelf without adequate support and fell, causing you to be injured. Another example might be that there were toxic chemicals or an exposed electrical wire that caused your injury.
- Damages – We must also prove that your injury resulted in damages. Damages in an Erie slip and fall case include your physical injuries, pain, suffering, and financial losses.
Proving Liability for a slip and fall claim can be challenging. In many cases, the owner corrects the hazard after your accident. However, through aggressive investigative techniques, our legal team digs until we find the truth.
We Never Stop Working for You
Our goal is to obtain the largest amount possible for your Erie slip and fall claim. In some cases, that might require filing a slip and fall lawsuit. If so, we are not afraid of taking a matter to court. In addition to being talented negotiators, our Erie slip and fall lawyers are also trained, skilled, and experienced trial litigators. Let us protect your right to fair compensation after a slip and fall accident.
Contact an Erie Slip and Fall Attorney for Help
Premises liability covers a wide range of accidents and situations. Examples of situations that might result in a slip and fall claim include, but are not limited to:
- Dog bites and dog attacks
- Swimming pool accidents
- Playground injuries
- Amusement park accidents
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Exposure to chemicals
- Inadequate lighting or security
- Broken stairs and railings
- Construction site accidents
- Elevator and escalator injuries
- Uneven pavement or surfaces
- Torn and uneven flooring
Call The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066 to schedule your free legal consultation with an Erie premises liability lawyer near you.