SLIP AND FALL CASE SETTLEMENT RESULTS
Almost all of us slip at some point in our lives because slip-and-fall accidents happen anywhere and at any time. Not all slip and fall accidents are severe enough to seek immediate medical attention for, but 1 in 5 falls come with severe injuries like broken bones, deep lacerations, or even brain damage, and this is where a slip and fall lawyer can help.
These injuries account for the majority of all U.S. emergency room visits and are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in the nation.
And for older adults, death rates have risen 30% since 2007 – presumably because today’s older adults tend to be more active and thus more at risk of deadly Baltimore County accidents, especially when there are tripping hazards or slippery surfaces.
When it happens to you, your priority should be seeking medical attention and healing any minor injuries. Afterward, you may wonder whether you can take legal action against someone (or someone else’s property) who caused your accident so that they’re held liable for expenses incurred by the injured parties.
What if your landlord refused to fix the crumbling stairwell where the injury occurred? What if a store’s dark, unlit parking lot was full of potholes, and you fell and broke your hip? Do you have a compensation case because of the dangerous condition?
Want personalized advice about your case? Contact us today at 410-753-4611 for a free initial consultation.
How Do I Choose a Maryland Attorney to Help With My MD Slip and Fall Case?
Choosing the right fall accident lawyer or experienced personal injury attorney is critical. As an injured party, you deserve fall lawyers who understand your options after a slip-and-fall accident.
They must understand Maryland’s personal injury laws and have extensive experience in legal services like:
- Obtaining medical records
- Insurance claims
- Maryland slip and falls
- Premises liability
- Proving fault
- Establishing contributory negligence settlements
- Court appearances
Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a Baltimore Slip and Fall Lawyer
Experience. There are no second chances when you file a claim. Your attorney’s knowledge and experience will impact your ability to secure compensation after a slip and fall accident. Make sure your fall attorney has many years of experience handling cases like yours.
Results. Can your attorney get you a fair settlement for spine injuries? We can. Zirkin & Schmerling Law has a proven track record in slip and fall accident settlements. View testimonials from our clients here. Fall lawyers should have no problem showing proof that they get results for slip and fall accidents.
Reputation. Your attorney needs a stellar reputation. An insurance company should see a law firm’s name and realize you mean business. Make sure your injury lawyer is known for positive outcomes in slip-and-fall cases. If an attorney can’t remember the last time they successfully tried a case, keep looking.
We Get Results Baltimore For Slip and Fall Accidents
We invite you to view our results page and see that Zirkin & Schmerling Law gets results in various personal injury cases.
Here are some examples:
$350,000 for an Injured Patron at a Hotel
While taking a shower at a hotel, the ceiling collapsed onto our client’s head. The hotel initially denied the claim and offered our client one free night stay. After the extensive discovery in litigation, Zirkin and Schmerling proved that the hotel was aware of leaky pipe issues, which ultimately caused the ceiling to fall.
$120,000 for an Injured Restaurant Patron
When a Maryland restaurant patron fell outside the restaurant and suffered an ankle injury, the insurance company initially denied the claim. However, the Zirkin & Schmerling Law Team discovered evidence that there was prior knowledge of the defect in the cement. Ultimately, we secured a $120,000 settlement for our client.
$105,000 for a Person Picking Up Food
In a personal injury lawsuit in Baltimore City, Maryland, a person was walking in the city to pick up food waiting for them. The client slipped on a raised portion of the sidewalk and was injured. Zirkin & Schmerling Law started an extensive discovery process that revealed substantial evidence that led to a $105,000 result.
The Value of Hiring a Zirkin & Schmerling Slip-and-Fall Lawyer
Your lawyer may be able to gather evidence that a business or property owner knew or government entity allowed known hazards to persist. There may even be evidence of failed safety inspections. Your injury lawyer can help you get to the bottom of it and strengthen your case.
If you need legal help, contact our Accident Law attorney to schedule a free case evaluation today or call us at 410-753-4611.
What Is a Baltimore Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip and fall accident is a type of personal injury when someone trips, slips, or stumbles and falls to the ground or onto another object/surface. A personal injury claim is not usually involved if there is no apparent cause or if the initial injury or fall was the person’s fault.
However, sometimes, the slip and fall occur due to hazardous conditions that aren’t the fault of the injured victim and may involve premises liability.
There may be no lighting in the dark stairwell of an apartment complex. As an injured person, you may be able to prove the property owner/manager was at fault for the dangerous conditions. To do so, you’ll have to claim the insurance company, go after the property owner individually, pursue a settlement, or go to court.
How Does a Lawyer Help With a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall accident case can be much more complex than it initially appears. If you trip over an obvious hazard and are severely injured, it might seem clear-cut to you that the other property owner’s negligence should pay for your medical bills. However, property owners and their insurance companies frequently fight these claims.
You deserve an experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyer to help you make a solid case for high-value compensation.
An experienced slip-and-fall lawyer knows insurance companies’ tactics to avoid claims like these. Your lawyer collects evidence that supports your case, like safety reports, public information, news reports, witnesses, and experts who can provide testimony.
When the other side sees you have an experienced lawyer by your side, they may become much more reasonable. They realize you’re taking this seriously, and this situation will not just magically disappear. You get higher compensation for your medical bills and other costs.
Is The Property Owner Liable for My Slip and Fall Injuries?
No single person, property owners, or organization is automatically responsible for compensating you for the injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents. Your health insurance may cover some of your medical bills, but you can also request reimbursement from a negligent property owner.
Some homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies cover sidewalk liability and public walkways. However, these are generally broad policies that may or may not cover the situation or dangerous condition you encountered when you were injured.
The location of your slip and fall accident injury is vitally important in determining liability in your case.
For example, if you fell on Baltimore City government property, you’d have to pursue the city for compensation. The city certainly has its own legal team and legal representation, so you’ll want your lawyer to fight with you on a claim like this.
If you were injured on a Maryland homeowner’s property – like a friend’s or relative’s home – you may need to pursue their homeowner’s insurance or sue them individually.
It’s not always pleasant to deal with a situation like this, so a lawyer can serve as a buffer who handles the legal details and prevents ill will between you and your friend or family member. Your landlord and property manager may be involved if you’re a renter.
Your lawyer can help you gather evidence that shows the landlord knew or should have known about the hazard that contributed to your injury.
What if Someone is Blaming Me for My Injuries?
It is okay if the property owner or insurance company tries to blame you. They may say you should have paid more attention or been more careful. They may try to blame it on another’s negligence or suggest you’re filing a claim frivolously.
This sometimes occurs because Maryland is a contributory negligence state meaning if they can prove you contributed to your injury, you are barred from receiving compensation. Still, this doesn’t automatically release them from any legal responsibility or liability in fall accident cases. They may still be partially responsible and be held liable by the court.
Establishing liability for a slip and fall accident case is all about gathering the facts and proving negligence.
If the other party tries to debate and blame you, stay calm and don’t get drawn into an argument. Contact your lawyer and explain that the other side is blaming you for your injuries. An experienced lawyer knows how to handle this.
For example, your lawyer may be able to gather city safety inspections that show the landlord failed to address things previously noted in the inspection. Maybe a neighbor there’s witnessed or even caught the incident on their security camera.
A good Baltimore slip-and-fall lawyer will brainstorm many possibilities, seek evidence, and bring the most compelling evidence together to support your claim.
This stops the blame game and starts a negotiation for compensation – and your own injury lawyer handles the legal details while you recover from your injuries. Fall lawsuits are more likely to succeed when the fall attorney handles the communication and relieves you from the emotional burden of fighting for your fall claim.
If you need legal help, contact our Accident Law attorney at 410-753-4611 to schedule a free case evaluation today.
What is the Value of My Baltimore Slip and Fall Injury Claim?
There is no single answer to this question since every case is unique. Every settlement negotiation follows its back-and-forth path, and every judge or jury approaches their decision from a different perspective.
Your own medical expenses, bills, and lost wages will be an essential part of establishing the value of personal injury claims in your case in terms of economic damages.
It is crucial to be able to prove these damages. Often, you will need to hire an expert for these out-of-pocket expenses.
Regarding non-economic damages, you should look for compensation for pain and suffering. For example, if you have a permanent injury or are not able to return to the same job, those are important factors in determining pain and suffering.
Experienced Baltimore slip and fall attorneys know how to look for incremental evidence of damages to add value to your case and create a higher total value.
Your lawyer is there to build a strong case for your slip-and-fall lawsuit and help you get the best outcome possible. Contact Zirkin & Schmerling Law for a free consultation at 410-753-4611about the potential value of your case.
How Long Do I Have to Start My Baltimore Slip and Fall Case?
Act quickly to prevent missing the time limit for Baltimore slip and fall litigation in Maryland. The statute of limitations calls for a three-year time limit for filing a slip and fall lawsuit. After this strict deadline passes, it is doubtful that you could claim that there were extraordinary circumstances. If you have a claim against a municipality or the State of Maryland, you have one year to put them on notice properly. If you fail to meet this notice requirement within a reasonable time frame, you can be barred from bringing the case.
It is essential to start immediately if you are considering hiring a Baltimore slip and fall attorney.
Keep in mind that an attorney can help make sure that you are getting the treatment that you need. In addition, a slip-and-fall case usually requires a fair amount of investigative work. In those cases, timing is critical. For example, if we want to interview witnesses, we need to speak to them immediately and get them on the record about how the incident happened.
The faster you start your claim, the quicker you may be able to receive compensation.
Have More Questions About a Maryland Slip and Fall? We Have Answers.
If you have a question that still needs to be answered here, contact Zirkin & Schmerling Law at 410-753-4611 for a free consultation with an experienced Baltimore attorney. You’ll receive more details about your unique case. We understand that a slip-and-fall accident can be confusing and that you may need to learn more about Maryland law. Don’t let property owners fail you. We will stand for your rights.
Speaking with an experienced Baltimore slip-and-fall injury lawyer can ease your mind and help you determine a solid, practical path to getting the compensation you deserve for your fall incident.
After your Baltimore slip and fall injury, call 410-753-4611 to discuss your options. We’re here to help you.
Zirkin & Schmerling Law offers free evaluations for slip and fall accidents. Contact us at (410) 753-4611 for your slip-and-fall case today.
