If you slipped on someone else’s sidewalk and sustained injuries, it is crucial that you understand how to file a claim to recover compensation for your damages. Premises liability laws protect your rights, so reach out to a Monmouth County sidewalk accident lawyer for more information and legal advice today.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a legal principle that holds property owners legally responsible for accidents and injuries that occur on their property. Under this law, property owners have a legal obligation to keep their premises reasonably safe and well-maintained to prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries. This includes inspecting the property regularly to identify hazards, performing maintenance to prevent issues, taking action in a timely manner to resolve dangers, warning people about potential issues, and more.
Can a Property Owner Be Held Responsible for My Sidewalk Accident?
If the property owner created the dangerous situation, failed to address a known issue, or reasonably should have known about the hazard, then yes, you can file a claim against them for your damages. However, you must be able to prove that they were responsible for causing your accident and injury.
How Can I File a Claim if I Slipped on Someone Else’s Sidewalk in NJ?
If you were injured on someone else’s sidewalk in New Jersey, consult with a skilled personal injury lawyer. They will help you navigate the legal process and secure compensation. Besides securing a lawyer, the most important thing you should do is to seek medical attention. Getting evaluated by a doctor ensures not only your physical health and safety but also allows there to be a medical record associated with the incident. This will help you link your fall to your physical injuries.
You should also gather evidence with the help of your attorney. Relevant evidence may include photos of the sidewalk and dangerous conditions, surveillance footage of the area, a copy of the incident or police report, copies of your medical records, the property owner’s maintenance or inspection records, and more.
Using this evidence, you can establish the four elements of negligence, which are as follows.
- The property owner owed you a duty of care to keep the area reasonably safe
- The property owner breached the duty of care by failing to maintain a safe sidewalk
- The breach of duty directly caused your accident and injury
- You sustained real damages as a result
Once the property owner’s negligence has been established and the accident has been linked to your damages, you can successfully win your claim and be awarded compensation. Damages that may be eligible for compensation include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, physical pain and suffering, and more.
Reach out to a skilled attorney at Falcon Law Firm, LLC to secure knowledgeable legal counsel today.
