Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyer

It can happen in a split second: one moment you are walking along; the next you are on the floor or ground, in pain and perhaps with a serious injury. Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents are often used for comic effect in the movies, but the injuries that result from these accidents in real life are no joke.

If you were hurt in a slip-and-fall accident in Michigan, you may have serious injuries and the medical bills to match. If someone else’s negligence was to blame for your accident, you may be entitled to a financial recovery for your injuries. That’s money that can cover your medical bills and help meet your other expenses while you heal.

The slip-and-fall lawyer team at Bernstein & Bernstein have decades of experience helping people who have been injured in a fall. To learn how we may be able to help you, contact Bernstein & Bernstein for a free, confidential consultation.

Michigan Premises Liability Law

Premises liability is the legal concept that holds property owners (and certain others) accountable for failing to make their property reasonably safe. Parties who may be liable in a slip-and-fall case include property owners, property managers, business owners, landlords, and in some cases, government entities. Their liability depends in part on whether the injured person was classified as an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser.

Invitees

Invitees are people invited onto a property for business purposes—like customers in a store, diners in a restaurant, or contractors hired to do work. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. They need to inspect their property for dangerous conditions and fix them or warn people about them.

Licensees

A licensee is someone who has express or implied permission to enter property but who does so for their own purposes. Social guests like family, friends, and neighbors are usually considered licensees, as are door-to-door salespeople in most instances. Property owners do not have to actively inspect for dangers to licensees, but they must warn visitors of any hazards they know about that aren’t obvious—like a damaged step or slippery floor.

Trespassers

Property owners aren’t usually responsible if a trespasser—like a burglar or someone taking a shortcut—gets injured on their property, but there are exceptions, such as when children are drawn to an “attractive nuisance” like a swimming pool without a fence.

Even when a property owner might be liable for an injury to someone on their property, they may be able to reduce or escape liability if they can prove that the injured person was partly at fault. They may also be able to avoid liability if they can show that it was not reasonable to expect them to be aware of the dangerous condition.

Michigan premises liability claims depend heavily on the facts of the case. Working with an experienced slip-and-fall lawyer makes it easier to establish the facts in your favor.

Common Premises Liability Claims Our Slip And Fall Lawyers Handle

Many premises liability cases involve a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall injury, and these cases are often referred to collectively as slip-and-fall cases. However, there are many types of injuries that fall under the umbrella of premises liability, including those from:

• Slipping on a floor that is wet and slippery due to a leak, spill, or recent mopping without a “wet floor” sign
• Tripping on an uneven sidewalk outside a business, cords or clutter in a store aisle, or a broken step in an apartment building stairwell
• Falls due to negligent snow and ice removal
• Poor lighting in a parking lot that leads to poor visibility of tripping hazards
• Inadequate security near a business or apartment complex that leads to an assault on the premises
• Merchandise falling onto a store customer from an unsecured shelf
• An unfenced pool that attracts neighborhood children, leading to a drowning

There are many other examples of how a property owner’s negligence could cause an injury. If you believe someone else’s lack of care is responsible for your injury, you should discuss your case with a slip-and-fall lawyer.

What to Do if You Are Injured

If you have been injured on someone else’s property, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to protect your health and create a medical record of the injury. Take photos of the accident scene to capture any hazardous conditions that contributed to your injury. If possible, gather contact information for any witnesses to your injury.

You should also report your injury to the property owner or manager and any other relevant authorities. If you are contacted by an insurance adjuster for the property owner, avoid speaking to them if possible; anything you say, even if it seems innocent, may be used to deny or minimize your claim. Refer them to your attorney.

How the Right Slip and Fall Attorney Can Help

An attorney’s job is to get you the maximum possible recovery for your injury, so that you don’t have to worry about money and can focus on healing. But the slip-and-fall lawyer you choose makes a difference.

Bernstein & Bernstein has been in business for over 100 years because we are effective in getting results for our clients. We investigate the facts, collect evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies so you don’t have to. If necessary, we will file a lawsuit on your behalf and stand up for your rights in court.

All of our slip-and-fall lawyers have decades of experience. You can trust that your attorney is skilled, and that you will be working with the same attorney throughout your case. Our focus isn’t on getting you the fastest settlement; it’s on getting you the best one possible. As a small firm, we also care about helping you stay informed and feel comfortable throughout the legal process.