Erie, Pennsylvania, Slip And Fall Accident Injury Lawyers

Slips, trips, and falls are an everyday occurrence. However, slip and fall accidents are a vastly underrated source of danger that poses a profound risk to public health and safety. According to the National Safety Council, slip and falls are a leading cause of unintentional injuries and deaths. Each year, an estimated 800,000 Americans are hospitalized for fall-related injuries, which could range in severity from minor bruising to broken and fractured bones. Some people, especially older adults, could sustain life-threatening and potentially fatal injuries. For survivors, the cost of recovery could be immense and, in many cases, seemingly insurmountable.

While slip and fall accidents are often an unavoidable byproduct of old age, inclement weather, or routine inattention, others are caused by negligence. Under Pennsylvania state law, property owners have a legal obligation to ensure that their premises are free from unreasonable hazards. When landlords and corporations are derelict in their duty to protect the public, they could be held liable for the costs of any resulting accidents. However, while slip and fall accident victims could be entitled to significant compensation, they may encounter unexpected obstacles when they take their case to court. The property owner could, for instance, claim that they were never notified of a potential hazard on their premises. In other cases, the landlord’s defense attorney could even allege that the victim’s own carelessness caused or contributed to the accident.

Pennsylvania property owners might employ a wide range of strategies to devalue or deny slip and fall accident victims the compensation they deserve—but you do not have to accept their excuses in lieu of a fair legal recovery. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s highly experienced team of injury attorneys knows what it takes to overcome even the most vigorous of defenses. Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients secure more than $175 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to speak to an Erie, Pennsylvania, injury lawyer and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

1. Wet floors;
2. Loose tiles and floorboards;
3. Torn or ragged carpeting;
4. Food and beverage spillages;
5. Potholes and cracked pavement;
6. Exposed wiring; and
7. Ice or snow-covered surfaces.

Pennsylvania state law broadly mandates that property owners proactively maintain their premises. This means that they must maintain their properties and respond to visitor complaints about unsafe conditions. Property owners could be found liable for a resulting slip and fall accident if they fail to remove or otherwise mitigate hazards. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades aggressively defending the rights of slip and fall accident victims across the region. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to discuss your options for expedient legal relief.

A slip and fall accident can be physically and financially painful. However, the costs of slip and fall accidents are not borne equally. While a serious fall could send almost anyone to the hospital, older adults—especially those over the age of 65—face an increased risk of incapacitating and potentially disabling injuries. The consequences of a slip and fall accident could include injuries such as:

1. Bruises and contusions;
2. Cuts and lacerations;
3. Broken or fractured bones;
4. Soft tissue injuries;
5. Head injuries;
6. Traumatic brain injuries; and
7. Wrongful death.

Even for adults with comprehensive health insurance policies, the costs of recovering from a slip and fall accident could be immense. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you obtain the compensation you need to treat your physical injuries, alleviate long-term emotional trauma, or cover a loved one’s unexpected funeral costs. However, if you or a loved one have been injured in a slip and fall accident that was not your fault, you need to act fast: Pennsylvania has a strict statute of limitations applicable to all personal injury claims. If you wait too long to contact an experienced Erie, Pennsylvania, slip and fall attorney, the statute of limitations could lapse, forcing the court to dismiss your case on a technicality. Do not miss your chance to ascertain justice: please call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at 814-839-3939 today.

Pennsylvania property owners have a legal duty to protect visitors from reasonably foreseeable hazards. When property owners abrogate this duty, they could be liable for an accident victim’s damages. Depending on the circumstances of your Erie, Pennsylvania, slip and fall accident, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you file a claim for damages such as:

1. Existing hospital bills;
2. Anticipated medical care;
3. Physical rehabilitation;
4. Lost income from work;
5. Diminished earning potential;
6. Emotional pain and suffering;
7. Disability; and
8. Wrongful death.

However, while slip and fall victims have the legal right to file a personal injury lawsuit, they must still demonstrate that the property owner’s negligence caused or contributed to their accident. In most slip and fall injury claims, the victim will have to prove the following:

1. The property owner had a legal duty to maintain a safe environment in the area where the accident occurred;
2. The property owner breached their duty of care by acting negligently;
3. The victim suffered tangible injuries as a result of the property owner’s negligence; and
4. The victim’s damages could be compensated by a Pennsylvania court.

Establishing that a property owner was negligent is not always straightforward, even if you have a seemingly open-and-shut case. For example, the Keystone State’s hills and ridges doctrine states that a property owner cannot be held liable for slips and falls caused by snow and ice accumulations. However, while defense attorneys frequently cite the hills and ridges doctrine in premises liability claims, property owners still have a legal duty to clear precipitation after a storm has passed and conditions have normalized. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. knows what it takes to build the compelling, evidence-based claim needed to overcome these defenses. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 814-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Erie, Pennsylvania. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!