Premises Liability Lawyer Advocates for Victims     

Knowledgeable attorney seeks compensation for injuries on private and public property    

Premises liability claims are designed to hold property owners (or tenants with control over premises) accountable when hidden hazards cause injury to visitors. These actions can stem from slip and falls, falling merchandise injuries, dog bites and other types of incidents. If you or a loved one is injured due to a hazard on private or public property, John VR. Strong, Jr. in New Brunswick is ready to help. For more than 40 years, Mr. Strong has provided determined representation for seriously injured clients in Middlesex, Somerset and Mercer counties. He works diligently to obtain a fair settlement from insurance companies but can capably manage your case if you must go to trial to achieve justice.

Common causes of slip and fall accidents

An actionable slip and fall or trip and fall accident can occur whenever a guest on someone else’s premises encounters a hidden hazard. Common causes include:

  • Wet surfaces
  • Icy surfaces
  • Loose tiles
  • Potholes
  • Uneven walking surfaces
  • Debris
  • Poorly lighted walkways
  • Missing or loose handrails

Falls are the most common types of premises liability accidents. Various types of harm can result from these incidents, such as:

  • Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
  • Compacted vertebrae and compressed discs
  • Broken bones
  • Torn ligaments and cartilage
  • Wrongful death

Establishing liability for a trip or slip and fall accident

The owner of a private residence generally has the duty to warn invited guests about known hazards. The owner of a commercial property has a duty to inspect for hidden hazards and either remediate them or clearly identify the danger to visitors. Many premises liability cases, hinge on whether the property owner was reasonable in their exercise of that duty. Many potential questions must be asked during this determination, including:

  • Was the hazard hidden or did the victim proceed with full knowledge of the danger?
  • Was the property owner’s warning adequate to alert the average person to the hazard?
  • Should the property owner have known about the hazard?
  • Did the property owner have a system in place to respond to frequently occurring hazards (such as spills on a restaurant floor)?
  • Between the creation of the hazard and the accident, was there sufficient time for a reasonably attentive property owner to remediate or warn of the hazard?
  • Was someone besides the owner responsible for creating the hazard?

Because of the complexities of proving liability in a premises liability case, you should retain an experienced accident attorney to handle your case.

What to do after a tripping or slipping hazard causes an injury

Premises liability cases are sometimes difficult to prove because property owners usually remove the hazard immediately after the accident. For this reason, it’s important to document the accident scene:

  • Take cell phone photos of the hazard.
  • Immediately report your accident to the property owner.
  • Ask for a copy of the incident report prepared by the property owner.
  • You should also get contact information from anyone who saw what happened.

Another frequent point of contention is whether the fall caused the injury the victim is claiming. For this reason, you should seek immediate medical attention, even if you’re not sure whether you are badly hurt. Be sure to tell the treating doctor or ER physician how you were injured because this documents your accident. Delaying can allow the defendant to claim that some intervening event caused your injury.

Finally, it’s important to retain a personal injury attorney right away. Even though the statute of limitations for trip or slip and fall accidents in NJ is two years, the sooner your attorney begins investigating, the stronger your case will be. We will retain an engineer to look at the hazard and give a reports which will your case.

Contact a dedicated New Jersey slip and fall accident attorney for a free consultation

John VR. Strong, Jr. represents victims of premises liability accidents throughout Central Jersey, including Middlesex, Mercer and Somerset counties. To schedule a free consultation regarding your claim, please call 732-249-0550 or contact us online. Se habla español.