Passaic County Attorneys Fight for Slip-and-Fall Accident Victims
Holding negligent property owners accountable for injuries
Anyone who owns or manages real estate in New Jersey has a legal duty to keep the premises safe for those who may enter. This duty applies whether the property is used for residential, commercial or other purposes. If you've suffered a slip and fall on someone else's property, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. The knowledgeable attorneys at Licatesi Law Group in Woodland Park can evaluate the circumstances of your mishap to determine who was at fault and work to hold those parties answerable for damages.
Dangerous conditions that can cause slips and falls
Property owners and managers, lessees and anyone else in control of residential or commercial premises are liable for failing to keep the property safe or to warn of dangerous conditions that create unreasonable risk of harm to visitors. Examples are:
- Holes in the ground
- Cracks in paved walkways
- Wet floors
- Ice and snow accumulation
- Broken or missing railings on stairways
- Obstacles in trafficked areas
- Loose and uneven carpets and rugs
An owner or possessor of property is liable for not remediating or warning of dangerous conditions they know of or reasonably should know of. While an accident might be partially caused by a visitor not exercising due care, that does not eliminate the owner's or possessor's duty of care.
When can someone be liable for a slip and fall in New Jersey?
Whether the owner or possessor of real estate may be liable for injury depends, in part, on why the visitor is on the premises. In New Jersey, there are three recognized categories of entrants:
Invitees
These visitors enter a property for the benefit of the owner or possessor. Examples are customers of a store or restaurant. The duty of care is to maintain safe conditions, to conduct regular inspections hazards and to warn of hidden dangers.
Licensees
The duty to people permitted to enter the property, such as social guests, is to warn of dangerous conditions the owner or manager is actually aware of.
Trespasser
When a visitor is on property without permission, the only duty is to warn of conditions that pose an unreasonable danger and not to engage in intentional conduct likely to cause harm. Trespassing children must be kept safe from attractive but dangerous conditions.
If a jury decides that the injured visitor was partially negligent, the visitor's damages will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
How we can help you with your slip and fall case
A New Jersey injury attorney at our firm will investigate the property conditions that potentially caused your slip and fall and identify the responsible parties. We retain experts to help in the evaluation and presentation of your case in negotiations with insurance companies and defense counsel. If we don't reach a satisfactory settlement, we present the strongest case for liability and damages to a jury.
