Preparation
You must first understand the severity of your case before choosing a slip and fall lawyer. Consider all damages and irresponsibility which have occurred. This is crucial to choosing the right slip and fall lawyer because each lawyer will require immediate communication about the severity of your damages and irresponsibility against you. Remember to be prepared to know right away if your lawyer suits your needs.
Understanding Slip and Fall Law
A slip and fall injury in the United States is a personal injury claim made by victims in which the victim falls and suffers from injury. Remember that there is no distinct category involving slip and fall cases, but instead a branch where slip and fall cases fall under which in this case is public safety laws.
Creating a List of Slip and Fall Lawyers
Search for a lawyer online, in your area, or through any other means. Your main objective is to find a handful of lawyers with a long history of successfully handling similar slip and fall cases. A general rule of thumb for searching for a slip and fall lawyer should be prioritizing lawyers who specialize in personal injury law as injury law in the United States falls under this category.
Pursuing your Slip and Fall Case
Not all personal injury lawyers practice slip and fall cases. Since such cases involve proving negligence, an attorney who has experience in such cases will know the best techniques to win your case. Choose an attorney who has successfully litigated slip and fall cases against property owners, businesses, or municipalities. Request their settlement and verdict history to gauge their expertise.
A lawyer’s reputation speaks volumes about their ability to work on your case effectively. Check online reviews, testimonials, and ratings by past clients. A lawyer who has a reputable history of handling personal injury law cases will tend to be respected more by insurance companies and the opposing lawyer, and this can lead to more favorable settlement offers. You may also verify their credentials through your state’s bar association to ensure that they are standing upright.
Your lawyer must be one whom you can readily communicate with and who will address all your questions. A slip and fall case might take months or even years to resolve, so you require a lawyer to keep you informed and to explain legal issues in simple language. In the event that an attorney is not available or does not have the time to address your concerns, he or she may not be ideal for you.
Most slip and fall lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which implies that they receive compensation only if you win your case. This arrangement ensures that your lawyer has a motivation to obtain the highest possible settlement for you. Before entering into any contracts, ask them what proportion of your settlement they will get and what other charges you will incur. Be wary of attorneys who demand large up-front fees, as this is not the norm in personal injury law.
Although the majority of personal injury claims settle out of court, others must be taken to court in order to receive a fair compensation. Your slip and fall lawyer must be prepared to take the case to trial if it is not settled. Ask them how frequently they take cases to trial and how much experience they have in court. If a lawyer has a reputation for always settling, insurance companies will exploit this and offer lower settlements.
The workload of a lawyer may affect how much time they allocate to your case. Certain law firms juggle hundreds of cases simultaneously, which can cause delays and an absence of one-on-one attention. In your consultation, ask how much time the attorney will personally spend on your case and if they will be your primary contact. A lawyer who prioritizes your case and is ready to hear the details will be a better representative for you.
Many personal injury lawyers will give you a free initial consultation to discuss your case. Ask them during this time about experience, strategy, and expected duration. Pay attention to how you are treated in this meeting—do they hear you, ask relevant questions, and provide honest answers? If they attempt to rush you to sign a contract immediately, it is a sign that something may be amiss.
Common Myths about Slip and Fall Cases
- You cannot pursue a slip and fall case if you were not paying attention to your surroundings.
- The victim is not at fault in a slip and fall case for not paying attention to their surroundings because owners of the area are responsible for maintaining a safe environment or displaying warnings of potential hazards within the area such as a wet floor sign.
- Slip and fall lawsuits do not apply to minor damages.
- Slip and fall lawsuits can be pursued if any form of damage has been caused regardless of its severity.