Slip and Fall Lawyer in Greensboro, North Carolina
Key Highlights:
- A slip accident attorney Greensboro will assist in proving whether or not unsafe property conditions were responsible for causing your fall.
- The owner of the property could be liable if they were aware, or reasonably should have been aware, of the danger and did not address it in time or notify you about it.
- A Greensboro premises liability lawyer can investigate the case through photos, video footage, documentation, witnesses, and other relevant evidence.
- The contributory negligence doctrine in North Carolina can complicate such cases.
- Fall accident compensation Greensboro can include medical expenses, lost earnings, suffering, future care needs, and inability to continue with everyday activities.
Yes, if you slipped or fell on a Greensboro property because of the property owner’s negligence in addressing an existing danger or failing to warn you about it, you may have a valid claim.Â
Slip and falls lawyer in Greensboro can help prove your case by establishing the cause of the accident, the party responsible for controlling the property, and the way that your life was affected after the accident occurred.
My name is Robert Tatum, and I am an attorney with Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm. For over 65 years collectively, since 2005, as a veteran-owned law firm, we have helped injured people in North Carolina understand premises liability and personal injury law.
There are no legal fees unless compensation is secured on your behalf, and you receive a free consultation. Give (800) 529-0804 a call right now.
Validating a Slip and Fall Case in North Carolina
Slip and fall is not all about slipping. What the plaintiff will be expected to prove in such an event is that there was a dangerous condition that was either known or could be known by the defendant. A Greensboro premises liability lawyer can help.
Typical Dangers the Greensboro Premises Liability Lawyer Reviews
These include:
- liquid spills
- slippery or unsafe flooring
- unsecured carpets
- inadequate lighting
- slippery entrances
- rough surfaces
- loose handrails
- potholes, andÂ
- lack of warning signs
The Issue of Notice
Notice is key in the premises liability lawsuit. Was the employee aware of the spill? Has that broken stair been there for weeks? Have any inspections been done? Have any scheduled cleanings been ignored?
Evidence of the Owner’s Failure to Act on ComplaintsÂ
In addition to establishing notice, proving that the owner had ignored previous complaints about the premises or had neglected any safety issues would make the case even stronger.
Evidence Gathering to Build the CaseÂ
The slip accident attorney Greensboro gathers evidence through photos, videos, reports, witness statements, and other documentation to establish exactly what the owner knew and failed to do anything about.
Why are Falls More Severe than Most People Think?
A fall does not seem like a big deal until it happens to you. Suddenly, you are walking around inside a store. Suddenly, you twist your knee, hit your shoulder on the floor, or whip your head backward. Suddenly, everything goes wrong.
Injuries That Are Commonly Experienced in Slip and Fall Cases
A fall can inflict more harm than anyone could have ever expected because many long-term effects come from a fall that may cost you financially.
Physical Injuries You Might Experience
Bone fractures, concussions, spinal cord injuries, torn ligaments, hip fractures, shoulder injuries, nerve pain, and mobility problems are common injuries experienced by the victim.
Increased Risks for the Elderly Population
The elderly population suffers greatly in the event of a slip-and-fall case because it may lead to major complications, such as undergoing surgery, balance problems, or loss of independence from the accident.
Permanent and Long-Term Effects of Falls
There are many injuries that never fully heal from an accident and may result in chronic pain, reduced mobility, and the necessity of regular treatment in your everyday life.
Connecting Your Medical Records to the Accident
A Greensboro fall injury attorney will help establish the connection between your injuries and the accident to prove how much your damages are worth.
Where Can Slip and Fall Accidents Occur in Greensboro?
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere that people walk around. Places where such accidents commonly happen in Greensboro are the following:
- Grocery stores, shopping malls, and restaurants
- Hotels, apartments, and doctor’s offices
- Warehouses, parking lots, and sidewalks
- Public and government buildings
If you’ve been involved in a property accident in Greensboro, a property accident lawyer Greensboro will analyze whose responsibility it was to control the property and manage its maintenance.
Creating a Strong Case for Slip and Falls
These pieces of evidence tend to get forgotten fairly easily. After the spill is cleaned up, after the floor that was damaged has been repaired, witnesses have moved on. Our Greensboro injury claims lawyers take swift action in gathering these pieces of evidence.
Obtaining Evidence in the Form of Photographs and Physical Proof
Photos of the hazardous area, injuries, lighting, weather, warning signs, and any possible video surveillance footage available before deletion or overwriting.
Reviewing Documents and Paperwork
Documents such as medical paperwork, incident reports, inspection reports, repair paperwork, and insurance communication can help prove what the owner knew and did not address.
Working With Experts to Help Prove Your Case
North Carolina slip injury attorney or Slip injury lawyer Greensboro NC can discuss why the floor was unsafe; a doctor can link your fall to your injuries; and economic loss can be calculated.
Assembling the Timeline
Each slip and fall case has a timeline. Before, during, and after the accident, the timeline is crucial in proving your case.
What Should You Do Following a Slip and Fall?
Your actions immediately following a slip and fall injury will have a considerable effect on your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries in the future.
See a Doctor Right Away
Not only does seeking treatment immediately following a slip and fall injury ensure your continued well-being, but it also provides medical documentation that ties your injuries to the incident.
Report Your Fall
Inform the property owner or employee of your injury as soon as possible, requesting that an incident report be filed in writing.
Take Photographs of the Incident
Photograph the scene of the fall, including any hazards, your injuries, lighting conditions, and anything else before evidence is altered or removed.
Don’t Provide Insurance with Your Story
Before providing a statement to any insurance company, speak to a Greensboro injury claim lawyer first and attempt to acquire the contact information of any witnesses present.
Reasons Why Insurance Companies Reject Slip and FallsÂ
Property owners and their insurers frequently deny such claims. They might argue that the hazard was open and obvious, that you were negligent and did not pay attention, or that they were unaware of the danger.
Defense |
What It Means |
| Open and obvious | They say you should have seen the hazard |
| No notice | They claim they did not know about it |
| Blame the injured person | They say you caused your own fall |
| Weather defense | They claim rain or ice made the danger unavoidable |
| No injury link | They argue your pain came from something else |
North Carolina also uses contributory negligence. Under G.S. 1-139, the party raising contributory negligence has the burden of proof. Still, if the defense works, it can hurt or block recovery. A Greensboro premises negligence attorney can help push back with evidence, not guesswork.
What Effects Does Weather or Government Ownership Have on an Injury Claim?
Mud, rain, ice, and wet tracked from the outside make the property dangerous. The weather itself is not always an excuse for making a property unsafe. The issue becomes whether or not the property owner exercised reasonable care.
There may be different legal issues if you suffered a fall on government-owned property. If your fall was on a state agency in North Carolina, you may need to pursue your claim under the North Carolina Tort Claims Act, which will be litigated before the North Carolina Industrial Commission per G.S. 143-291.
A Greensboro unsafe property lawyer can help determine who owns the property and any relevant deadlines.
Compensation That You Can Collect
Fall accident compensation Greensboro includes expenses for emergency care, visits to the doctor, surgery, physical therapy, medication, loss of income, pain and suffering, immobility, future medical costs, and diminished quality of life.
The statute of limitations on personal injury claims in North Carolina is three years under G.S. 1-52, but there are some exceptions. It is advisable to confirm your statute of limitations as soon as possible.
Importance of Local Legal Counsel in Greensboro
Greensboro has its own businesses, courts, and methods of property management. Your lawyer will have an additional edge in terms of locating the parties at fault and working within these processes.
Knowledge of Local Court Procedures
Your attorney will be knowledgeable about the local court system and what is expected from you in terms of paperwork.
Local Knowledge of Businesses and Properties
Local representation also means previous experience with certain businesses and properties in Greensboro that can speed up the process of collecting evidence.
Quick Action to Gather Evidence
This way, the local lawyer will be able to visit the location immediately, obtain footage, and get witness accounts before the evidence gets lost.
Individual Attention throughout the Whole Case
Locally-based law firms tend to offer personal attention to the client throughout the whole process.
Speak With A Slip And Fall Lawyer In Greensboro Today
Should you need a slip and fall lawyer in Greensboro, the skilled team at Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm can help you to understand what happened, preserve evidence, and assert your rights. We know that business entities and insurance companies act quickly after falls occur, and we know how to preserve evidence before it becomes unavailable to us.
You get a free consultation absolutely for free and no attorney fees unless compensation is obtained on your behalf. Call (800) 529-0804 today.
FAQs about Greensboro Slip and Fall Claims!
Can I sue if I slipped in a grocery store?
Yes, you can sue if you slipped in a grocery store. That applies to when the fall occurred due to an unsafe environment, and the retailer was aware of such a danger within their store.
What if there were no warning signs?
Even without a warning sign, you still require evidence for the existence of the hazardous situation, notice, injury, and causation. This is important, and you need to gather evidence to later claim damages.
How much evidence do I need?
You need at least sufficient evidence to prove the cause of the fall and the scenario of the environment, as well as the negative impact it had on your life. The more evidence you can gather or provide, the better compensation you may receive.
Can weather conditions affect my claim?
Yes, rain, ice, and water tracked indoors may be relevant, although the owner owes reasonable care to a visitor. If the weather caused a certain accident to happen, your claim may be affected.
What happens if the business fixes the hazard afterward?
There could be a chance that the held liable party may fix the hazard after the accident. This might help demonstrate that the hazard did exist, but all these facts need to be treated properly in accordance with the evidence law.