Rochester, New York, Slip-and-Fall in a Store Accident Lawyers

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Slip-and-Fall Accident Victims in Rochester and Across Monroe County. Since Our Founding in 2005, Jed Dietrich, Esq., Has Helped Our Clients Secure More Than $250 Million in Damages. We Could Help You, too. Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against a Negligent Store Owner, Making a Compelling and Evidence-Based Claim for Recovery.

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Slip-and-fall accidents can occur anywhere, both inside and outside the home.

Although most slip-and-fall accidents are the result of simple mistakes, a surprising percentage can be attributed to negligence. Under New York state law, stores and other business owners have a duty to keep their premises free from unexpected hazards and unreasonable risk.

If and when property owners fail to take this duty seriously, they expose visitors and employees alike to unacceptable danger.

You don’t have to bear the burden of a slip-and-fall accident that was not your fault.

For over 20 years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of slip-and-fall accident victims in Rochester and throughout the region. Our experienced team of New York personal injury lawyers can help you or a loved one assert your right to a fair recovery. Please send us a message online or call us at (585) 939-3939 to speak to a slip-and-fall accident lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

An Overview OF Slip-And-Fall Accidents And Injuries

A slip-and-fall accident is any accident that causes you to slip, trip, stumble, and fall.

Slip-and-fall accidents are common. Most people, no matter their age or health, occasionally lose their balance—and many will fall and sustain injuries as a consequence.

However, slip-and-fall accidents are somewhat unique in that they are almost always preventable. Here’s what you need to know about:

The Most Common Causes Of Slip-And-Fall Accidents

Slip-and-fall accidents can occur anywhere, including at home, in the office, on vacation, in the park, or in a grocery store or other retail establishment. Statistically, most of these accidents take place at home and can be attributed to either misplaced objects or unexpected accumulations of ice, snow, or water.

Nevertheless, a significant percentage of all slip-and-fall accidents happen outside and on property controlled by another person or property. Many of these property owners have a strict legal duty to ensure that their premises are free from any hazards that could pose a danger to guests.

Some of the most common slip-and-fall property hazards include:

1. Torn or raised carpeting;
2. Potholes and cracks in parking lots or walkways;
3. Absent or degraded handrails and other safety features;
4. Poor or inadequate lighting; and
5. Unclear or inappropriately placed hazard warning signs.

Liability After A Slip-And-Fall Accident

A slip-and-fall accident isn’t always a personal mistake.

If a store owner’s policies, practices, or lack thereof contributed to your slip-and-fall accident, they could be liable for your damages. Liability is typically determined by factors including, but not limited to, the following:

1. If you were legally permitted to be on the premises;
2. If the property owner or business owed you a legal duty of care;
3. If the property owner or business had effective cleaning and maintenance policies;
4. If the landlord was aware, or should have been aware, that a hazard existed on their property; and
5. If the landlord had sufficient time to either mitigate the hazard or warn visitors of its existence.

Determining liability in a slip-and-fall accident can be complex, especially if there are any unanswered questions about who was responsible for the property’s maintenance.

You don’t have to accept this uncertainty in place of compensation. Please call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at (585) 939-3939 to speak with a personal injury lawyer near Rochester and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

5 Steps To Take After A Slip-And-Fall Accident In Rochester

The actions you take immediately after a slip-and-fall accident at a store can have lasting consequences for your case. Here are five steps you should take now to protect your right to a fair recovery:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

You should always seek medical attention after a serious slip-and-fall accident, even if you do not believe that your injuries necessitate an immediate trip to the nearest emergency room. Often, hard falls inflict injuries that can’t be seen from the outside—injuries that require a closer look and a doctor’s expertise.

Aside from providing an opportunity to protect your physical health, seeing the doctor can serve another purpose. If you believe that another person was at fault for your accident, you’ll need evidence to show that you have sustained serious physical injuries. Going to the hospital ensures that your physician retains a copy of these records, which may be used in settlement negotiations or at trial.

2. Submit a Complaint

If you haven’t already informed the store or a manager that you have been involved in an accident, it may not be too late. Reach out to the business over the phone or in person, inform them that you were injured on their premises, and ask if they have any form or procedure for reporting an accident.

Submitting a complaint isn’t always a prerequisite for filing a lawsuit, but it can at least initiate settlement negotiations with the property owner’s liability insurance carrier.

3. Collect and Protect Your Evidence

You can start asserting your rights today by collecting and preserving any evidence you have left over from the accident. Evidence can take many different forms. It often includes the following:

1. Copies of police reports or incident reports;
2. Any pictures or videos you took during or immediately after the accident;
3. Any pictures or videos you took that show your injuries or demonstrate their severity;
4. The names and phone numbers of any potential eyewitnesses that you know or have already identified; and
5. Your hospital records and other medical documentation, including receipts, diagnostic reports, and recommendations for further treatment.

Depending on the circumstances of your slip-and-fall accident, you may need more evidence than you can collect individually. Your personal injury lawyer will help you conduct a more intensive investigation, which could form the basis of your lawsuit.

4. Remain Skeptical of Settlement Offers

Insurance companies are motivated by profit. It is rarely, if ever, in their best interest to offer a fair settlement without first engaging in extensive negotiations. Sometimes, unscrupulous adjusters will also employ tactics intended to minimize their employer’s financial liability—often at your expense. These tactics could include:

1. Asking you to provide a recorded statement without an attorney present;
2. Pressuring you into signing a records release, which could give the insurance company access to your entire health history; and
3. Refusing to negotiate a settlement or offering an early-stage settlement that seems too good to be true.

If you’ve reached out to the at-fault business, you may hear back from an attorney or insurance company much sooner than you expect. If you have an open-and-close case, they may offer you a fast and easy settlement—a settlement that may include enough money to pay off your medical bills but which doesn’t account for your other expenses, let alone your pain and suffering.

5. Contact a Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawyer Near Rochester

You stand your best chance of recovery with an experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyer in your corner. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to defend the rights of Buffalo families. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based case for compensation—and we have the results to prove it, having obtained more than $250 Million in damages for our clients across the state.

We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us at (585) 939-3939 to speak with a slip and fall lawyer near Rochester and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

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Contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (585) 939-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can work to obtain the best result for your Rochester, New York, personal injury claim. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is no fee until we win for you!

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