Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of personal injuries. Slippery floors, dark stairwells, and weak railings cause serious incidents every day.<\/p>\n
Property owners have a duty to maintain their homes and business premises so that visitors, tenants, and guests are not put at undue risk. If the owner is careless or negligent and someone is injured as a result, the owner may be held liable for the result. Slip and fall injuries commonly result in broken bones, closed-head trauma, concussions, spinal cord injuries<\/a>, and even death.<\/p>\n To effectively pursue the compensation and justice you deserve following a negligence-related accident, you need a skilled slip and fall attorney<\/a> in your corner.<\/p>\n Attorney Robert S. Miller<\/a> has been arguing and winning personal injury cases in Pennsylvania since 1992. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and New Jersey bar associations and has been chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Arbitration Committee. Mr. Miller was recognized as a 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and in 2020 Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation \u2013 Plaintiffs.<\/p>\n The right attorney<\/a> can make a big difference to the outcome of your case. The Cochran Firm offers free initial consultations, and we work on a contingency basis, so you don\u2019t pay unless we win.<\/p>\n Call The Cochran Firm today at 800-969-4400 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.<\/p>\n Property owners and landlords have insurance, and the insurance companies have in-house attorneys who will use the law to their advantage. You need an equally capable attorney on your side to be sure you don\u2019t get caught by their legal maneuvering. The premises liability lawyers<\/a> at The Cochran Firm know exactly how to pursue the best possible outcome in every case.<\/p>\n We will . . .<\/p>\n Winning a slip and fall case isn\u2019t as simple as showing that you fell and were hurt. You must be able to show that the incident came about because of the negligence of some other person or entity.<\/p>\n There are four essential elements to negligence in a Pennsylvania slip and fall case, namely:<\/p>\n Suppose you live in a building with a concrete walkway. The owner has a duty to keep the walkway clear of cracks and potholes. Over time, the walkway has become broken in places, and people have started tripping on holes in the concrete. They have notified the owner, but nothing has been done to fix the problem. One day, you are walking to your apartment, catch your foot on a deep crack, and break your elbow.<\/p>\n Our attorneys must show that the owner knew or should have known of the hazards, by presenting notices sent to the owner and obtaining the testimony of other residents. This establishes that the owner knew of the dangerous condition but did nothing to fix it before a serious injury occurred.<\/p>\n The \u201cduty of care\u201d may be shared by multiple parties, such as where there are:<\/p>\n However, the involvement of other parties will not absolve a property owner of responsibility; the courts will not allow an owner to simply point to someone else and say, \u201cNot my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n Under a legal theory called \u201cvicarious liability,<\/a>\u201d property owners are responsible for the acts of employees and agents acting on their behalf. Reusing the example above, if the property manager knew about the broken walkway and failed to repair it, the owner should still be liable.<\/p>\n There are no guarantees in a legal case. Juries are unpredictable, so a competent attorney can only give you an estimate of what your claim might be worth. If a lawyer ever promises they will secure a certain amount of compensation on your behalf, you should find a more reputable firm.<\/p>\n The law in Pennsylvania allows plaintiffs to sue for economic and non-economic damages. Punitive damages may also be available, though they\u2019re relatively rare.<\/p>\n Economic damages: <\/strong>This refers to any type of compensation that has a clearly defined monetary value. Because of this obvious value, economic damages are generally easy to calculate. They can include:<\/p>\n Non-economic damages:<\/strong> This refers to any loss or harm you suffer that does not have a clear monetary value. Non-economic damages include:<\/p>\n Non-economic damages may be calculated by use of a \u201cmultiplier.\u201d This method takes the economic cost of treatment and multiplies it by a number from 1 to 5. The resulting figure is compensation due for your pain and suffering.<\/p>\n Punitive damages are only available in personal injury cases where the defendant\u2019s conduct was particularly egregious. Only gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing warrant punitive damages.<\/p>\n\n\n Should I talk to the insurance company after the accident? <\/strong>No. You should not talk to any insurance company after your accident \u2013 not even your own coverage provider -- until you\u2019ve consulted with a lawyer. Insurance companies are businesses, and their priority is settling claims as quickly and cheaply as possible. Advise any insurance company who calls that you are speaking to an attorney, and let us handle the negotiations on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0How long do I have to file a case? <\/strong>Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations<\/a> in personal injury and wrongful death cases. If you miss the deadline, the courts may refuse to hear your case, although there are limited exceptions to this rule in unusual circumstances. If you think you have a case but believe the statute has run, contact The Cochran Firm and let us review your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Choose a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Lawyer from The Cochran Firm?<\/h2>\n
What We Can Do<\/h3>\n
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Making Your Case<\/h2>\n
What Is Negligence?<\/h3>\n
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Other Parties to Negligence<\/h3>\n
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Settlements and Damage Awards<\/h2>\n
Types of Damages<\/h3>\n
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n