Lansing Slip and Fall Lawyer

Our Lansing Slip and Fall Lawyers Are Ethical and Reliable

We Ensure Negligent Property Owners Do Not Escape Liability

When visiting a property, whether for personal or business purposes, you expect it to be safe and for the owner or manager to put away hazardous materials or items that could harm you. However, this is not always the case, as property owners often neglect their duty of care to visitors on their premises. When this happens, visitors can suffer accidents, including slips and falls.

When you slip and fall on a property due to the owner or manager’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a claim and recover compensation. Our Lansing slip and fall lawyer can help you in such an instance. We will carefully study your case facts to understand them and determine whether you have a valid claim and the strengths and weaknesses of the case.

If you have a valid claim, we will take the steps necessary to recover and commence the claims process. Our lawyers can assist you from the start to the conclusion of your claim, so call us now at 248-286-8100 to speak with one of our attorneys. We offer free initial consultations.

Why Choose Our Lansing Slip and Fall Lawyers?

Our Lansing slip and fall attorneys are experienced in slip and fall cases and have decades of experience fighting for victims’ rights and holding negligent property owners liable for their injuries. We understand the defenses put up by property owners and their insurance companies and have developed tactics to counter them and get favorable results for our clients. We have won millions of dollars in combined settlements and verdicts for our clients and have not relented in our winning ways.

Our lawyers are dedicated and committed to every case we handle and will work tirelessly to help you get your life back on track after the slip and fall accident. You don’t have to worry about us passing you around, as we dedicate a team to every case, and they handle it from start to finish. We are available to explain to you what we do and answer all your questions.

Contact us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a free case evaluation.

What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents in Lansing, Michigan?

A slip and fall accident happens when an uneven surface, debris on the floor, or slippery surface causes someone to lose their footing and fall. Slips and falls are standard, accounting for over one million hospital emergency room visits. These accidents can happen at work, home, shopping centers, business places, etc.

The following are some of the common causes of slip and fall accidents:

• Inadequate lighting
• Debris
• Wet floors
• Extension cords
• Environmental conditions
• Broken handrails
• Improper safety practices
• Lack of warnings
• Defective surfaces, etc.

Slip and fall accidents can be severe or minor, and the more severe the fall, the more serious the injury sustained. Common wounds associated with slip and fall accidents are head injuries, broken bones, knee injuries, back injuries, hip fractures, soft tissue injuries, sprains and strains, etc. If you sustained any of the preceding, ensure you seek medical care immediately.

What To Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

After you slip and fall on someone’s property, ensure you take the following steps:

Report the Accident

Immediately after a fall, notify the property owner or manager and have them document your report in writing. Report the incident formally if the fall occurred in a business or government premises. If your injuries do not allow you to file a report immediately, get someone to help you do so as soon as possible. Ensure the statement is in writing, as the document is crucial evidence for your personal injury claim.

Seek Medical Care

Get medical treatment immediately after a fall, even if your injuries appear minor. Some wounds take time to appear and could take hours or days, so ensure you have yourself examined. Also, seeing a doctor strengthens your personal injury case, as the property owner’s insurance company cannot accuse you of delaying treatment and aggravating your injury.

Additionally, your medical record is another crucial proof for your case. Therefore, ensure you follow your doctor’s advice and avoid doing things that make it appear like your wound was not as severe as you said. Failing to follow your treatment plan will negatively impact your case.

Gather Evidence

You need evidence to show that a hazardous condition caused you to slip and fall. So, before leaving for the hospital, take pictures and videos of your physical injuries, the area where the fall happened, what caused the fall, etc. Also, start a journal and write down how events unfolded while it is still fresh in your mind, and you can always refer back to it.

Avoid Discussing Your Case with Insurance Adjusters

Insurance adjusters will approach you to sign a release form and receive a settlement before you have time to understand the extent of your damages fully. They might tell you the document only covers medical bills, but you lose your right to other compensation once you sign it. Therefore, avoid signing forms or discussing your case with insurance adjusters. Leave all communication with them to your lawyer.

Get Legal Representation

Speak to an attorney about your case as soon as possible. Our Lansing slip and fall attorney will review your case and advise you on the proper steps.

Who Pays Compensation after a Slip and Fall Accident in Lansing, Michigan?

Under Michigan law, the possessor or owner of a property must ensure it is reasonably safe for licensees and invitees. If they fail to, and a dangerous condition causes a slip and fall accident, the owner or possessor will be liable for compensation. However, if you are a trespasser or ignore a warning sign about a dangerous condition on the property, you might be unable to get a settlement.

Previously, property owners denied liability in slip and fall cases using the “open and obvious defense.” The defense thrived on the theory that if the condition was so bad and visible, the injured person should have seen it, and the property owner does not owe them a legal duty. However, the Michigan Supreme Court did away with the defense in 2023, ruling that a land possessor owes a duty to exercise reasonable care to protect invitees from an unreasonable risk of harm caused by a dangerous land condition.

A successful slip and fall case means receiving economic and noneconomic damages. This covers your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc. If the slip and fall accident leads to the victim’s death, their legal beneficiaries can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation.

Lansing Slip and Fall Lawyer FAQs

Our legal team deals with different questions from slip and fall accident victims, and below, we answer some of them.

Are slip and fall cases challenging to win in court?

It depends on the ease or complexity of your case and the facts. However, you can opt for a settlement if you’d rather not go to court. Whatever the case, we will present the strengths and weaknesses of both options and help you choose the one you prefer.

What would happen if I contributed to the slip and fall accident? 

Contributing to a slip and fall accident will affect how much you will receive as compensation under Michigan’s comparative negligence rule. So, if you are 30% liable, you will get 70% of the amount awarded. But your fault must not be over 50% to be eligible for any compensation.

How much can I receive as a settlement after a slip and fall accident?

Your settlement depends on several factors, such as the severity of your injury and wage loss. The need for future medical care, property damage, and noneconomic damages affects the amount you’ll receive.

How much will my slip and fall lawyer charge?

Slip and fall lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they get only a percentage of your settlement. Also, we only get paid when we secure a favorable outcome.

These may not be your only questions; our attorneys will discuss your specific concerns in your initial consult.

How Our Legal Team at Goodman Acker, P.C., Can Help You

When you retain our services at Goodman Acker, P.C., we’ll do the following for you:

• Conduct case evaluation and render legal advice
• Investigate and gather evidence to prove your claim
• Document and quantify your damages
• Communicate with insurance companies to negotiate a settlement
• File a lawsuit if the settlement negotiation fails and represent you in court.

We will also inform you of the applicable statute of limitations and ensure you file your claim promptly. We are with you every step of the way, and you can contact us 24/7.

Get the Help You Need from Our Lansing Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident, our Goodman Acker, P.C. team can help you. With us by your side, you have a better chance of recovering fair compensation for your injuries and associated losses. Call us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a free case review.

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN

Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]