A slip-and-fall can turn an afternoon of running errands into a trip to the emergency room. Slip-and-fall accidents can happen at supermarkets, restaurants, department stores, hotels, and countless other businesses in Boston, MA. Many of these incidents happen because of negligent property owners or employees failing to follow safety or cleaning protocols.
If you were injured in a slip and fall at a business accident in Boston or on private property, you may be wondering how to know if you have a potential claim or lawsuit? And if so, who would you file the claim against? The personal injury lawyers at our law firm can help you determine whether you have a claim and guide you through the legal process.
If you or a loved one was injured in a slip-and-fall at a business in Boston, MA, contact Jason Stone Injury Lawyers today. Over the past 20+ years, we have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in damages, and we want to help you and your family as well. Better Phone Stone today®. Contact us 24/7 to schedule a free case consultation – over the phone, by video conference, or in-person at our office or another location convenient for you.
What is Needed to Hold a Boston Business Owner Liable for a Slip-and-Fall At a Business Accident?
Slip and fall at a business accidents are governed under premises liability law, which defines the responsibility that business and landowners have towards those who visit their properties. In order for a Boston business owner to be held liable for your injuries, your slip-and-fall lawyer must be able to prove the following:
- The defendant was negligent. The fact that you fell on someone else’s property doesn’t automatically mean that the owner or manager will be found negligent. It must be proven that there was an existing unsafe condition. But perhaps he or she negligently created the hazard, permitted a dangerous condition to exist, or failed to warn the public of potential danger.
- The defendant knew or should have known of the danger. Your slip-and-fall lawyer will need to establish that the business owner knew about the danger and willfully ignored it or that the person reasonably should have known of the hazard and acted to correct it.
- The defendant’s negligence directly caused your injury. One of the most challenging parts of a premises liability case is proving that the defendant’s actions directly caused the injury. A court may accept that a hazardous condition existed, but that doesn’t automatically mean that they will rule that it caused your injuries. The skilled Boston slip-and-fall lawyers at our law firm know how to make the connection between an unsafe premises and your injury.
Common Causes of Slip-and-Falls at Boston Businesses
When you walk into a business in Boston, MA, you have the right to expect that it is going to be well maintained and relatively free from hazards. When that expectation is not met, and an unsafe property condition causes you to suffer harm, you can pursue financial compensation for injuries that you have suffered. There are many scenarios where a business owner can be found negligent for your slip-and-fall at a business accident.
The following are common causes of Boston business slip-and-fall accidents:
- Failure to mop up spilled liquids
- Insufficient lighting
- Broken or missing handrails
- Improper removal of snow and ice
- Debris or objects left in walkways or aisles
- Neglecting to post warning signs identifying potential hazards
- Loose rugs or torn carpet
Each slip-and-fall accident case is unique, and the only way to know for certain whether a business owner is liable for your injuries is to speak to a Boston personal injury lawyer. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
When is a Business Owner Not Liable For Your Slip-and-Fall?
There are some situations where a Boston business owner is not liable for your slip-and-fall injuries. Consider the following circumstances.
There is no negligent condition on the property
Some accidents are just that – accidents. Sometimes, a person trips over his or her shoelaces or own two feet. If there wasn’t a spill, a wet floor, a crack in the sidewalk, or some other direct cause of your slip-and-fall at a business accident, it may genuinely just have been an accident. In order for the business to be held responsible for the incident, there had to have been a reason for the slip-and-fall that the business owner or employees could have prevented.
The business owner reasonably inspected the property
A Boston business owner is allowed a reasonable amount of time to inspect the property, identify a potential hazard, and correct the situation. Let’s say, for example, that you are in a grocery store and you slipped on liquid that had spilled in the aisle. If the spill had happened 3 hours before and still hadn’t been cleaned up, the grocery store owner could be held liable for your slip-and-fall injury.
However, liability potentially changes if someone had just spilled something in the aisle a few minutes prior. The business owner probably wouldn’t have had time to identify and remedy the situation. Establishing liability can be challenging, and for this reason, you need an experienced slip-and-fall lawyer on your side.
There are no damages
A slip-and-fall at a business accident may be scary and embarrassing, but if you weren’t injured, you are not able to file a claim. The purpose of a slip-and-fall lawsuit is to compensate the victim for damages – the injury-related financial and emotional costs. If you fell in the grocery store but weren’t injured, the Boston business owner may not be legally liable.
The negligent condition didn’t cause the injury
For the Boston business owner to be held liable, the negligent property condition has to be the direct cause of your injuries. If, for instance, there was juice spilled in Aisle Three of a grocery store, but you tripped and fell in Aisle Five because you were texting instead of watching where you were walking, the store owner doesn’t hold legal liability for your fall. The hazardous condition has to have caused harm in order for the store owner to be held responsible.
Who is Liable For Your Slip-and-Fall Injuries?
Your Boston premises liability lawyer will investigate your incident and determine what parties could be responsible for your injuries. In some situations, lawsuits may be filed against multiple agencies.
The following companies may be partly or entirely liable for your financial damages:
- Commercial property owners
- Businesses that lease their location
- Property management companies
- Contractors and construction companies
- Cleaning, repair, and other service providers
Contact Jason Stone Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has sustained a serious injury in a Boston business slip-and-fall accident, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer about filing a compensation claim. After taking on your case, the attorneys at our law firm will thoroughly investigate the incident, determine all liable parties, and help you pursue the financial damages you’re entitled to.
The attorneys at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers specialize in handling business slip-and-fall at a business accident claims. We have over 20 years of experience advocating for the legal rights of Boston residents, and we are prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.
The lawyers at our firm work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing out of pocket. Not to mention that your initial consultation with us is free, with No Obligation, Just Information®. Schedule an appointment with us by calling 800-577-5188 or filling out the online form.
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