Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious, painful and debilitating injuries. If a personal injury from a fall on someone else’s property led to medical expenses, losses of income and other damages, contact Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP to find out if you are eligible for compensation. Our Springfield slip and fall lawyers are sympathetic and have years of experience representing clients during premises liability claims in Springfield, Massachusetts. Call (617) 391-9001 for a free consultation today.
You may or may not have grounds to file a lawsuit after a slip and fall accident in Springfield. Your legal rights will vary with the facts of the case. You might have grounds for a claim against the property owner if you believe the owner (or one of the staff members of a business) knew or reasonably should have known about the defect that caused your fall and negligently did not repair it in time to prevent your accident. Property owners have a duty to ensure the reasonable safety of their premises. This standard of care may include multiple duties the owner must complete.
These are the three main duties of care all property owners in Massachusetts will owe invited guests (invitees) on a premises. An owner will only owe licensees the second two duties of care, however, and no duties of care to trespassers. A licensee lawfully enters a property but without an invitation, such as a salesperson or contractor. A trespasser does not have the legal right to enter a property. The only circumstances in which an owner might owe duties of care to a trespasser is if the trespasser is a minor.
Most slip, trip and fall accidents in Springfield are preventable. They arise when an owner or controller of a property fails to meet an expected standard of care, such as keeping up with premises maintenance or posting warning signs. Neglect or carelessness from a property owner could lead to several slip and fall risks.
A slip and fall accident can cause hip fractures, other broken bones, wrist and arm injuries, dislocations, soft-tissue damage, back injuries, neck injuries, head trauma, brain injuries, lacerations, and other serious injuries. If you have any type of injury from a slip and fall accident in Springfield, do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP for a free consultation.
Ask a Springfield slip and fall attorney about your case after an injurious slip and fall accident in Springfield today. The property owner or another party might owe you financial compensation for your damages. Our attorneys can take care of the claims process on your behalf. Our goal is to let you focus on getting better while we handle the rest, including negotiating with insurers for you. Contact us today for a free accident case review.
Typically, no. Homeowner’s Insurance will usually only cover the cost of the legal defense or any settlement amount should a slip and fall personal injury lawsuit be brought against you. Where you slip and fall on your own property, homeowner’s insurance will not cover your medical costs unless under very specific circumstances.
Yes, but not really. Massachusetts law gives cities and towns strong protections from lawsuits arising out of defective sidewalks. Under Massachusetts law, the maximum amount of damages you can recover for injuries that occur on a public sidewalk is $5,000. Additionally, Massachusetts bars any claim brought against a city or town where it is claimed that your slip and fall injury was caused by snow or ice being on a public sidewalk.
If you are a tenant or a lawful visitor of a rental property, you may have a valid claim! If you can show that your fall injuries were the result of the property owner’s negligence, you can recover.