Massachusetts slip and fall accidents are far too common. Usually, they are the result of the negligence of Massachusetts property owners. There are numerous types of Massachusetts slip and fall scenarios for which our Boston slip and fall lawyers may be able to obtain money damages for you, including:
Massachusetts slip–and–fall accidents: insufficient warning of a slippery or wet walking surface;
Massachusetts trip–and–fall accidents: an object blocks the way with no safety barrier or warning of its presence;
Massachusetts step–and–fall accidents: a hole or other uneven aspect to the area causes you to lose your balance; and
Massachusetts stump–and–fall accidents: a protrusion causes you to stop short and fall.
Massachusetts slip, trip and fall incidents are the cause of 15% of all Massachusetts accidental deaths. Massachusetts slip and fall wrongful death accidents are second only to Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents as a cause of Massachusetts accidental deaths. During the colder and rainy seasons, Massachusetts sidewalks, Massachusetts stairs and Massachusetts walkways that are snowy, icy, or wet present a particular danger of Massachusetts slip and fall accidents. Commercial and residential property owners may be held liable for injuries arising out of the accumulation of ice and snow if they do not take adequate precautions to clear it. Our Boston, MA slip, trip and fall accident injury lawyers and Boston slip and fall wrongful death lawyers are experts in prosecuting Massachusetts slip, trip and fall cases. Our expert Boston slip and fall lawyers have the experience you need to obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Massachusetts slip, trip and fall claims include incidents of all variations, including slips on food, foreign substances and product packaging in Massachusetts restaurants and Massachusetts supermarkets, trips over poorly aligned sidewalk edges and other jagged or protruding edges, and falls down unkempt stairs that are in poor, non-working condition, inadequately lit or not built to code. Each Massachusetts slip and fall case usually involves unique aspects that must be adequately proven, often requiring detailed evidence gathering by specialists. Our expert Boston slip, trip and fall lawyers work closely with a network of specialists and experts to help you get fair compensation for your injuries.
Massachusetts slip and fall accidents are the most common cause of Massachusetts emergency room visits, particularly for Massachusetts senior citizens. Massachusetts workplaces are a common setting for slip and fall incidents and account for approximately 15 percent of all Massachusetts workers’ compensation costs. Massachusetts slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of Massachusetts traumatic brain injuries and account for nearly 50 percent of fatal falls among older Massachusetts residents. Between 20 and 30 percent of Massachusetts residents who suffer a slip and fall accident will sustain moderate to severe injuries, including bruising, hip fractures and head injuries. Slip and fall accidents often lead to fractured bones, most frequently of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand.
The expert Massachusetts slip and fall attorneys at the Boston, MA Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates have substantial experience in Massachusetts slip and fall personal injury claims. These cases arise from Massachusetts commercial property defects; defective Massachusetts stairways; falling merchandise on Massachusetts store shelves; flooding; leaks and spills; foreign substances on walking surfaces; Massachusetts snow and ice accidents; poor lighting and burned out lights; poorly maintained Massachusetts sidewalks, roadways and other passageways; potholes; swimming pool accidents; unmarked hazards; and wet floors.
Massachusetts slip and fall personal injury law has been developed to protect victims of Massachusetts slip and fall incidents. Generally, Massachusetts property owners have a duty to exercise reasonable care to maintain their property in a way that will not unnecessarily risk the safety of a pedestrian. The general question of liability hinges on whether a Massachusetts property owner created a dangerous condition on his or her property or allowed a dangerous condition to exist for an unreasonable amount of time. For example, if a Massachusetts property owner fails to remove dangerous ice, snow or other material, and the danger was apparent to the Massachusetts property owner and existed for a significant amount of time, the Massachusetts property owner may be liable for the injuries of a subsequent slip and fall victim. Massachusetts property owners also generally have an obligation to maintain suitable lighting for their property and repair faulty staircases and walkways.
In 2010, Massachusetts law significantly changed with regard to slip and fall accidents due specifically to snow or ice. Before this change in Massachusetts law, a Massachusetts property owner could never be found liable for a slip and fall accident unless the snow or ice that was the cause of the fall was “unnatural” or man-made. Today, Massachusetts property owners owe a greater duty to Massachusetts pedestrians to maintain their property in a way that cannot unreasonably subject them to harm. The Massachusetts standard today is whether the property owner acted unreasonably, regardless of whether the snow or ice was “natural,” “unnatural” or man-made.
Massachusetts slip and fall liability cases can differ depending on the type of property where the slip and fall takes place. If the Massachusetts accident occurs on a Massachusetts commercial property which has been leased to a business, the business may be liable for the accident. If the Massachusetts property is residential, the Massachusetts landlord and the Massachusetts tenant may share liability. Usually, Massachusetts employers are not liable for Massachusetts slip and fall incidents if the victim is entitled to Massachusetts worker’s compensation benefits. There are some instances in which there is no potential for recovery for the victim of a Massachusetts slip and fall. If, for instance, a Massachusetts slip and fall accident occurs due to a defect on a public way, potential injury compensation is capped at $5,000, regardless of how severe the injuries are that the victim actually sustained. There is also a 30 day limit to make a claim in these situations.
In the event of a Massachusetts slip and fall accident, you should take immediate steps to seek medical attention and take photographs of the area and of any visible injuries that you suffered due to the incident. In the event that you contributed to your slip and fall, but you were less than 50 percent at fault, you may still bring a claim. If you were more than 50 percent at fault for your Massachusetts slip and fall, you are ineligible for compensation from the Massachusetts property owner. In Massachusetts, there is a three year Statute of Limitations for filing a lawsuit arising from a slip and fall claim. This time requirement can differ depending on where the slip and fall took place, such as if the accident took place on a public property that is not a public way. In these situations, a claim letter must be served on the governmental entity within two years of the accident. It is critical that an expert Massachusetts slip and fall attorney who is familiar with the filing deadlines and nuances of Massachusetts slip and fall law be contacted immediately.
If you were injured because of a slip, trip or fall, please contact our Massachusetts slip and fall lawyers as soon as possible at (617) 787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com and we will gladly assess your case and the circumstances involved. If you have cause to file a claim/suit, we will fight for your rights and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. Our personal injury lawyers will provide you with a free initial consultation about your slip, trip and fall case. We will happily meet with you in our office, at the hospital or in the privacy of your home.
If it is more convenient for you, Attorney Gil Hoy or another expert lawyer from our Boston law office will come to your home, your office or the hospital to meet with you and discuss your Massachusetts personal injury claim.
Call our Boston slip and fall lawyers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if you get our answering service, leave a message because we will call you right back. You can count on it.
Our Boston personal injury lawyers charge you no attorney’s fees unless and until we successfully and fully recover just compensation for your personal injury.
Our Boston slip, trip and fall lawyers work incredibly hard to provide outstanding legal representation for every one of our Massachusetts trip and fall clients. As a result of our Boston slip, trip and fall attorneys’ extensive legal knowledge, tenacity, determination and wide range of expertise and skill regarding Massachusetts slip, trip and fall accidents, our Massachusetts slip and fall attorneys have an outstanding track record of success and accomplishment for our personal injury clients. Our slip, trip and fall attorneys will simply not settle for second best.
Second, our expert Boston slip, trip and fall legal advocates always provide our clients with exceptional client service. This is as important to us as the outcome of your slip, trip and fall case. Our Boston slip and fall law office keeps every client fully informed of the progress of his or her slip, trip and fall case. As part of this commitment, all of our slip, trip and fall clients are copied on all correspondence from us, and we make it a priority to promptly respond to all phone calls and other inquiries from our clients. Our level of client service truly distinguishes us from other Massachusetts slip, trip and fall law firms. The slip, trip and fall attorneys at our slip, trip and fall law office never act on behalf of a client without first thoroughly discussing the matter at hand with our client and jointly coming to a decision beforehand. Our slip, trip and fall law office endeavors to represent each of our clients in such a manner that ensures that our clients receive the individualized, detailed attention that their unique slip, trip and fall case deserves.
Our driving motivations of superior client relations and exceptional legal counsel make us a law firm you can trust.
