The most common causes of slip and falls at work:
- Spilled liquids
- Snow or ice on walkways, sidewalks, parking lots, stairs etc.
- Poor lighting
- Inadequate or non-existent warning signs
- Holes in the floor
- Exposed cables
- Cracked, torn or uneven flooring
- Broken or uneven stairs
- Abrupt, unexpected elevator stops
The most common slip and fall injuries that are filed in New Jersey:
- Sprains and fractures
- Shoulder injuries
- Hip fractures
- Head injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
New Jersey laws on slip and fall injuries at work:
In New Jersey, the slip and fall laws use rules of liability for governing such cases. Under the Law, they are a subset of personal injury law and all of these cases are usually controlled by basic negligence rules. Despite the use of the word slip, the law in New Jersey on this type of injury is extensive and covers unsafe conditions that result in an overextension, stumble, twist, over extension, etc.
How to begin a slip and fall work accident claim:
- Call an experienced workers compensation attorney
- Notify them about your condition and the incident
- Follow their advice on the course of action to take
- Before you file a claim, register a complaint with the employer
- Before filing the claim form, go to a doctor and seek medical opinion on your injury
- Go to another doctor
- You can collect and fill in the claim form
- The claim form should be filled in correctly in consultation with your compensation attorney
A doctor can categorize your slip and fall work injury claims as:
- Permanent total disability
- Temporary partial disability
- Permanent partial disability
How fault is determined in a slip and fall work claim in New Jersey?
When there is a potentially dangerous surface for walking, some of the responsibility for preventing the fall falls on the owner/tenant/controller of the property at the time and the person who is walking on the property. In a lawsuit, responsibility will often be fixed on both parties not just one. The injured party has to show they undertook reasonable steps of care when walking on the property and the property owner has to show that he or she took reasonable steps to keep the property safe.
The courts in New Jersey look at the concept of comparative liability. The percentage of each party’s liability is then calculated to determine how much of the cost the injured party will have to bear and how much should the property owner/tenant/controller of the property pay. A responsibility of 51% will make you solely liable for the injury. Contact our New Jersey workers compensation attorneys for a free consultation at 973-975-0258 to get immediate help or fill out our confidential contact form.
What benefits/ settlements can you expect to receive from a slip and fall workers compensation claim?
You can expect full compensation for the following:
- Future earning ability lost due to your injury
- Costs incurred because of the accident
- Your medical expenses for treatment related to your slip-and-fall injuries
- Lost wages for time off from work (this includes the time you spent in physical therapy and doctor’s appointments)
- Costs of hiring help around the house because your injury left you unable to do household chores
- Costs for the replacement or repair of any property that was damaged or destroyed when you fell
- Costs of permanent disability and disfigurement stemming from the New Jersey slip-and-fall accident
- Payments to compensate emotional distress stemming from the accident
Why you should not wait to get help from an experienced New Jersey slip and fall workers compensation attorney:
New Jersey law gives you a two year window to file your slip and fall claim or any other personal injury claim against the party at fault. Once the date goes by, you will not be able to file the claim. It is important that you are quick and decisive with your claim, because any delay can and will be used against you by the opposing counsel, the only way to make sure you win the case and are able to prove the employer’s or property owner’s guilt is to hire an experience compensation lawyer who knows the ins and outs of these cases.
If you have a work related slip and fall injury please contact our New Jersey workers compensation lawyers for a free consultation at 973-975-0258 to get immediate help or fill out our confidential contact form.