Representing Clients
Throughout Central Alabama
Experienced Attorneys Handling Premises Liability Claims Throughout Birmingham
At the law offices of Salter Ferguson, LLC, our Birmingham premises liability attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of people who have been injured on private, public and commercial properties. Whether you were injured in a trip- or slip-and-fall incident on broken steps or you tripped on a poorly marked construction site, we can help you find solutions in this most difficult time. Homeowners, commercial enterprises and public places all have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for visitors.
If you or someone you love has been injured due to a property owner’s negligence, an experienced lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Holding Birmingham Property Owners Liable For Dangers On Their Properties
When property owners are aware of a dangerous condition on their premises, it is their legal responsibility to take care of it in a timely manner. The failure to do so is defined as negligence, and they can, and should be, held responsible for any injuries people suffer as a result. Broken stairwells, poorly maintained sidewalks and spills in stores and restaurants can all cause trip- or slip-and-falls that lead to a multitude of injuries, including serious head, back and joint injuries.
Our firm handles slip-and-fall incidents caused by a wide range of negligence and dangerous conditions, including:
- Defective lighting
- Defective handrails
- Defective floor surfaces
Do I Need A Lawyer For A Slip-and-fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall accident may sound like a relatively minor issue at first, but the reality is that these accidents are one of the leading causes of emergency room visits, missed days from work and accidental death in adults over 65. A slip and fall may result in serious injuries like bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage. If a negligent property owner allows a dangerous element to persist on his or her property or a negligent employer fails to address a known safety issue in a reasonable amount of time, the negligent party should be responsible for the resulting damages if someone suffers a slip-and-fall injury.
Navigating the legal system in any state can be a challenge. The average person with no formal legal education or training would likely struggle to meet the court’s strict deadlines and filing requirements, and would not have the experience to uncover every available avenue of compensation. Hiring a slip-and-fall accident lawyer not only increases the chance of a slip-and-fall victim securing compensation for his or her damages, but will also likely lead to more compensation than he or she could have secured alone.
A slip-and-fall accident lawyer can help you prepare for trial, uncover channels of compensation you may have overlooked, handle correspondence with insurance companies, and help you avoid unfairly facing liability that could compromise your ability to recover your damages.
What Is Contributory Negligence In Alabama Law?
Alabama is one of few states that still uphold contributory negligence laws. Most states follow comparative negligence laws that allow plaintiffs to still recover damages even if they were partially responsible for causing those damages. For example, in a comparative negligence state, a plaintiff found 40% at fault for damages in a civil claim would lose 40% of the case award to reflect his or her fault. However, in a contributory negligence state like Alabama, any amount of fault on the part of the plaintiff would completely bar the plaintiff from recovery.
Many states find that contributory negligence laws are unfair to plaintiffs who may have exercised a mild degree of negligence in a situation with another party clearly more at fault, limiting the plaintiff’s ability to recover from those damages. However, Alabama has yet to amend or overturn its contributory negligence law. All plaintiffs in civil cases in Alabama should expect the defense to look for any and all evidence of the plaintiff’s negligence to use as an affirmative defense against the charges in a civil case.
Most Common Locations Of Slip-and-fall Accidents
The National Floor Safety Institute reports that slip-and-fall accidents account for roughly one million emergency room visits each year. These accidents occur in many different places, and some people are more vulnerable to slip-and-fall accidents than others.
- Slip-and-fall accidents can happen in the home, and falls remain one of the leading causes of accidental deaths and injuries that occur in the home.
- Employees in certain workplaces may face significant slip-and-fall risks. Construction sites, factories, warehouses and other industrial workplaces tend to have higher slip-and-fall accident rates than other workplaces like office buildings.
- Slip-and-fall accidents may happen in private businesses open to the public. For example, a grocery store employee mops up a spill but forgets to mark the floor as wet. If a patron slips and falls, the grocery store would likely incur liability for the accident.
- Older adults are more vulnerable to slip-and-fall accidents, so these incidents are relatively common in nursing homes and assisted living facilities that provide housing and care to elderly individuals.
Salter Ferguson Offers A Team Approach To Better Serve Your Needs In A Birmingham Slip-and-fall Case
Taking a team approach to all personal injury cases, we have the resources and experience to take on insurance companies and commercial enterprises. If you have been injured in a store or restaurant, do not back down. We can help you get fair compensation. Located in Birmingham, Salter Ferguson, LLC, offers flexible appointment dates and times.
Schedule your consultation online by sending us a message today! You can call us at 877-298-4878.