Accidents happen. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be all too easy to lose focus and end up injured. Spills can be left unaddressed, or an object may be left in a walkway, or any number of things that the chaos of life can create. However, many of these injuries are not the fault of the injured party. Many establishments are expected by law to provide safe environments without such hazards to personal health.
When it comes to a slip and fall case, a personal injury lawyer may be able to provide vital assistance and help ensure proper compensation. Due to the New Hampshire laws regarding personal injury and the responsibility of an establishment for its patrons, the injured party may be eligible for compensation. A skilled personal injury lawyer from Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC can fight for your rights and seek proper justice for your injuries. Consider contacting our compassionate legal team for a consultation at (603) 707-4800.
What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
A personal injury lawyer’s primary job is to fight for their client’s right to compensation. If an individual was injured due to the neglect or malpractice of the owner of an establishment, they may be eligible for compensation for their injuries. This compensation can include payment for the cost of medical damages, wages lost due to an inability to work, and the pain and suffering endured by the injured party.
They will also work with the injured party and advocate for them to craft a compelling case for the plaintiff. Building this argument can help increase compensation and protect the client’s interests and rights.
Protecting the Right to Compensation
To protect the client’s rights to compensation, personal injury lawyers work to reconstruct evidence and facts to present a compelling case to insurance companies and even the court. Personal injury lawyers know how to evaluate the events surrounding an accident like a slip and fall case to show what happened and what the client is owed. They meticulously catalog documents, witness statements, and circumstantial evidence to present the facts as clearly as possible.
Roles and Responsibilities
Once they have done this, personal injury lawyers must then communicate and convince the other parties involved of the facts. By arguing persuasively, these individuals can convince insurance companies of the proper amount that the injured party is owed. Personal injury lawyers can also coach their clients on how to respond to sensitive questions to preserve their argument for compensation.
Premises Liability
A key legal factor in slip and fall cases is the concept of premises liability. Any public or private establishment is expected to provide due care and take precautions to prevent harm and injury on their premises. Under this expectation, the law understands that an injury that occurs on another’s property may be partially the fault of the owner of said property.
By failing to provide safe and secure premises within reasonable effort, the owner or operator of the establishment may be required to pay damages to the injured party. A personal injury lawyer from Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC can help navigate these laws and statutes for their clients.
Slip and Fall Laws a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Navigate
When it comes to slip and fall cases, legal complexities can turn a simple accident into a convoluted argument. State laws can often be complex, and it may not be straightforward to conclude who owes what. Understanding the legal complexities of a slip and fall case can help ensure fair compensation for injuries sustained.
Statute of Limitations
Most states have a statute of limitations, which puts a time limit on when a party is allowed to file a lawsuit in civil court. This prevents confusion and obstruction of justice by only allowing legitimate cases that have recently occurred to proceed to the courts. There are various restrictions provided by the statute of limitations, and these may vary depending on the case in question and the state in which it is filed.
In New Hampshire, most personal actions and lawsuits in the court are covered by a blanket three-year statute of limitations, according to the New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 508:4. This means that most civil cases must be brought to court within three years of the actual incident, otherwise the case will not be considered.
Comparative Negligence
However, the statute of limitations is not the only legal complexity that personal injury lawyers are likely to face in a slip and fall case. In most cases, the defending party will try to argue that the injured party bears some of the blame for the accident. This is because of New Hampshire’s pure comparative negligence laws, which state that the defendant may not owe as much in compensation if the injured party was partly responsible.
According to the New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 507:7, the damages awarded to the injured party will be diminished to the extent that the injured party was responsible for the accident. In a slip and fall case, this may mean that if the injured party is determined to bear 25% of the responsibility, perhaps because they were not paying attention to where they were walking, they may only receive 75% of the agreed fair compensation for damages.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for a Slip and Fall Case
When an individual’s injuries are severe, it may be wise to consider hiring a personal injury attorney. The greater the severity of the injuries, the more important it may become to ensure fair compensation. In addition, a personal injury lawyer may be a valuable asset when liability is unclear, as their skills and experience can help build a compelling case. Lost wages are also another factor that may influence the need for a personal injury lawyer, as compensation may become even more important.
Contact a New Hampshire Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Injuries happen every day, but when an injury is severe and not the fault of the injured party, seeking compensation can help give financial security and peace of mind. Seeking the expertise of a personal injury lawyer for a slip and fall case can help avoid the pitfalls and complexities of the New Hampshire court system and lead to fair compensation. Consider speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer from Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC today by calling the office at (603) 707-4800.
