Pittsburgh Slip and Fall Lawyers
Helping personal injury victims obtain the compensation they deserve
It only takes a second for a slip and fall accident to change the life of a shopper, a guest, someone eating at a restaurant, or just about anyone. Property owners in Pittsburgh should assume that the people they invite or permit to use their property are there for a specific reason – and not looking at the floor for every tile crack or wet spot.
At Carmody and Ging, we hold property owners to their duty to conduct regular inspections, to look for possible dangers, fix known safety issues, and warn people on the property of any known risks. Our Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyers work with investigators, speak with witnesses, examine building codes, and review evidence of prior complaints to show property owners knew or should have known of dangerous conditions. We demand compensation for all your financial and personal losses.
In one fall case we negotiated a $820,000.00 settlement where a minor was injured in a fall. In another slip and fall case, we negotiated a $375,000.00 settlement.
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What would you like to know?
- What are the causes of slip and fall accidents?
- What injuries do slip and falls cause?
- What steps should I take after a Pittsburgh slip and fall accident?
- When are Pittsburgh property owners liable for a slip and fall accident?
- What type of claim can I file if I slip and fall at work?
- What is the value of my Pittsburgh slip and fall claim?
- Do you have a Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyer near me?
What are the causes of slip and fall accidents in Pittsburgh?
It happens all too often. You’re walking and minding your own business – and whoosh, whomp – you slip and fall. Accidents like this are preventable if the property owner had taken the time to inspect the property beforehand or warned you about a dangerous spot on the floor. When you slip and fall or trip and fall, property owners deserve to be held accountable for your injuries.
Some of the common reasons people fall while on another’s premises include:
- Floors or ground levels that are wet, slick, or slippery
- Liquids that fall from cups, bottles, and other sources onto the floor
- Merchandise or debris on the floor
- Torn carpets, broken tiles, loose railings
- Surfaces that are uneven or not level
- Parking lots and building entrances that haven’t been cleared of snow and ice
- A lack of lighting
What injuries do slip and falls cause?
Falls happen quickly. One second you’re standing and the next second you’re lying on the ground. If you’re fortunate, you catch yourself partially – usually with a hand or an arm. Most Pittsburgh slip and fall victims aren’t so lucky. Possible slip and fall injuries include:
- Head trauma including a traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries or paralysis
- Amputation/loss of limb
- Orthopedic damage including a hip fracture, broken arm, or other types of fractures
- A concussion
- Back injuries
- Shoulder and neck injuries
- Facial injuries
Many Pittsburgh slip and fall victims require emergency care, surgeries, physical therapy, and other rehabilitative care. Many victims live with constant pain.
What steps should I take after a Pittsburgh slip and fall accident?
If you slip and fall away from home, try to take the following actions:
- Report the slip and fall accident to someone in authority, such as the property owner or a store manager.
- Take photos and videos of the conditions of the ground or place where you fell, as well as your injuries.
- Go to the emergency room and follow your physicians’ recommendations.
Accident victims should also contact our experienced Pittsburgh premises liability lawyers as soon as possible, so we can investigate the accident location, talk to witnesses, and file your claim.
When are Pittsburgh property owners liable for a slip and fall accident?
Owners of retail stores, restaurants, professional offices, hotels, hospitals, apartment complexes, and any place people use to buy goods, use services, or engage with other people have a duty to ensure their property is safe for use. In Pennsylvania, visitors are classified in three different ways. There is a different duty of care for each classification.
- An invitee. An invitee is someone the property owner invites onto their property to benefit the owner either financially or personally. Common examples include retailers such as grocery stores that profit from the sale of their goods, and professional offices that provide their advice for a fee. Nonprofits who invite people to engage in community activities also fall under this umbrella. Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. This means owners should be held responsible for any dangers they knew or reasonably should have known about.
- Licensee. A licensee is someone a Pittsburgh property owner gives permission to use their property but doesn’t benefit directly from the use. A common example is a property owner, like an apartment complex owner, who gives permission to non-renters to walk on the owner’s sidewalk. The complex owner could be liable if someone slips and falls because the owner didn’t shovel the snow in a timely manner.
- Trespassers. A trespasser does not have permission to use another’s property. Generally, property owners are not liable for a Pittsburgh slip and fall accidents. Some exceptions may apply.
Our Pittsburgh slip and fall accident lawyers can determine your classification and work aggressively to show the property owner failed in their duty of care, causing your injuries.
What type of claim can I file if I slip and fall at work?
Employees in Pittsburgh who slip and fall on the job are generally required to file a workers’ compensation claim. This type of claim should pay your medical bills, partial wages, temporary disability benefits, and permanent disability benefits.
If you are not an employee or otherwise non-eligible for workers’ comp benefits, you are entitled to file a slip and fall claim against the negligent property owners. This includes shoppers, consumers of services, and even pedestrians who slip and fall while walking through unprotected construction sites. Independent contractors who are injured while working can also file a personal injury claim.
What is the value of my Pittsburgh slip and fall claim?
At Carmody and Ging, our Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyers pay attention to all the small details that often add up to large recoveries. We focus on all your future damages in addition to the damages you’ve already suffered. We demand compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income and lost benefits
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- An inability to use any body part
- Loss of life’s pleasures and loss of consortium (marital relations)
We review all your losses with your doctors, employers, family, and most importantly – you.
If a fall resulted in the death of a spouse, parent, child, or another close relative, we file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family members.
Do you have a Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyer near me?
Carmody and Ging is located at 801 Vinial Street in Pittsburgh, on the 3rd floor of the Deutschtown Center building. We’re right across the street from Penn Brewery, and there’s plenty of parking onsite. If you need to make alternate arrangements because of your accident:
- There’s a bus stop on Troy Hill Road, around the corner.
- We can set up a video conference.
- We meet patients in healthcare settings or at their homes.
Our lawyers can answer all your questions and guide you through each step of the claims process. We also talk to your doctors directly.
Get help now. Contact our Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyers today
Concerned about who will pay your medical bills and living expenses after an accident that wasn’t your fault? Wondering if you are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering? Carmody and Ging is here to help. We have the experience, tenacity, and resources to hold responsible defendants liable for the injuries and deaths they cause. Our lawyers have deep ties to our community and want to help you get your life back on track.
To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyer, please call 412.281.2929 or complete our contact form. Respected throughout Western Pennsylvania for our representation of personal injury victims.
