New Jersey Slip and Fall Lawyers

Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable

When you visit an establishment or private residence, you do not expect to slip, fall, and become injured. Often, there are threats present on the property that could cause an accident. Generally speaking, a business owner has a duty to maintain their property in a safe and non-hazardous condition. If the person responsible for the property was negligent in removing or identifying the hazard, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At Bendit Weinstock, P.A., our New Jersey slip and fall attorneys are able to investigate premises liability injuries and determine who is responsible for your compensation. We give each client personalized attention directly from our attorneys. You will not have to go through a paralegal.

Talk with our New Jersey slip and fall lawyers about your case today. Call us at (973) 736-9800 or contact us online. Serving New Jersey since 1957.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Our New Jersey slip and fall lawyers can investigate your fall, as well as contact appropriate experts to conduct a site inspection and evaluation to determine the cause of your fall and whether or not the business entity or property owner was responsible for causing your accident.

Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:

• Uneven surfaces: Rugs, uneven floorboards, or damaged tile can cause tripping, as can construction areas that should be roped off
• Slippery floors: Newly mopped floors or floors wet with rain and melted snow can cause slips
• Clutter: Tools, work equipment, or un-shelved stock left in store aisles or on a walkway can cause visitors to trip
• Insufficient lighting: Dim lighting in walkways, stairwells, or garages can make it difficult to see and create tripping hazards
• Holes: Potholes or holes in landscaping should be roped off, as they can cause falls
• Spills: Items that fall off the shelf or any liquid on the floor’s surface that is not properly identified or cleaned up can cause slipping or tripping

Bendit Weinstock, P.A., handles NJ slip and falls cases involving dangerous property conditions such as those mentioned here. Our New Jersey slip and fall attorneys also handle cases involving slip and falls on ice where the property owner negligently fails to clean or prevent snow and ice accumulation on their property.

Who can be liable in a West Orange slip and fall?

Property owners, managers, tenants, maintenance companies, snow and ice contractors, and event operators can all share responsibility for unsafe conditions. In some cases, a municipality or public entity may be involved, such as a fall on a poorly maintained sidewalk or at a public building in West Orange or elsewhere in Essex County. Our attorneys investigate control of the property, contracts, inspection logs, and prior complaints to identify every responsible party and the insurance coverage that applies.

Damages available in New Jersey slip and fall cases

A successful premises liability claim can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, future treatment, therapy, and lost wages or reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and permanent limitations. For most claims, compensation is paid by the liable party’s insurance carrier rather than an individual. We document your injuries with medical records, imaging, and expert opinions to present a clear picture of your losses.

Claims involving cities and public entities in New Jersey

If your trip and fall occurred on municipal property or involved a public entity, New Jersey law generally requires that you file a notice of claim within 90 days of the incident before you can sue. This deadline is much shorter than the two-year statute of limitations that applies to most private-property claims. If you suspect a city, county, or other public entity was involved in your fall in West Orange or elsewhere in Essex County, contact our firm right away so we can protect your rights.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident 

To ensure that your rights are protected for a full and fair recovery after a slip and fall accident in New Jersey, we encourage you to take these steps.

After a slip and fall accident, you should:

• Seek medical treatment as soon as possible. The doctor's exam will be documentation that you suffered injuries due to a slip and fall accident.
• If possible, take pictures of the accident site as well as pictures of the injuries that you have suffered.
• Do not give statements to the property owner's insurance company. Do not sign any documents either.
• Keep a detailed file for your case -- for example, keep copies of all your medical bills, letters that you receive from insurance companies, as well as updates on your medical treatments for your slip & fall injury, and anything else that is related to your case
• Report your slip and fall to the owner of the property. If a police officer or the business at the premises completed an accident report, request a copy of it.
• Keep the clothes and shoes that you work on the day of the accident -- do not wash it because it may serve as evidence in your case.
• Do not discuss what happened on social media -- it may be used against you.

Why Do I Need an Attorney for a Slip & Fall Injury Claim?

When you are injured from a slip and fall accident, you may not realize you have any rights to compensation for your injuries. For slip and fall accidents in New Jersey, there is a two-year statute of limitations to file a claim. Even if you are not sure about who is responsible for your injuries and pain and suffering, it is best to consult with our slip and fall attorneys in NJ and let us explore all your options.

These cases fall under the umbrella of premises liability. Premises liability cases can be difficult to prove, and it is a good idea to work with an experienced New Jersey slip and fall attorney who knows how to establish liability for your injuries and effectively negotiate for the full, fair recovery you are owed.

In establishing liability for your slip and fall injuries, you will need to prove the following:

• The property owner (or another liable party) owed you a duty of care. This can usually be established by proving that you were legally on the property at the time of the accident. Anyone found to have been trespassing or otherwise on the property unlawfully when they were injured will most likely be unable to collect compensation.
• Next, you must show that the property owner (or another liable party) knew of or should have known of a dangerous condition, yet failed to take proper steps to address, fix, repair, or otherwise warn others of the dangerous condition.
• You will also need to prove that, as a result of the dangerous condition, you were injured and, lastly, that your injuries led to measurable damages. These damages can either be economic—medical bills, lost wages, etc.—or non-economic in nature. Non-economic damages are things like pain and suffering.

At Bendit Weinstock, P.A., our New Jersey slip and fall lawyers understand how to prove the elements of a premises liability case. We can work to show how your slip and fall accident was caused by a property owner’s negligence and seek the maximum compensation you are owed. This is incredibly difficult for most people to do on their own without the assistance of a qualified legal team.

How to File a Slip and Fall Claim in New Jersey

• If you were injured, get prompt medical attention. Being able to prove that your injuries resulted from your fall is important.
• Take photos or videos of the scene -- show what caused your fall. This documentation will be important evidence for your case.
• Talk to the property owner so that they have a chance to fix the unsafe area. Do not admit fault or apologize during the interaction because this could be used against you during a case. Make note of the property owner's contact details even if your injuries do not seem serious -- symptoms for certain injuries may take days or weeks to appear.
• If possible, get contact information from witnesses. This may be helpful to your claim later on.
• Immediately write down what happened to you. The more time goes on, the more difficult it will be to remember specific details about what happened before and after your fall. Be very detailed as possible.
• Reach out to an experienced slip and fall lawyer near you in New Jersey before talking to the property owner's insurance company to discuss the accident.

Before filing a slip and fall claim, be aware of the statute of limitations deadline. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for a slip and fall claim is within two years of when the incident happened. Do not wait until the last minute to start the claim because it may turn out to be more complicated than you anticipate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a slip and fall case take in New Jersey?

Timeframes vary based on injury recovery, insurance cooperation, and court scheduling. Many claims resolve in several months after medical treatment stabilizes, while disputed liability or serious-injury cases can take longer. We move quickly to preserve evidence and position your claim for a timely, fair outcome.

What if I was partly at fault for the fall?

New Jersey follows comparative negligence. You can still recover compensation if you were less than 51 percent at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. We address defenses like open and obvious conditions and improper footwear with facts and expert analysis.

What evidence helps most in a West Orange premises liability case?

Clear photos or video of the hazard, incident reports, witness names, surveillance footage, medical records, and the shoes and clothing you wore are key. Prompt medical evaluation creates a reliable record linking injuries to the fall.

Should I speak with the property owner’s insurer?

Do not provide a recorded statement or sign documents before speaking with an attorney. Insurers may minimize your injuries or shift blame. We handle all communications and present your claim with supporting proof.

Do I have a case if a warning sign was posted?

A warning sign does not automatically eliminate liability. If the sign was misplaced, generic, or the hazard was not reasonably addressed, the property owner or manager may still be responsible.

Contact Our Slip and Fall Lawyer in New Jersey Today

Our New Jersey slip and fall attorneys work aggressively to get maximum compensation for injured victims. You should only be concerned with recuperating from your slip and fall injuries; let us worry about the rest. We have been helping injured people for over 60 years; we can help you, too.

Call Bendit Weinstock, P.A. at (973) 736-9800 or book your free case evaluation with a slip and fall lawyer in New Jersey.