Slip and Fall Accidents can Ruin the Enjoyment of Springtime in New Jersey. Learn How they Occur and What You can do to Prevent Serious Injuries.
Springtime is usually a joyous time for many people. Blooming flowers, hotter weather, more sunshine, and an overall sense of new possibilities. However, with the many positive changes that this season brings comes the potential for negative effects in the form of potential injuries.
Distinctive Springtime Factors that Cause Slip and Fall Accidents
It would not be hard to argue that slip and fall accidents happen more often in the season of spring than in any other season around the year because of the environment and the conditions.
Considering the previous season is Winter, there can be certain conditions that are still hazardous. For example, snow paving often leads to broken streets and broken sidewalks. This can also lead to raised potholes and random cracks in the ground. People can often trip over the cracks left on the sidewalks and roads from the harsh weather conditions of winter. If these hazards are not rectified or reasonably addressed, then it is very likely someone will get hurt because of them. Similarly, the melting snow and ice of the winter can also cause a lot of flooding, which can also lead to certain surfaces being damaged, such as warped wood or uneven floors.
With springtime also comes spring showers. There is more of a chance of an unexpected rainstorm, with unexpected flooding during springtime, than there is during any other season. Since springtime is notorious for its rain showers and blooming flowers, this can often lead to slippery walking surfaces. The wet ground outside often leads to wet ground inside, especially at shopping centers. People walking outside towards the inside of the store will lead to the floors of the store becoming slippery. This slippery floor can and will cause someone to fall unexpectedly if the property owner does not take reasonable measures to prevent a fall.
Springtime also means spring cleaning and maintenance. There can be branches on the ground and sprinklers working to maintain green grass. Falling flowers or leaves can also lead to a slip and fall, especially when they stick to the bottom of someone’s shoe or if they are not cleaned up off the ground.
Top Injuries Resulting from Slip and Falls During the Spring Season
Sometimes, springtime slip and falls can result in severe and traumatic injuries. Most severe would be those injuries affecting the head, skull, brain, and top of the spine. Head trauma as a result of a slip and fall accident can cause very serious long-term injuries as well as fractured skulls, bleeding in the brain, and concussions.
Many people may also hurt their hips. Most of the time, it is the hip that comes into contact first after a slip and then fall. Hips are often fractured, and bones can be broken. When the hip doesn’t hit the ground first, your shoulder may. Shoulder injuries come with an array of complications and potentially years of surgery.
Torn muscles, ligaments, tendons, and rotator cuffs can be extremely painful, but just as painful is the spinal injury. Spinal injuries, such as herniated discs and fractured vertebrae, are extremely painful and very hard to treat.
Overall, slip and fall injuries are common in the spring and can be very serious. They may have lasting negative effects on your physical and financial well-being. Hiring the right attorney is necessary in order to offset these negative effects, as you may have a justifiable legal claim for compensation due to a springtime slip and fall accident.
Property Owner Liability for Springtime Slip and Fall Accidents
Land and property owners must take all reasonable measures to remediate any hazardous conditions, both known and unknown, as well as warn those who are allowed onto their property or expected to be on their property. Liability may be hard to determine, especially if you are walking on the sidewalk and happen to trip on a cracked piece of pavement. For this reason, it is imperative to have a knowledgeable slip and fall accident lawyer to investigate the surrounding circumstances of your case, determine who is responsible, and assemble the necessary evidence to prove your case for just compensation.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Slip-and-Fall Claim in NJ?
The time period in which you MUST bring an action against someone for a slip and fall personal injury case is two years. You have two years from the date of the injury to file the action, or else you are barred as a result of the statute of limitations.
Connect With New Jersey Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys at CR for a Consultation Today
At Cohen & Riechelson, our talented personal injury attorneys handle these types of cases every day. We know that it takes a seasoned (no pun intended) attorney to give you the assurance that you are putting forth the best possible offensive plan of action against the right parties for the right amount of compensation. With over 30 years of experience for each of our partners, who handle cases personally, we will determine who is at fault or who failed to meet the standard of care that was owed to you and how their failure to meet that burden was directly linked and the proximate cause of the injuries you have suffered.
Our attorneys will also determine exactly what compensation is justified and refuse to accept less than you are truly entitled to. Call our office at (609) 528-2596 for a free case evaluation if you suffered springtime slip and fall injuries anywhere in Southern New Jersey, such as Trenton, Princeton, Hamilton, Lawrence, Ewing, Robbinsville, Lambertville, Hopewell, East Windsor, Titusville, and surrounding communities in Mercer County, Burlington County, Middlesex County, and New Jersey.
