How Long After a Slip and Fall Can You Sue?
A slip and fall can cause broken bones, spine injuries, and head trauma. Pedestrian walkways, storefronts, and private residences all become dangerous they are not maintained properly. If you recently suffered a slip and fall injury, then you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.
There are limitations on how long you are allowed to sue the responsible party after your fall, but the timeline changes depending on if your fall took place on private or public land. No matter where you were injured, immediate action improves your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.
Slips and Falls on Private Property
In Wisconsin, you have three years from the time the injury took place to file a personal injury claim if the negligent party was a private property owner. Private property owners are categorized as either private business owners or non-commercial property owners.
Private business liability
A commercial business has a duty to provide a safe environment for its workers and customers. This duty includes doing everything reasonably necessary to make their property safe.
If you suffered a slip and fall on the property of a business, they may be found negligent. When a business is negligent, you can sue them within three years of the incident.
Non-commercial private property liability
A homeowner, landlord, or any property owner that is not involved in commercial actions on their property has fewer duties to create a safe environment than a private business owner does. However, they must maintain their property to avoid exposing people to an unreasonable risk of harm.
If you suffered a slip and fall injury on non-commercial private property and believe it was due to an unreasonable risk, then you may deserve compensation.
Slips and Falls on Government Property
You can only file a notice of claim for injuries sustained on public property (like a sidewalk, street, or public park) within 120 days of the incident. Proving government negligence is complicated, so the injured party must diligently collect evidence and file a claim.
A Fox Cities premises liabilities lawsuit attorney can evaluate your case and help you pursue compensation.
Hire an Attorney as Soon as Possible
People injured on public lands due to government negligence must take legal action quickly. While those injured on private or commercial property have three years to file a claim, there are many reasons why it is best to sue as soon as possible.
Evidence is required to prove a property owner’s negligence, which is lost over time. Our Fox Cities premises liabilities lawsuits lawyers can guide you through the post-fall evidence collection process to ensure you have the proof you need to back your claim.
Eye-witness reports
Eyewitnesses are strong legal evidence that a slip and fall injury was caused by a failure to keep a property safe. If anyone saw your fall, collect their contact information, and ask for a statement. Each passing day, they grow more likely to forget important aspects of your case.
A premises liability lawyer will know exactly what facts are essential for your case and can contact eyewitnesses to obtain those facts.
Security footage
Commercial properties often have security cameras that monitor activity on the property. If you promptly start the legal process, you and your lawyer can obtain the tapes from the security camera. Security cameras record over old recordings after a short time, sometimes 30 days or less, so waiting to sue results in potentially losing evidence that could help your case.
Creating a paper trail
A slip and fall injury can be devastating for the victim, but if you do not document your experience, a court will find it hard to award compensation. Collecting documents like incident reports from businesses and landlords, medical records, and photos of the scene is vital to proving another party’s liability in your case.
Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers Can Help
When a property owner fails to take care of their premises, and it results in a slip and fall injury, you deserve compensation. While the time frame for suing is relatively long for private property injuries, it is in your best interest to start the legal process as soon as possible. That means contacting an experienced attorney who specializes in premises liability.
Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers can help you or a loved one get fair compensation for a slip and fall injury. Contact us for more information and a free case evaluation.