Take this situation: You were walking inside a shopping mall in Jersey City that was under renovation. There was no sign of a damaged floor. You slip and get hurt. It is not your fault, and expectedly, you want justice.
While nothing can undo the damage, a financial settlement can help pay your medical bills and cover the additional losses. If you don’t understand the legalese, contacting a Jersey City slip and fall attorney is the ideal step. For your help, we have enlisted a few pointers that are critical and need your attention.
Always report the injury
You should file an accident report enlisting all details with the property owner or manager. If the accident was a major one and led to a severe injury, such as multiple fractures, you should also call the police. Doing so will ensure there is documentation of the incident.
Insurance companies are extremely smart
If you assume that the commercial insurance company will offer you a settlement without using tactics to undermine the claim, you are mistaken. Claims adjusters are highly cautious about such cases and do everything to turn things in their employers’ favor. Do not give a recorded statement, and let your attorney do the negotiation for you.
There is a two-year deadline
You are required to file a slip-and-fall lawsuit against the property within two years. The statute of limitations in New Jersey has set the deadline, which doesn’t, however, apply to insurance claims. It is still relevant to act immediately because you could miss important pieces of evidence that can prove liability.
Hiring an attorney is pretty straightforward
If you are wondering whether you can afford an attorney, you should know that slip-and-fall accidents are much like other injury claims. An attorney will always charge a contingency fee, which is a share of your settlement. Their fee is dependent on whether you get something – either from the insurance company or the party at fault.
Your fault is a critical factor
NJ follows the modified comparative fault rule for injury claims. If the claimant has a share in the fault, their compensation will be adjusted according to their negligence, and they cannot claim anything or sue the other party when they are more than 50% at fault.
With a legal team looking into the process, you don’t have to stress about gathering evidence or investigating the accident. Get a lawyer before it’s too late.
