Every year, thousands of Pennsylvanians are hurt in slip and fall accidents that could have been prevented. A fall on a wet grocery store floor, an icy sidewalk outside a business, or a broken staircase in an apartment building can lead to serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and weeks or even months away from work. If you or someone you love has been injured because a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, a Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyer from Marcus & Mack can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
With over a century of combined legal experience, the trusted attorneys at Marcus & Mack are ready to fight for you. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us get to work for you.
When you are dealing with painful injuries and financial stress after a fall, you need attorneys who will take your case seriously and push hard for the compensation you deserve. At Marcus & Mack, we bring over 100 years of combined legal experience to every case we handle. Here is what sets us apart:
Helping injured people is not just what we do. It is all we do. If a property owner’s negligence caused your fall, call us today and tell them you mean business.
A slip and fall claim is a type of personal injury case where someone is hurt because a property owner or manager failed to keep their property reasonably safe. These cases fall under an area of law called “premises liability,” which simply means that property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for people who are lawfully on their property.
Not every fall qualifies for a legal claim. To have a valid Pennsylvania slip and fall case, you generally need to show that:
Pennsylvania law treats visitors differently depending on why they were on the property. Under Pennsylvania’s premises liability statute, property owners owe the highest duty of care to “invitees,” which includes customers in stores, patients in medical offices, and guests at restaurants or hotels. A lower duty of care applies to social guests and an even lower standard to trespassers.
Understanding where you fall in these categories matters because it affects the strength of your claim and the compensation you may be able to recover.
Slip and fall accidents happen in all kinds of settings, from big box retailers along Route 422 to small businesses on Philadelphia Street in downtown Indiana. Some of the most common causes include:
In many of these situations, the property owner had every opportunity to fix the problem or at least put up a warning. When they do not, and someone gets hurt, they should be held accountable.
Falls can cause far more damage than most people expect. What might seem like a simple trip can result in injuries that take months to heal and require extensive medical treatment. Common slip and fall injuries include:
For older adults, a slip and fall can be life-changing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and older. But serious fall injuries are not limited to seniors. A young worker slipping on a warehouse floor or a college student falling on an icy sidewalk near Penn State can suffer injuries that disrupt their lives for a long time.
The physical pain is only part of the picture. Many fall victims also face significant financial pressure from hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and lost wages while they recover.
Talk to a Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
Once you are home and beginning to recover from a fall, there are several important steps you can take to protect your health and strengthen any potential legal claim:
Taking these steps early can make a real difference in the outcome of your case.
One important legal concept in Pennsylvania slip and fall cases is “comparative negligence.” Under Pennsylvania’s comparative fault law (42 Pa. C.S. § 7102), you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for your accident, as long as your share of fault is not greater than 50%.
Here is how it works in plain terms:
Insurance companies will often try to shift as much blame as possible onto the injured person to reduce what they have to pay. Having a skilled team of slip and fall accident lawyers on your side helps push back against these tactics and protect your right to fair compensation.
If your Pennsylvania slip and fall claim is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the degree of the property owner’s negligence. Our Pennsylvania slip and fall attorneys evaluate each case carefully and fight to recover every dollar our clients are owed.
Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This means you generally have two years from the date of your fall to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to seek compensation.
Two years may sound like a long time, but evidence can disappear quickly. Surveillance footage gets deleted, witnesses forget details, and hazardous conditions get repaired. The sooner you reach out for legal help, the better your chances of building a strong case.
Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from people who have been hurt in a fall.
It depends. Pennsylvania municipalities can sometimes be held responsible for failing to maintain public walkways, but there are special rules and shorter deadlines for claims against government entities. It is important to talk with a lawyer as soon as possible to understand your options.
A warning sign does not automatically protect the property owner from liability. If the sign was not placed in a visible location, or if the hazard was not cleaned up within a reasonable time, you may still have a valid claim.
You may be able to, depending on the circumstances. Homeowners carry liability insurance for a reason. Filing a claim does not mean suing your friend personally. It typically means seeking compensation through their insurance policy.
At Marcus & Mack, there is no upfront cost. We handle slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis. You do not owe us any attorney fees unless we recover money for you.
This is a common defense, but it does not necessarily prevent you from recovering compensation. Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule, you can still receive compensation as long as you were less than 51% at fault.
Most slip and fall claims are resolved through settlement negotiations. However, if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial and fight for you in the courtroom.
You should not have to bear the financial burden of someone else’s carelessness. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident anywhere in Pennsylvania, from the shops and sidewalks of Indiana to businesses in State College, Altoona, DuBois, and Johnstown, Marcus & Mack is ready to stand by your side. With over 100 years of combined experience and a deep commitment to our communities, we know how to hold negligent property owners accountable.
We will handle the legal process so you can focus on what matters most: getting better. There are no upfront costs, and you will never pay a fee unless we win your case. Call us today or schedule your free consultation. We are available 24/7 and ready to get to work for you. Tell them you mean business.
By: Ashley O.
57 S 6th Street, The Mitchell House Indiana PA 15701 Phone: (724) 349-5602 Marcus & Mack