Fall River Slip and Fall Lawyer

A sudden slip on a wet supermarket aisle or an uneven city sidewalk can leave you with more than embarrassment, and it can mean serious medical bills, lost wages, and long-term pain. Under Massachusetts premises liability law, property owners in Fall River have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for customers, tenants, and guests. When that duty is breached and you are injured, you may have the right to pursue compensation through a slip and fall claim. Our slip and fall attorneys explain how those claims work, what makes them unique under Massachusetts law, and why partnering with a knowledgeable Fall River personal injury team can protect your rights and maximize your recovery.

While every accident is different, many Fall River slip and falls share recurring hazards:

• Wet or freshly mopped floors in grocery stores, restaurants, and nursing homes
• Ice and snow accumulation left untreated on entryways, stairs, and parking lots during the winter in Southeast Massachusetts.
• Broken or uneven pavement on public sidewalks, apartment walkways, and commercial parking lots
• Loose carpeting, curled mats, or missing floor tiles inside retail and office spaces
• Poor lighting that hides hazards in stairwells, hallways, or exterior paths
• Spilled food or liquids in cafeterias, food courts, and convenience stores
• Unmarked elevation changes such as single steps, ramps without handrails, or abrupt curb edges

Documenting the specific condition that caused your fall is crucial; photographs, incident reports, and witness statements can significantly impact the outcome of a case.

Premises liability is rooted in negligence. To succeed, an injured visitor generally must show:

• Duty. The landowner or occupier owed the injured person a duty of reasonable care and caution. In Massachusetts, the same fundamental duty applies to all lawful visitors, whether they are "invitees" (customers) or "licensees" (social guests).
• Breach. The owner created the hazard, was aware of it, or should have been aware of it, and failed to fix or warn within a reasonable timeframe.
• Causation. The unsafe condition directly caused the fall and the resulting injuries.
• Damages. The victim suffered actual losses (medical expenses, lost income, pain, disability, etc.).

Massachusetts follows the "notice" rule, which requires the plaintiff to prove that the property owner had either actual notice of the danger or constructive notice (i.e., the condition existed for a sufficient period that a reasonably attentive owner would have discovered it). Surveillance footage, maintenance logs, and inspection records often provide the evidence necessary to establish notice.

Slip and fall claims typically hinge on the quality of the investigative work performed immediately after the accident. At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, we deploy resources such as:

• Rapid-response investigators who photograph the scene before the hazard is repaired
• Open records requests for city inspection files, prior complaints, or work-order histories
• Expert analysis by civil engineers or building code specialists who can testify about walkway safety standards
• Medical record reviews linking the mechanics of the fall to your orthopedic, neurological, or soft-tissue injuries
• Witness location services to secure sworn statements while memories are fresh

Meticulous case building increases settlement leverage and presents a straightforward narrative if trial becomes necessary.

Massachusetts applies a modified comparative negligence rule (M.G.L. c. 231 § 85). If you are found partially responsible for your fall, for example, because you ignored warning cones or were texting while walking, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. You can still collect the remaining percentage of your losses if you are not more than 50 percent at fault. Precise evidence and strong advocacy are essential to prevent insurance adjusters from overstating your share of blame.

Time limits matter. In most premises liability cases, you have three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in Massachusetts civil court (M.G.L. c. 260 § 2A). Waiting too long usually renders your claim entirely invalid. Shorter deadlines apply if the defendant is a municipality (for example, presenting notice within 30 days for snow-and-ice sidewalk claims). Contact counsel as early as possible to preserve critical evidence and satisfy all notice requirements.

A successful claim seeks to make you financially whole by recovering both economic and non-economic losses, such as:

• Past and future medical bills. Emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medication, and assistive devices
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity. Including missed overtime or self-employment income
• Pain and suffering. Physical discomfort, emotional distress, sleep disturbance, reduced quality of life
• Scarring or disfigurement. Particularly with facial injuries or surgical scars
• Permanent disability or loss of function. Orthopedic hardware, chronic instability, traumatic brain injury
• Loss of consortium. Harm to the spousal relationship in severe cases

Under Massachusetts law, punitive damages are generally unavailable in ordinary negligence cases unless egregious misconduct is proved, which is rare in slip-and-fall matters.

Your actions in the first minutes and days after a fall can significantly influence the outcome of your claim:

• Seek medical attention right away. Prompt diagnosis protects your health and documents the link between injury and hazard.
• Report the accident to the property owner or manager. Insist on a written incident report and request a copy.
• Photograph the scene and your injuries. Capture the hazard, lighting conditions, footwear, and any warning signs (or their absence).
• Identify witnesses– gather names, phone numbers, and brief statements before they disperse.
• Preserve footwear and clothing. Store them without washing to preserve evidence of substances like cooking oil or floor wax.
• Decline early settlement offers. Insurers may push quick, lowball payments that waive future claims.
• Contact an experienced slip and fall attorney for guidance. Early legal intervention safeguards evidence and shields you from insurer tactics.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has championed injury victims throughout the Commonwealth for nearly three years. Our approach combines comprehensive local knowledge with aggressive negotiation and trial skills:

• Local insight into Bristol County courts, judges, and defense firms
• Contingency-fee representation– you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover for you
• In-house medical-legal nurse consultants who translate complex records into compelling exhibits
• Accident-scene 3-D modeling to help juries visualize hidden hazards
• Cutting-edge litigation software that organizes evidence for maximum impact at mediation or trial
• Personalized service, you will have a direct line to your legal team, and regular status updates

Insurance carriers track which law firms are willing and able to take slip-and-fall cases to trial. Our courtroom reputation frequently prompts higher pre-trial settlement offers.

Retaining counsel familiar with Fall River offers distinct advantages:

• Proximity for on-site investigation. Icy sidewalks, cracked curbs, and puddles change quickly; a nearby lawyer can document them before they are fixed.
• Knowledge of regional weather patterns. Juries understand the challenges of maintaining safe premises during nor'easters, and so do we.
• Access to local experts. Southeastern Massachusetts orthopedists, vocational economists, and safety engineers often testify more credibly to area juries.
• Community reputation. Defendants know that a lawyer respected in the local bar will not hesitate to subpoena officials, obtain building permits, or depose neighbors.

Q: "Is the store automatically liable if I fall on its premises?"
Not necessarily. You must prove negligence, specifically that the store employees failed to act reasonably under the circumstances.

Q: "What if the dangerous condition was 'open and obvious'?"
Property owners can still be liable if they anticipate that visitors will encounter the hazard despite its visibility, especially where use of the area is necessary (restrooms, entrances, checkout aisles).

Q: "Can I pursue a claim if I fell on government property?"
Yes but notice and timing rules are stricter. Speak to an attorney promptly to preserve your rights under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act.

Q: "How long will my case take?"
Each case is unique. Straightforward insurance negotiations may be resolved within months; litigated claims can extend 18–24 months or longer if appeals arise.

Q: "Will I have to go to court?"
Most slip and fall claims settle. However, demonstrating your readiness to try the case often drives fair settlement offers. We prepare every file as if it were proceeding to trial, so we are never caught off guard.

A slip and fall may seem like "just an accident," but under Massachusetts law, it is often a preventable event resulting from careless property maintenance. If you or a loved one was injured in Fall River, let us evaluate the facts and fight for the compensation you deserve. There is no cost and no obligation to learn your options.

• Call us at (508) 974-3304
• Please request a free consultation online. We can also meet in our offices, at your home, or via secure video conference.

Fall River Office

99 S Main St #350
Fall River, MA 02721
Phone: (508) 974-3304