All Vermont property owners, from landlords to store owners, have a responsibility to ensure that their premises are safe. Unfortunately, not all owners respond to hazards in a reasonable timeframe—leading to painful slip and fall accidents.
If you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you may have grounds for an insurance claim. If you have any question about your personal injury slip and fall claim please call me, David Polow, today for a free consultation. My phone number is 802-888-7707.
Why Choose Us
• Our firm represents people, not insurance companies. We are dedicated to obtaining justice and preventing future injuries due to property owner negligence.
• We have a proven track record of representing injured people in Vermont.
• I bring decades of experience to our clients, ensuring that we have the knowledge, skills, and resources to advocate for your right to compensation.
What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip and fall accident occurs when you trip, slip or stumble over a hazard on someone’s property. These accidents can lead to severe, painful injuries, including spinal cord damage, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries.
Many hazards can contribute to a slip and fall, including the following:
• Failure to remove snow and ice
• Wet floors without hazard signs
• Protruding objects
• Holes and uneven ground
• Stairway and porch defects
How to Prove a Vermont Slip and Fall Claim
If a property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to respond to it, you may have grounds to file a claim against him or her. In order to secure compensation in your claim, you and your attorney will need to provide evidence to establish four key facts.
• The property owner owed you a duty of care. All owners owe a duty to maintain safe premises and respond to hazards.
• The property owner breached his or her duty of care through a negligent act or failure to act.
• The property owner’s breach of duty caused your accident.
• You sustained damages due to the property owner’s negligence that you can claim in your lawsuit.
Although you may slip and fall on someone’s property, the owner may claim that you do not have a right to make a claim. He or she may use any of the following defenses to deny or reduce your award.
• You were trespassing or in a part of the property that is not accessible to visitors.
• You were wearing inappropriate footwear.
• The owner could not have reasonably known about the hazard at the time of the accident and could not have responded to it.
• You were using your phone or otherwise distracted at the time of the accident.
• The owner took reasonable steps to warn you of the hazard, such as using cones and signs to mark off the area.
If you are injured on someone else’s property, you could hold the owner accountable for your injuries. I represent injured people on a contingent fee basis so there is no out of pocket expense or fee for our clients.