Slip and Fall Injury Attorney in Providence
Did you slip or trip and fall on someone else’s dangerous property in Providence, Rhode Island? Are you struggling to pay your medical bills and put food on the table while you’re too hurt to work? If so, you should know that you could be entitled to money from a slip-and-fall injury claim.
Property owners and managers in Providence have a duty to keep their premises safe for visitors. When they fail in that duty, innocent people get hurt. Mike and his team at Bottaro Law are proud to stand up for injured people and help them demand fair compensation from big insurance companies. Taking on deep-pocketed insurers can feel like David vs. Goliath, but you don’t have to go into battle alone. Instead, put Bottaro Law in your corner and show Goliath you mean business.
Contact us now for a free initial case review with our Providence, RI, slip-and-fall lawyers. We have an exclusive “No Fee Guarantee,” so you can rely on us for case reviews, 24/7 service, and assertive legal help at no upfront cost to you. We get paid only if and when we win money for you.
Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Providence, RI
Most slip-and-fall accidents happen when hazardous conditions underfoot cause people to lose their balance and stumble. Some of the top causes of slip-and-falls in Providence, RI, include:
- Wet, icy, or slippery floors – Unattended spills, wax buildup, and other wet or oily conditions reduce traction and increase the likelihood of slip-and-falls.
- Uneven floors or carpets – Many slip-and-falls occur when people slip or trip over loose carpeting, uneven tiles, and other irregular flooring materials.
- Cluttered floors or walkways – Unattended clutter or debris on sidewalks, store aisles, or other walkways present tripping hazards that can lead to a fall.
- Defective stairs or steps – People can slip and fall while going up or down unsafe stairways with broken steps, loose runners, or missing handrails.
- Pavement cracks or potholes – Many slip-and-falls happen because of dangerous cracks or potholes in parking lots, garages, and paved walkways.
- Lack of appropriate lighting – People are far more likely to overlook hazards and get hurt in slip-and-falls in areas with poor or nonexistent lighting.
Common Places Where Slip-and-Fall Accidents Occur
A slip-and-fall can happen just about anywhere in Providence, but they’re especially common in the following locations:
- Retail shops
- Grocery stores
- Shopping malls
- Cafés and restaurants
- Bars and clubs
- Hospitals and clinics
- Doctor’s offices
- Construction sites
- Industrial factories
- Sports arenas
- Concert venues
- Movie theaters
- Amusement parks
- Hotels and resorts
- Casinos
- Swimming pools
- Docks and marinas
- Gas stations
- Public parks
- Apartment complexes
- Residential homes
- Older buildings
- Nursing homes
- Assisted living facilities
- Parking lots and garages
- Sidewalks and walkways
- Staircases and stairwells
- Elevators and escalators
What Do You Have to Prove in a Slip-and-Fall Claim?
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has held that property owners in the state must:
- Exercise reasonable care to maintain the safety of visitors whom the owner reasonably expects to be on the property at any given time
- Protect visitors against the risks of dangerous conditions on the premises when the owner knows about the dangerous conditions or should know about them by the exercise of reasonable care
- Provide adequate illumination for visitors in common areas
To prove a slip-and-fall claim against a Rhode Island property owner, you will need to show evidence of the following:
- You were a legal visitor on the property when the slip-and-fall accident occurred.
- You slipped and fell because a dangerous condition existed on the property.
- The property owner knew about the dangerous condition, or the dangerous condition existed long enough that the owner should have known about it.
- The property owner failed to take steps to fix the hazard or warn you about it.
- You got hurt in a slip-and-fall as a direct result of the dangerous condition.
How Can Our Providence Slip-and-Fall Attorneys Help?
Property insurance companies fight to protect their bottom lines by minimizing or denying slip-and-fall claims whenever they can. When you file your claim, the insurance company might try to avoid responsibility by implying that you were partially at fault for the slip-and-fall or arguing that your injuries aren’t really that bad.
The insurance company has a team of lawyers fighting for it, so it’s a good idea to have a lawyer of your own who can:
- Investigate the slip and fall to determine liability and gather evidence
- Communicate with property owners, insurers, and others on your behalf
- Gather medical records, incident reports, and other evidence for your claim
- Interview eyewitnesses and reliable experts for compelling case testimony
- Manage important case documents, deadlines, and requirements for you
- Negotiate aggressively to maximize the value of your slip-and-fall settlement
- Take your case to court and represent you at trial, if necessary
At Bottaro Law, our Providence slip-and-fall lawyers have more than two decades of experience helping injured people like you in Rhode Island. We’re ready to take immediate action on your behalf and pursue the favorable outcome you deserve.
How Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Claim in Providence, RI?
Rhode Island law gives you just three years from the date of the slip-and-fall accident to file a premises liability lawsuit against a liable property owner. Three years might sound like plenty of time, but when you factor in how long it could take to heal from your injuries, find the right lawyer, and prepare your claim, three years isn’t much time at all.
If you fell and were injured on someone else’s property, you should contact Mike and his team at Bottaro Law right away to avoid losing money to avoidable administrative mistakes.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Fall
If you got hurt in a Providence slip-and-fall accident, you should take these steps to protect yourself and your rights:
- Go to the doctor to have your injuries diagnosed, treated, and documented.
- Follow your doctor’s care plan and record your recovery journey in a journal.
- Gather evidence of the slip-and-fall, such as the clothing you were wearing when the accident happened and photos of the location where you fell.
- Save medical bills, bank statements, and other proof of your financial losses.
- Watch what you say to others or post online while your injury claim is pending.
- Contact a knowledgeable slip-and-fall injury lawyer at Bottaro Law in Providence, Rhode Island.