Property owners throughout Bergen County have a legal duty to maintain safe premises, including removing ice and snow within a reasonable time after winter storms. When they fail to fulfill this responsibility and you suffer injuries, Jae Lee Law can help you pursue compensation. With nearly 30 years of experience representing injured clients, our multilingual team speaks English, Korean, Spanish, and Ukrainian to serve our diverse community. We take immediate action to investigate slip and fall accidents, preserve evidence, and build strong claims against negligent property owners.
Take Immediate Steps at the Accident Scene
Your actions immediately after a slip and fall on ice can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Seeking medical attention right away creates an official record linking your injuries directly to the fall, even if your injuries seem minor at first.
Report the accident to the property owner, manager, or business operator as soon as possible. Ask them to document the incident in writing and request a copy of the incident report. If you can safely do so, photograph the exact location where you fell, capturing the ice conditions, any warning signs or lack thereof, and the surrounding area from multiple angles. Identify and obtain contact information from anyone who witnessed your fall. Witness statements corroborate your account when property owners dispute how the accident occurred.
Understand New Jersey Slip and Fall Laws
New Jersey law requires property owners to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition and warn visitors of known hazards. However, the law recognizes that property owners need reasonable time to address ice and snow accumulation after winter storms. Courts evaluate whether property owners acted reasonably given the circumstances, including storm timing, severity, and the property owner’s response.
Property owners cannot be held liable for injuries occurring during active snowstorms when accumulation is ongoing. What constitutes reasonable time after storms end depends on factors including storm severity, temperature, property size, and available resources. New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule allows you to recover compensation even if you share some fault for your accident, provided your fault does not exceed 50%. Property owners often argue that injured parties should have watched where they were walking or avoided obviously hazardous areas.
Document Your Injuries and Treatment
Comprehensive medical documentation proves essential to slip and fall claims. Follow all treatment recommendations from your healthcare providers and attend every scheduled appointment. Gaps in treatment allow insurance companies to argue your injuries were not serious or that you failed to mitigate damages by following medical advice.
Keep detailed records of all medical expenses and request copies of all medical records and bills as you receive treatment. Consider documenting the following:
- Emergency room visits and hospitalization records
- Follow-up appointments with physicians and specialists
- Diagnostic tests including X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans
- Prescription medications and over-the-counter treatments
- Physical therapy sessions and rehabilitation costs
- Assistive devices like crutches, braces, or walkers
Maintain a journal documenting your pain levels, limitations on daily activities, and how injuries impact your work and personal life. This contemporaneous record provides powerful evidence of non-economic damages when insurance companies minimize your suffering.
Common Injuries From Falls on Ice
Slip and fall accidents on ice frequently result in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment. Broken bones including fractured wrists, arms, hips, and ankles occur when victims attempt to break their falls or land awkwardly on hard surfaces. Hip fractures are particularly serious for older adults and often require surgery and lengthy rehabilitation.
Head injuries ranging from concussions to traumatic brain injuries threaten long-term cognitive function when victims strike their heads on pavement or concrete. Back and spinal cord injuries can cause chronic pain, reduced mobility, or even paralysis in severe cases. Shoulder injuries including rotator cuff tears and dislocations frequently result from falls. Soft tissue injuries affecting muscles, ligaments, and tendons cause significant pain and functional limitations even when no bones break.
Why Choose Jae Lee Law
Property owners and their insurance companies have legal teams working to minimize or deny your claim from the moment you report your accident. You need experienced legal representation to level the playing field. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your fall to ensure critical evidence is preserved and your rights are protected.
An attorney can investigate your accident, identify all liable parties, and handle communications with insurance companies while you focus on recovery. Property owners sometimes share liability with snow removal contractors, property management companies, or tenants who failed to maintain safe conditions. Insurance adjusters may contact you shortly after your accident seeking recorded statements about how the fall occurred. Do not provide statements without consulting an attorney first.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
Jae Lee Law brings nearly 30 years of personal injury experience to slip and fall cases throughout Bergen County. Our founder is one of only 3% of New Jersey attorneys certified by the state Supreme Court. We have secured millions of dollars for injured clients through our proactive, trial-ready approach that puts pressure on property owners and insurance companies.
Our investment in your case includes advancing costs for investigation, medical records, weather reports, and qualified witnesses who establish property owner negligence. We work on a contingency fee basis, collecting fees only when we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation about your slip and fall accident claim.