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A slip and fall accident in Ann Arbor can cause serious injuries, resulting in pain and suffering, costly medical bills and a loss of income if your injuries prevent you from returning to work. Consulting with a slip and fall attorney can provide critical guidance, helping you understand your rights and fight for compensation for your injuries. Hiring the right Ann Arbor slip and fall attorney can significantly impact your ability to recover the compensation and money damages you are legally entitled to.

Working with Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers is the first step in fighting for the compensation and money damages you are legally entitled to after your accident. We’re here to help, and you pay no fees unless you win.

Contact us to schedule your free case evaluation. Call us 24/7 at (248) 254-8357 .

Role and Benefits of Hiring a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Ann Arbor

When you suffer a fall due to another party’s negligence, Michigan’s premises liability law safeguards your financial well-being by ensuring you can receive compensation for your injuries, provided that the fall is due to someone else’s negligence. Working with a seasoned slip and fall attorney is crucial in helping you seek pain and suffering compensation, obtain quality medical care, pay for medical bills, and provide reimbursement for lost wages and earnings resulting from your accident.

Our experienced Ann Arbor slip and fall attorneys are dedicated to helping you understand your legal rights and pursuing the justice you deserve. This brings several concrete benefits, including:

  • Increased compensation
  • Faster settlements due to our proven track record 
  • Better communication 
  • Improved understanding of your rights

Choosing to proceed without the support of our skilled team at Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers could expose you to significant risks. An inexperienced attorney can make significant errors- from missing critical deadlines and overlooking liable parties to failing to identify all available insurance coverage options. Perhaps most importantly, they might mistakenly advise you to accept an inadequate settlement that undervalues your claim. Our firm serves as your protective shield against these potential pitfalls following your slip and fall incident in Ann Arbor, MI.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident in Ann Arbor

Having proper legal guidance in the aftermath of an accident is crucial, as your immediate actions significantly influence the strength of your case.

When choosing what to do after a slip and fall accident, your critical first steps must include:

  • Getting needed medical care and treatment immediately
  • Contacting an experienced slip and fall attorney who specializes exclusively in this area of law
  • Taking pictures and video of the condition that caused your slip and fall
  • Talking to and getting contact information from eyewitnesses
  • Reporting the accident to the property owner
  • Filing an incident report with the property owner
During these critical initial moments following your fall, exercise caution in your interactions. Unless you have talked to a lawyer who is looking out for your best interests, avoid providing recorded statements, resist accepting preliminary settlement proposals, and refrain from admitting any responsibility for the incident. Most importantly, before engaging in discussions about your slip and fall – particularly with insurance company representatives, claims adjusters, or investigators who do not have your best interests in mind – seek counsel from a qualified premises liability attorney who can protect your interests.

Proving Negligence in Ann Arbor Slip and Fall Cases

Under Michigan law, to successfully file a slip and fall lawsuit, you must prove that the property owner, i.e., the person or business who had possession and control of the property at the time of your slip and fall injury, was negligent. Successfully proving this negligence stands as one of your attorney’s most critical responsibilities in building your case.

Elements of a Successful Claim for Slip and Fall

To prove negligence in an Ann Arbor slip and fall case, you must prove several things. These are:

  • The property owner or manager owed you a duty of care
  • The property owner or manager breached their duty of care
  • The breach of the duty of care caused you to fall
  • You suffered injuries warranting both compensation and money damages as a result of your fall

Building a compelling slip and fall case requires proving each of these four essential elements of negligence. Our experienced attorneys will work diligently to gather and present the evidence needed to establish a strong foundation for your claim.

Classification of Property Visitors

When evaluating premises liability cases in Ann Arbor, Michigan law considers three distinct categories of visitors. Each classification determines the property owner’s legal obligations and the visitor’s rights to compensation after an injury.

Michigan law defines the three visitor “statuses” – and the corresponding duty of care that they are owed – as follows: 

  • Invitees: These individuals enter the property for business purposes for the “commercial benefit” of the owner. Property owners owe the highest duty of reasonable care to these visitors, requiring them to make the premises safe by maintaining safe conditions, conducting regular inspections, and promptly addressing potential hazards.
  • Licensees: Licensees are invited to the property for social purposes, such as friends and family visiting your home, party guests, or neighbors stopping by. While property owners must warn licensees about known dangers, they have fewer obligations than they do to business visitors. The property owner “owes no duty of inspection or affirmative care to make the premises safe for the licensee’s visit.” (Stitt v. Holland)
  • Trespassers:  A trespasser enters property without permission or legal right. This could be someone taking a shortcut through private property or entering a closed business after hours. The landowner owes no duty to the trespasser except to refrain from injuring them by “wilful and wanton” misconduct. (Stitt v. Holland)

How Timing and Notice Requirements Affect Your Case

Slip and fall claims in Michigan are governed by specific legal requirements, including time limitations for filing and comparative negligence laws that can impact both your eligibility to pursue a claim and your potential compensation amount. In certain circumstances, these standard filing periods may be significantly reduced – particularly when your case involves government entities or other parties for whom the Michigan Legislature has established accelerated deadlines or special notice requirements following an incident.

Our Ann Arbor lawyers for slip and fall can ensure you remain compliant with these crucial notice periods and filing deadlines, protecting your right to seek compensation.

Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations in Michigan – Don’t Miss the Deadline

Michigan law imposes strict time constraints for filing a slip and fall lawsuit. State law requires victims to file within three years from the date of your accident.[1] Many individuals unfortunately forfeit their right to compensation by failing to meet this crucial filing deadline. This underscores the importance of working with skilled legal representation. Our team can help ensure no critical deadlines are missed.

Michigan Comparative Negligence

In Michigan, compensation for slip and fall incidents follows comparative negligence principles. Under this legal framework, your financial recovery will be reduced in proportion to your determined level of responsibility for the accident.[2] Insurance providers often rely on this law to try to minimize property owners’ financial obligations for injuries caused by their negligence.

For example, if you are taking the kids to play at County Farm Park and briefly glance at your phone before encountering a damaged stretch of sidewalk, the attorneys defending the City of Ann Arbor would likely claim that you share responsibility for your injuries because you were not paying attention while you were walking. If it can be proved that you were comparatively negligent, then this allocation of fault directly impacts your compensation – whether through trial verdict or pre-trial settlement. Your final recovery amount would be diminished by whatever percentage of fault is attributed to your actions.

Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries

When you sustain injuries in a slip and fall incident due to another party’s negligent actions, you may be entitled to seek various forms of compensation. At Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers, we pursue both economic and non-economic damages on your behalf. Economic damages encompass tangible financial losses, such as healthcare expenses and other accident-related costs, such as lost wages and earnings. Non-economic damages address the intangible impacts of your injury – including physical pain, emotional distress, psychological trauma, and overall reduction in quality of life following a severe injury.

Potential Slip and Fall Compensation and Damages

As you work with a slip and fall lawyer in Ann Arbor to maximize your claim, several types of compensation and damages apply to these cases. Some of these include:

  • Medical bills and rehabilitation costs
  • Lost wages, both current and future
  • Lost enjoyment in life
  • Disfigurement or disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Property damage

There are additional types of damages that our Ann Arbor attorneys can help you claim, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Slip and Fall Accidents at Work

For workplace slip and fall accidents, it’s essential to recognize the distinct differences between Workers’ Compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits. Workers’ Compensation operates as a no-fault system, providing coverage regardless of who bears responsibility for the incident. Workers’ compensation claims are only available for injuries occurring in the workplace. 

While Workers’ Compensation provides medical care coverage and partial income replacement, it generally excludes compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Personal injury lawsuits, on the other hand, require establishing negligence but potentially offer more comprehensive compensation, including damages for physical and emotional suffering. Importantly, even when Workers’ Compensation rules prevent claims against an employer, you may still have valid claims against other responsible parties who aren’t protected by Workers’ Compensation immunity. In these circumstances, a claim for pain and suffering compensation can still be made. 

Slip and Fall Workers’ Compensation

The scope of Workers’ Compensation benefits encompasses healthcare expenses, partial income replacement during recovery, and if necessary, occupational rehabilitation services. To qualify for these benefits, you must meet specific criteria: you must be an employee (not an independent contractor), have sustained a work-related injury, and promptly notify your employer of the incident.

Though Workers’ Compensation typically serves as the “exclusive remedy” for workplace injury claims, certain circumstances permit additional legal action. An employer may face direct litigation if they deliberately caused harm, incorrectly classified the worker as an independent contractor, or failed to maintain legally mandated Workers’ Compensation insurance.

Additionally, if your slip and fall resulted from the negligence of an external party – someone other than your employer or colleagues – you retain the right to pursue a separate legal claim against them for damages, including compensation for pain and suffering.

Pain and Suffering Compensation in Work-Related Slip and Falls

While standard Workers’ Compensation benefits exclude pain and suffering damages, certain circumstances may allow you to pursue these additional forms of compensation. When your case qualifies for personal injury litigation – such as incidents involving third-party negligence or deliberate harmful acts – you can seek recovery for physical and emotional distress. For example, if your workplace slip and fall occurred due to an external contractor’s negligent actions, you may be eligible to file both a Workers’ Compensation claim and a separate personal injury lawsuit against the responsible contractor to recover these additional damages.

Navigating the complexities of workplace slip and fall accidents requires expertise. Our experienced team can guide you through these cases, ensuring you understand your rights and helping you on your journey to receiving fair compensation.

Slips, Trips, and Falls Causes in Ann Arbor, MI

The cause of your slip and fall accident can also impact your claim. While anything can create a tripping hazard, some dangerous conditions are more common in Ann Arbor than others. Some of the most common issues our slip and fall accident attorney team sees include:

  • Loose or uneven  flooring
  • Slippery or wet floors
  • Clutter and debris
  • Ice and snow on walkways
  • Faulty steps or railing
  • Potholes
  • Slippery floors that are not marked

No matter the dangerous condition, if the property owner is at fault for your fall, you may have the right to seek compensation and should talk to an attorney. Schedule with our team today for a free case evaluation.

Responsibilities of Ann Arbor, MI Property Owners

Under Michigan law, property owners must generally exercise reasonable care to protect or warn visitors about dangerous conditions that could lead to slip and fall or trip and fall injuries. A significant legal shift occurred in 2023 when Michigan’s courts eliminated the “open and obvious” doctrine that property owners had previously relied upon to avoid responsibility.[3

Before this change, property owners could deflect liability by arguing that dangerous conditions were so-called “open and obvious” such that victims should be responsible for their own injuries. This created a problematic dynamic where property owners were effectively rewarded for leaving obvious dangers unaddressed – the more noticeable the hazard, the stronger their legal defense if someone was injured. With the Michigan Supreme Court’s rejection of this doctrine, the legal landscape has shifted to promote greater accountability. Property owners can no longer use a hazard’s so-called “open and obvious” nature as a shield from responsibility, ultimately fostering a safer environment for all Michigan residents.

Liability for Slip and Falls Government Property

Government properties – including municipal buildings, community parks, and state facilities – operate under special liability protections through governmental immunity. However, these protections have limits. Successfully pursuing a slip and fall claim against a governmental entity requires demonstrating that your case falls under specific immunity exceptions. In Michigan, one key exception involves accidents caused by hazardous or defective conditions within public buildings.

It’s crucial to note that claims against government entities have strict notice requirements: 

  • You must file a notice of intent to sue within 120 days of your slip and fall if it occurred as a result of “any dangerous or defective public building.” (MCL 691.1406)
  • You must file a notice of intent to sue within 6 months of your slip and fall if you intend to sue the State of Michigan for your slip and fall. (MCL 600.6431(1) and (4))

These notice requirements must be complied with in addition to the filing deadlines under the statute of limitations.

Our Difference – Call a Skilled Slip and Fall Injury Attorney in Ann Arbor, MI

Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers has a long track record of success recovering and winning settlements and trial verdicts for our clients. We dedicate our practice to exclusively representing slip and fall injury victims. Having handled over 300 premises liability cases throughout Michigan, including slip and fall and trip and fall incidents, our legal team brings unmatched expertise to your Ann Arbor accident case.

Our experience has earned us national recognition in the field of slip and fall law. Beyond practicing law, our attorneys serve as respected educators, sharing their specialized knowledge with legal professionals across the nation.

We offer end-to-end legal guidance throughout your case journey. We’re available around the clock to address your concerns and champion your right to compensation. Whether your case resolves through settlement negotiations or proceeds to trial, our team ensures you receive comprehensive support at every stage of the legal process.

How We Can Help

Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers serve the entire state, including Ann Arbor. We can also assist clients throughout the country, co-counseling with trusted attorneys in other states when necessary. Our experienced attorneys can help you:

  • Evaluate, build, and help you to properly document your case
  • Gather and analyze critical evidence to win your case
  • Negotiate and achieve the highest slip and fall settlements with the insurance companies
  • Represent you in court and win your case

Why Choose Us?

When you choose Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers, you’re selecting a team with focused aim in slip and fall cases. Our proven track record of successful settlements and verdicts speaks to our commitment, focus, and skill in this specialized area of law.  Our attorneys have earned national recognition in the field of slip and fall litigation, setting us apart from the rest. 

Throughout your case, we provide comprehensive legal support, ensuring you have the guidance and advocacy you need through every step of the process. Our dedication to slip and fall cases, combined with our experience and client-centered approach, makes us the trusted choice for those seeking justice after a slip and fall accident.

More About Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI, situated 43 miles west of Detroit, is a dynamic university town with a population of approximately 123,000 residents. Founded in 1824, the city spans 28.7 square miles and is home to the prestigious University of Michigan. Known for its tree-lined streets, vibrant downtown, and eclectic mix of restaurants and shops, Ann Arbor hosts popular events like the Ann Arbor Art Fair and University of Michigan football games at the iconic “Big House” stadium, one of the largest sports venues in the world.

Civil Courthouses Near Ann Arbor for Slip and Fall Personal Injury Cases

Ann Arbor 15th District Court
301 E Huron St
Ann Arbor, MI 48107

Washtenaw County Circuit Court
101 E Huron St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

14A-1 District Court
4133 Washtenaw Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centers in Ann Arbor

Rehabilitation Health Center
2008 Hogback Rd # 3
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists Physical Therapy
3921 Jackson Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Healing Hands Physical Therapy
58 Parkland Plaza STE 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

ATI Physical Therapy
3500 Washtenaw Ave Ste B
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Disclaimer: These centers are listed for informational purposes only. Our law firm is not affiliated with these entities.

Read Reviews from People We've Helped

Our Metro Detroit Farmington Hills office is conveniently located on the south side of Northwestern Highway, just west of Inkster Road in the Michigan Auto Law building.  We also have a West Michigan law office located in downtown Grand Rapids to serve you if that is more convenient for you.

I had Tim and his team on a variety of matters. They are the best. Communication was clear and consistent. I could tell he cared because he could always remember me when I called, he knew what was going on immediately on my case and he would always take the time to find out how I was doing. He and Jason delivered great results and I would use them again on anything. It was just an overall great experience.”

-Tory Mitchell

Tim was great! From the start when he really cared and explained everything to me. He answered all my questions and we were in regular contact. He helped me through the process and in the end, we had an excellent result. I would highly recommend him”

-Sarah Privette

Tim Holland, Jason Hodge, Rick Houghton and Brandon Hewitt represented me in a wrongful death case that four other lawyers turned down. They helped me secure a satisfactory result to bring closure to a very difficult time in my life. They stayed in contact with me and answered my questions. They were tenacious in my representation and treated me like family. Not only were they zealous advocates for me, they were caring and showed me that I was more than just another client during the most difficult time in my life. They acted with integrity and compassion at all times. | would recommend them for any case in the future, but highly recommend them if you have any difficult or tricky matter.”

-Cynthia

Frequently Asked Questions About Ann Arbor Slip and Fall Cases

Can I file a wrongful death claim in Ann Arbor if a family member died from a slip and fall accident?

If someone dies in a Ann Arbor slip and fall accident that is due to negligence, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for their loved one’s pain and suffering and damages for the loss of their loved one’s financial support, society, and companionship.

What is premises liability, and how does it apply to my Ann Arbor slip and fall case?

Premises liability law in Ann Arbor determines when property owners owe a duty of care to people who enter onto their property and what duty of care they owe. If you slip and fall as a result of a hazard or dangerous condition on someone’s property, you may have a claim for compensation and money damages under Michigan’s premises liability law.

What if the property owner claims they didn't know about the hazard?

The severity and nature of the dangerous condition – as well as the amount of time that it has existed – will be considered in determining whether a property owner knew about or should have known about the dangerous condition that caused injury or death.

How do I prove liability in a slip and fall case?

You will need to show that the property owner had a duty of care to you that they breached or neglected, that breach caused your injuries, and those injuries are worthy of compensation.

Contact Us - Free Case Review with a Ann Arbor Slip and Fall Law Firm

Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers serve the entire state. Schedule a free consultation with our attorneys in Ann Arbor, MI. We will help you understand your legal rights to pain and suffering compensation and money damages to help pay for your medical bills and lost wages. You pay no fees unless we win your case, so you have nothing to lose. Reach our team at (248) 254-8357 to schedule today.

Meet Our Attorney

Tim Holland is arguably Michigan’s most experienced and successful slip and fall lawyer. You can read more about Tim Holland’s experience and success here.

What Is Your Slip and Fall Case Worth?

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