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Slip and fall accidents in Kalamazoo can devastate victims physically and financially through pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages. Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers leverages their specialized experience in this area of the law to maximize compensation and protect your legal rights. Larger settlements and improved outcomes are the benefits of working with an experienced attorney.
Working with Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers is the first step in fighting for the compensation you deserve 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
Your actions in the days and weeks after your fall can directly impact the outcome of your case. Our slip and fall attorneys can guide you through the steps to take after an accident. When prioritizing what to do after a slip and fall accident, include the following:
Additionally, do not agree to a recorded statement, do not agree to any initial offers of settlement, or accept any fault or blame for the accident.
Contact an experienced premises liability attorney before discussing your case with insurance representatives. Claims adjusters work for the insurance company and do not have your best interest in mind. Speaking with them directly could jeopardize your right to full compensation.
To prove negligence in a Kalamazoo slip and fall case, you must prove the following:
A successful slip and fall claim will prove all four elements of negligence. Our team of trusted attorneys can set your claim up for success.
The type of visitors to a property affects the duty of care owed by property owners under Michigan law. The three visitor classifications, i.e., whether they are invitees, licensees, or trespassers, and corresponding obligations are as follows:
Michigan slip and fall cases are governed by strict legal deadlines and comparative negligence laws that impact claim eligibility and settlement amounts. These deadlines may be shortened for cases involving government entities or other defendants where state law requires special notice within specific timeframes.
Our Kalamazoo slip and fall attorneys ensure compliance with all critical notice periods and legal deadlines to protect your right to compensation.
After your fall, the state’s laws require that you file your lawsuit within three years from the accident date.[1] Unfortunately, many accident victims fail to file their claims before the statute of limitations runs out. With the help of our team, we can ensure no critical deadlines are missed.
Michigan is a comparative negligence state. Under Michigan’s “comparative fault” law, a slip and fall victim’s monetary recovery is reduced by the percentage that the victim was at fault for contributing to his or her fall injury.[2] Insurance companies often leverage this to minimize property owner liability.
For example, if you are taking the kids to play at Bronson Park and you happen to check your phone before encountering a damaged sidewalk, the attorneys defending the City of Kalamazoo will likely claim you were “comparatively” at fault for not watching your path. If a court agrees with the city, your “comparative fault” reduces your settlement or trial verdict proportionally. For instance, if you’re found 20% at fault, your compensation decreases by that percentage.
The level of compensation for slip and fall injuries depends on the seriousness of the injury, the other party’s negligence, whether you have any fault in the accident, and other factors. The types of compensation recoverable by Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers include economic damages – such as medical bills – and non-economic damages – including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional turmoil.
Working with a skilled slip and fall lawyer in Kalamazoo, you may be able to pursue claims for the following damages:
There may be additional types of damages that our Kalamazoo attorneys can help you claim, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Understanding the key differences between Workers’ Compensation and personal injury lawsuits is crucial. While most workplace accidents are covered by Workers’ Compensation, a no-fault system that provides benefits regardless of who caused the accident, these cases are only available for injuries caused in the workplace or while performing a duty for your job.
The Workers’ Compensation system typically covers medical benefits and partial wage replacement but typically does not cover compensation for pain and suffering.
Personal injury lawsuits, on the other hand, can allow victims to claim higher compensation, including coverage for pain and suffering. Even if a case is barred from being pursued under Workers’ Comp, there can often be additional parties responsible for your accident who are not protected by Workers’ Compensation guidelines. In these circumstances, a claim for damages can still be made through a personal injury lawsuit.
To be eligible for Workers’ Comp, you must be an employee (not an independent contractor), and have a work-related injury that was promptly reported to your employer. Workers’ Compensation benefits include medical care coverage, partial wage replacement, and vocational rehabilitation, if needed.
While seeking Workers’ Compensation is typically the go-to remedy for workplace injuries, there are exceptions. An employee might be able to sue their employer in cases of intentional harm, if the worker is actually an independent contractor and not an employee, or if the employer does not have the legally required Workers’ Comp insurance.
Additionally, a third party (neither an employer nor a coworker) whose negligence caused your slip and fall accident can be sued for pain and suffering compensation.
Though pain and suffering compensation is not typically available via Workers’ Compensation claims, cases where a personal injury lawsuit is possible allow victims the opportunity to claim damages for pain and suffering. Eligible cases include those involving third parties or intentional acts of harm. For instance, if your workplace slip and fall was caused by the negligence of an outside contractor, you might have grounds for a personal injury claim against that negligent third party in addition to your Workers’ Compensation claim.
Navigating the complexities of workplace slip and fall accidents requires deep understanding and experience in slip and fall law. Our experienced team can walk you through your options, ensuring you understand your rights and guiding you on your path to claiming fair compensation.
The cause of your slip and fall accident can also impact your claim. While anything can create a tripping hazard, some causes are more common in Kalamazoo than others. Some of the most common hazards our slip and fall accident attorneys encounter include:
Michigan law requires property owners, including government entities, to exercise reasonable care to protect invitees from harm. If a hazard is present, even if the property owner is not aware of the hazard, they may be held responsible for any resulting injuries if the property owner should have been aware of the danger. Michigan law changed in 2023, eliminating property owners’ ability to use the “open and obvious” doctrine to avoid accountability. [3].
Previously, under the “open and obvious” doctrine, property owners would argue that if a hazard was open and obvious, then the property owed no duty of care, and thus,, the victim was to blame for falling. This often incentivized property owners to not take action to eliminate hazards and dangerous conditions, as the more open and obvious it was, the easier it was to reflect blame onto the injured. Now that this has been rejected by the Michigan Supreme Court, victims can more fairly hold property owners accountable for their actions while property owners are now incentivized to properly repair and mark hazards. The rejection of the “open and obvious” doctrine makes Michigan a safer and more just place for all.
Government properties – such as city halls, public parks, and state-owned buildings – have unique liability protections due to governmental immunity. For a slip and fall claim against a government entity to be valid, the accident must fall under an exception to governmental immunity. An example of this is the public building exception which applies when a dangerous or defective condition of a public building causes injury.
It’s crucial to note that claims against government entities have strict notice requirements:
These notice requirements must be complied with in addition to the filing deadlines under the statute of limitations. Your slip and fall lawyer will work alongside you to ensure none of these critical deadlines are missed.
Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers has a long track record of success recovering compensation and winning settlements and trial verdicts for our clients. We work exclusively with those who have been injured in slip and fall accidents. Our trusted attorneys have litigated more than 300 slip and fall, trip and fall, and premises liability cases throughout the state of Michigan. We are the team you want fighting for you after your Kalamazoo slip and fall accident.
Our experience has earned us national recognition in the field of slip and fall law. Our attorneys are not just practitioners; we’re educators as well, sharing our specialized knowledge with other lawyers throughout the country.
At our law firm, we provide comprehensive legal support every step of the way. We are here around the clock to answer your questions and support you in your fight for justice.
Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers serve the entire state, including Kalamazoo. We can also assist clients throughout the country, co-counseling with trusted attorneys in other states when necessary. Our experienced attorneys can help you:
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.
Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers serve the entire state. Schedule a free consultation with our attorneys in Kalamazoo, MI. We help clients nationwide. 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.
Kalamazoo, Michigan, nestled in Kalamazoo County, boasts a population of around 75,000 residents. Established as a city in 1884, Kalamazoo spans approximately 25 square miles and is home to notable landmarks such as the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Nature Center, and the historic district of Vine.
Disclaimer: These centers are listed for informational purposes only. Our law firm is not affiliated with these entities.
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.
Always available, easy to get ahold of and quick replies. Breaks the whole process down and makes you feel at ease. I plan on recommending others to Michigan Auto and my attorney Josh. It was a great experience.”
– Amanda Porter, Detroit, MI
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
-Cynthia
Here we address the questions that people most frequently ask. We hope our answers are helpful to you and your family. However, if you still have additional questions or questions we have not answered, we hope you will reach out to us. You can call us anytime for a free consultation.
A Kalamazoo slip and fall lawyer can evaluate your case, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to maximize your compensation. Slip and fall lawyers fight to hold negligent parties accountable to claim fair compensation for accident victims.
Yes, Michigan follows a comparative negligence rule, allowing you to recover damages even if you are partially at fault. If you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
To prove negligence, you must prove that the property owner in Kalamazoo had a duty of care to protect you from harm, that they failed in that duty, and that you sustained injuries as a result of their negligence.
Slip and fall accidents typically include a contributing factor, such as poorly lit walkways or slippery floors, or other dangerous conditions that lead to someone falling and injuring themselves.
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You do not have to go it alone after your slip and fall accident. Let the experience attorney Tim Holland and the lawyers at Michigan Slip and fall have on slip and fall cases along with their track record of getting the highest settlement amounts possible for their victims give you peace of mind, while they help to pick you back up and get you the compensation that you need and deserve to start rebuilding your life.
We pride ourselves on treating every client with care, compassion, and respect. We pride ourselves on communication and we will always be there when you need us. We will ALWAYS return your calls and emails and answer your questions.
To speak with an experienced slip and fall accident attorney about your injury, call us now, or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
We will help you understand Michigan’s slip and fall law and answer all of your questions about how we can make the law work for you. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here for you now.
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.
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