If you were recently injured in a slip and fall in Charleston, WV, you probably have a lot of questions about your legal options. Insurance companies will go to great lengths to minimize your payout. To ensure you’re receiving the fair compensation you deserve, you should have an experienced Charleston slip and fall accident lawyer on your team.
At Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, we have over 71 years of combined experience. To date, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims.
Call our law offices in Charleston, West Virginia, to schedule your free consultation with our Charleston slip and fall accident attorneys at (304) 720-1000.
Why Trust Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, for Help After a Slip and Fall Accident in Charleston?
Property owners in Charleston have certain responsibilities. That includes a duty to make sure their property is reasonably safe for invited visitors and guests. The owner may owe you compensation if you were hurt due to negligent property maintenance.
Our Charleston personal injury attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, are ready to stand up to the responsible parties and their insurance companies.
We’ve been recognized with an AV-Preeminent rating for our exceptional legal services. For multiple years, we’ve been listed among the top lawyers in America by Super Lawyers.
When you hire our lawyers, we will:
- Conduct an investigation into your fall
- Locate any evidence, including video footage, witness statements, accident reports and testimony from expert witnesses
- Identify the exact cause of your injury
- Defend you if, and when, the insurance company blames you for the fall
- Determine who is responsible for paying your damages
- Reject any lowball insurance offers and negotiate for a full settlement
Injury victims have trusted our Charleston personal injury lawyers since we opened our law group back in 2007. Now, we’re here to protect you after an accident in Charleston, WV. Contact us today to learn more.
How Many People Are Injured in Slip and Fall Accidents Each Year?
According to data provided by the CDC and National Safety Council, over eight million people visit emergency rooms with fall-related injuries each year. That makes falls the leading cause of ER visits in the U.S.
Over 800,000 people are hospitalized in the United States due to fall-related injuries each year. In a single year, slip and fall injuries caused more than $50 billion in medical costs.
Our Lawyers Handle All Types of Slip and Fall Cases in Charleston
Slip and fall accidents can happen virtually anywhere. If you were injured due to a fall on someone else’s property, you may have a valid personal injury case.
Our team at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, is here to protect you regardless of where you fall.
We represent clients who have fallen while visiting:
- Restaurants and bars
- Retail stores
- Shopping malls
- Nightclubs
- Schools and daycares
- College campuses
- Rental apartment complexes
- Gyms
- Sports and entertainment venues
- Big box and warehouse stores
- Public parks and playgrounds
- Parking lots and parking garages
- Hospitals
- Hotels
- Nursing homes
- Office buildings
Establishing liability after a slip and fall accident can be difficult. Our lawyers will gather evidence and work to build the strongest case possible.
What Is My Charleston Slip and Fall Accident Case Worth?
The value of your slip and fall injury case will depend on many different factors. Generally, the extent of your losses will be the most important consideration.
More specifically, the factors that your slip and fall injury attorney will evaluate when assessing the value of your personal injury claim include:
- The type of injuries involved
- Your medical treatment costs
- Anticipated future costs, including medical bills, rehabilitation, assistance, etc.
- How the injury impacts your earnings, both during recovery and in the future
- The strength of any allegations that you share fault for the fall injury
- Your prospects for making a full recovery
- How the injury has changed your life
- The strength of the evidence
- Your lawyer’s negotiating skills
Because all personal injury cases are unique, it’s best to consult a slip and fall lawyer about your specific case value. However, remember that victims who hire experienced attorneys tend to walk away with higher settlements. Your lawyer’s negotiating skills and experience can be critical to making a full financial recovery.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Slips, Trips, and Falls in Charleston, WV?
You may be faced with significant physical challenges after a slip and fall. Physical limitations are almost always expensive. As a victim, you can pursue compensation for your economic damages and non-economic damages if someone else is responsible for your fall injuries.
Common examples of these compensatory damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages during recovery
- Lost future earning potential
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Scarring
- Loss of consortium
Our lawyers are committed to helping you recover the full compensation you deserve. Learn more about your legal rights by calling our law firm in Charleston for a free case review today.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer in West Virginia?
Our lawyers in Charleston work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay any attorneys’ fees when you hire us. Instead, you agree to pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict if we recover compensation in your case.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for a Slip and Fall Accident in West Virginia?
Under West Virginia’s modified comparative negligence law, you can recover partial compensation as long as your share of fault is less than the combined fault of all other parties. In other words, if your share of fault is greater than the combined fault of all the parties, you lose your right to compensation entirely. If your percentage of fault is lower, you lose a corresponding percentage of your compensation award.
For example, if the insurance company can prove you were 30% liable, you only take home 70% of your compensation.
Our Slip and Fall Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
Examples of some common slip and fall injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Broken hips
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Ankle and wrist injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you’ve suffered these or other injuries, our Charleston slip and fall accident attorneys can help. Your case evaluation is always free, so there’s no risk in calling about your legal options.
Why Do So Many Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
Slips, trips, and falls tend to happen due to negligent property maintenance. When property owners allow dangerous conditions to exist, it’s only a matter of time before someone is injured as a result.
In general, some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Slick or slippery floors
- Puddles or spills
- Unsecured mats and carpets
- Uneven floorboards or pavement
- Crumbling and broken pavement
- Missing guardrails
- Missing stair treads or damaged stairs
- Poor lighting
- Potholes
- Debris, garbage, and obstacles in walkways
- Loose cables or wires
Once something dangerous causes an injury, expect the owner to fix the hazard quickly.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation After a Slip and Fall Accident in West Virginia?
Slip and fall accident cases are based on West Virginia premises liability laws. In West Virginia, property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe for people allowed on the property.
Ultimately, premises liability claims are negligence claims. You must prove that you were injured due to a property owner’s negligent property maintenance.
The four elements of negligence are:
- A legal duty of care existed
- The defendant breached their duty
- The breach caused an accident
- You suffered damages
Business owners in West Virginia are held to the highest standards and have a duty to:
- Regularly inspect their property to find hidden dangers
- Provide adequate warning about unsafe property conditions
- Fix any dangerous property conditions in a reasonable amount of time
When property owners know, or reasonably should know, about slip and fall hazards, they must fix the danger or provide adequate warning. If they don’t and you’re injured as a result, they can be liable for your damages.
Private property owners also have obligations. They must warn invited guests about non-obvious dangers. However, they don’t have a duty to inspect their property for hidden risks.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Slip and Fall Injury in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, you have two years from the date of an injury to file a lawsuit. If you fail to take legal action within two years of your fall, you’ll be barred from recovering compensation.
Call a Charleston Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Did you slip and fall on someone else’s property in Charleston, WV? You could be entitled to significant financial compensation. Contact an experienced Charleston slip and fall accident lawyer at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, to learn more about how our lawyers can fight to hold the negligent property owner accountable.
