#milwaukee wi slip and fall lawyer

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Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers

205 5th Avenue S, Suite 209, La Crosse, WI 54601 USA (608) 315-5639 https://nicoletlaw.com/la-crosse-personal-injury-office/ messages@nicoletlaw.com

At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we handle personal injury and automobile accident cases. Our personal injury lawyers represent people injured in a variety of situations: motor vehicle, pedestrian accidents, brain injury, slip-and-fall, trip-and-fall, dog bite, and burn injury, as well as wrongful death. When you need help recovering and rebuilding, we are here for you and your family. We are dedicated to helping those who are injured get the legal help they need to obtain justice. With offices in La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin, we have helped thousands of clients who found themselves in stressful situation.

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How to Protect Yourself Against Property Liability Lawsuits

There are few things worse than being personally sued. We have all heard cases where a friend of a friend has lost their home and savings due to someone becoming hurt on their property. Defending yourself from a property liability lawsuit can be a very expensive, stressful process. Not to mention the guilt you will feel if your negligence caused someone to become seriously injured on your property.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are being sued for someone becoming injured on your property, you owe it to yourself to talk with a qualified, experienced attorney as soon as possible. Even though you most likely have homeowner’s insurance, your best interests may not be aligned with those of the insurance company, and it is imperative that you have your own dedicated legal representation.

Of course, the best defense against a property liability lawsuit is prevention. There are many things you can do to protect your home and property and set up safe conditions that minimize the risk of harm for any visitors to your property, invited or not.

First and foremost, identify and fix/secure any dangerous areas.

Walkways hazards are the cause of many injuries. Here are a few tips for keeping walkways clear and safe:

Keep walkways free of debris and clutter.

Wipe/clean up any spills or slippery areas as soon as you see them.

Ensure you install proper lighting.

Stairways/Stairwells injuries can be very serious. Instead of just falling to the floor, a person can be much more injured if they topple 10 or 20 feet down a flight of stairs. To help keep stairs safer:��

Make sure you have a solid hand rail.

A non-slip pad at the tops and bottoms of stairs can help prevent slips.

Stairs at the top or bottom of the landing or carpeting the entire staircase is safest.

Keep staircases clutter free. 

Swimming Pools are a common source of danger. To minimize risk:

Install a fence around your pool. Some states and/or insurance companies require this by law.

Make sure swimming pool gates are self-closing and locking.

Remove ladders, nearby trees, trash cans or other items that a person could use to climb over the fence. 

Lock up any pool chemicals. 

General Maintenance and Prevention can go a long way toward keeping people safe on your property and avoiding a potential lawsuit. All property owners or managers should regularly:

Inspect the entire property for dangers and any new sources of potential damage.

Fix or clearly mark any hazards as soon as you notice them. The longer a hazard has been present, the worse the liability scenario.

Turn on lights at night.

Before visitors arrive, take a quick look around your property for any potential hazards such as water spills or debris that is newly present.

Also, consider installing a fence around your property.

Cameras can also aid in the investigation of any potential property liability lawsuit.

If someone is injured on your property, you need to find the best defense you can.  A slip and fall lawyer in Milwaukee, WI can represent you. Call a law firm today.

Thanks to Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into workers compensation and protecting yourself against property liability.

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Falling at a Store

Businesses that invite the public into their stores have a legal obligation to keep the premises ‘reasonably’ safe. Therefore, if you slip and fall and get hurt in a store, you may be able to file a legal claim against the business. 

It makes no difference if it is a big chain store like Target or TJ Maxx, a grocery store such as Wegmans or Kroger, or the small retailer in your town, all are required to do what is necessary to keep their customer’s safe. That sounds like an open and shut case; however, there are many considerations that need to be addressed when pursuing a personal injury claim for a slip and fall injury.

What are the Store’s Responsibilities?

The store’s responsibility includes making sure the premises is in a reasonably safe condition for the safety of their consumers. If someone falls at a store, whether it be a large chain store or a small, local store, the business may be held liable for injuries if it is proven that the slip and fall happened because of unsafe conditions on the premises. The damages that may be rewarded to the customer will differ based on the details of the specific incident, but there are some conditions commonly associated with slip and fall injuries in stores.

What are Some Accidents that Constitute Slip and Fall Injuries?

Entryways are a very common occurrence, especially when the weather is rainy or snowy. Ice or snow, or even puddles of water can accumulate at the store’s entrance causing someone to slip and fall. Wet floor mats may become slippery. Display items that are not stacked correctly may fall in the aisles causing a trip hazard. If the store’s lighting is poor, visibility may be diminished. A customer may spill a drink on the floor, leaving a puddle for someone to slip on. These are just a few of many possible scenarios, but despite what caused the slip and fall, the store’s legal responsibility depends on whether the store knew about the hazardous condition, how soon they knew about the condition and did not take action to correct the issue.

When is the Store Liable?

If the owner of a store knows of a slippery floor and does not remedy the situation in a reasonable amount of time, or at least, display a caution sign at the point of the hazard, they can be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result of the slippery floor.

Evidence must be available that proves the spill was there for a long enough time that the store had to have known about it and yet did not clean it up. Also, the customer who was injured has to prove that the spill or condition wasn’t obvious enough that the customer could have avoided the unsafe area. A customer is expected to exercise reasonable caution to take care of her or himself, and can’t expect the store to be responsible for everything that goes awry. 

Proving Liability

In order to win a slip and fall case, your slip and fall lawyer in Milwaukee, WI will need documented proof of the injuries and pictures of the scene of the occurrence. The store will argue that you should have realized the unsafe area and avoided the situation. These points will be key to deciding how much, if any, damages will be awarded.

Thanks to Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into personal injury claims and slip and fall accidents at stores.

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FAQ: What to do when You're Injured on the Job?

What is workers compensation insurance?

Workers compensation is insurance financed by businesses. This insurance provides monetary benefits to employees who are injured on the job.

What to do when you’re injured on the job?

When you’re injured on the job:

Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible

File a written claim

Seek medical attention from your doctor

Never assume the problem will go away or the information you receive from your employer’s workers comp insurance company is accurate. Their job is to settle your claim quickly and cheaply.

Workers comp is important and all employers should have this coverage. If you have been injured on the job, you need an experienced attorney to help you navigate the insurance waters.

What are some injuries covered by workers compensation?

Workers comp covers injuries that you receive on the job. These could include:

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Slip and fall

Car accidents

Illness from dangerous materials

A doctor will be required to verify that your injuries were the result of duties at your workplace. In order to prove your injury was caused in the workplace, you’ll also need witness testimony and relevant medical information.

If your doctor says you cannot go back to work for a period of time because of your workplace injury, you are entitled to recover lost wages. To do this, you need a note from your doctor outlining the injury and the reasons you have to miss work. You must have a not for each pay period you miss.

What do I do when workers comp hasn’t paid my medical bills and now I’m in collections?

When you receive medical bills for your workplace injury, make copies and keep them for your records. Then send the bills to your workers' comp attorney.

Why do we need the bills? Because we can stop the collections process. We will work with the collections company and the medical facility to make them aware of the workers' comp claim. They will be required to stop their collection efforts until the workers' comp claim is settled.

That’s why it’s so important to speak with us today to get your claim moving forward.

What are the next steps?

Workers compensation is an important part of your recovery. If you’re injured on the job, you’re entitled to these benefits. But you have limited time to file. Don’t wait or you might miss out on benefits that will help you heal faster and with less worry. Your work injury lawyer Milwaukee, WI relies on wants what is best for you - a full and complete recovery.

Contact Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into workers compensation and what to do when you’re injured.

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Horseplay and Workers' Compensation

Workers who get hurt on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, if their injuries are the result of horseplay, their claims may get denied. Employers and their insurance companies take the time to thoroughly investigate all workers’ compensation claims and check to see if horseplay was involved or not. Workers’ compensation lawyers provide further insight about horseplay and workers’ compensation.

What Is Horseplay?

Horseplay is defined as roughhousing or boisterous play and can result in injuries. It can include acts like racing, grabbing, physical contact and playing jokes. Employers frown upon horseplay because it isn’t productive and can be quite hazardous.

How Does Horseplay Affect the Workplace?

While a little horseplay might seem like it can make a mundane day at work more interesting, it can create many problems. To start off with, when employees are always horsing around with each other, it can be difficult to concentrate on your job. You may be intrigued by what your coworkers are doing and stop paying attention to what you’re supposed to be doing.

Horseplay can also pose a major safety hazard. When employees are fooling around, they are in danger of suffering serious injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries.

Can You Receive Workers’ Compensation for Injuries If There Was Horseplay?

If you have been injured at work because of horseplay, you may or may not be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. It all depends on whether or not you instigated the horseplay or not. For example, if a coworker was horsing around and tripped you and you got injured because of it, your claim would be valid.

On the other hand, if you started chasing your coworker around the workplace and slip and fall, you’ll likely get your claim denied. Your employer may argue that you would have never gotten injured if you weren’t horsing around.

Should I Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

If you were denied workers’ compensation benefits because your employer thought you were engaged in horseplay, it may be worth it to talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer. They can review your case and determine if you should file an appeal or not. For example, if you weren’t the one who started the horseplay, you could state that in your appeal.

During your first consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer, you’ll want to bring as much evidence as you can, such as medical records, witness statements, and your accident report. The more information your lawyer has, the better they can help you.

A workmans comp lawyer Milwaukee, WI relies on can understand how difficult it can be to deal with a work injury. They have helped many workers in the past obtain compensation for their injuries and are here to assist you. Skilled lawyers will take the time to listen to you and the offer their best legal advice.

Contact Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into workers compensation and horseplay that leads to injury at work.