A slip and fall accident case can be difficult to pursue. Although you would think the case would be a slam dunk – a danger or obstacle that was present on a person’s property causes your accident – a slip and fall case is actually extremely complex to prove in a court of law. There are many aspects of the case the court needs to consider, such as:
- If the landowner knew about the danger yet failed to do anything about it
- If the landowner had created the condition in the first place
- If the condition had been there for a length of time that the landowner should have discovered and fixed the issue before the accident occurred
This is when an excellent slip and fall accident attorney can help you with your case.
But how do you know if your case is really worth all the effort and time? This is a question many of our clients ask us after such an accident: How much is my slip and fall case worth? Although we cannot give you an exact number, we can give an estimation based on several factors.
The Different Types of Damages for a Jersey City Slip and Fall Case
When figuring out how much your case is worth, it’s important to take a look at what compensation you may receive for your injury. In New Jersey, there are two types of damages one can receive from a Jersey City slip and fall claim in New Jersey: compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Compensatory Damages – These damages are meant to compensate you for what was lost because of your injury. For instance, you slipped and fell on a icy sidewalk while heading inside a grocery store. The accident had keeping you out of work for several months. Because the severity of your injury, you now have to deal with expensive medical bills and a loss of income. If you file a lawsuit against the property owner, you can ask compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Property loss
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages – Punitive damages are awarded to a plaintiff as a way to punish the guilty party. So in the example above, the property owner was well aware of the icy sidewalk but hadn’t done anything to treat it. Because the property owner was negligent and caused your accident, he would be responsible for paying you punitive damages.
In order to discover how much your claim is worth, you’ll need to add together all your bills after the accident in addition to any loss income and/or future lost income as well as any future medical bills you may be getting. Then you will get a rough idea of how much your case is worth. But remember, this may not be your final total. It’s all up to the court to really decide how much your case is worth.
Contact Us For a Free Consultation
If you’re not sure if it’s worth pursuing a Jersey City slip and fall claim, it’s best to ask an experienced attorney about your case. For almost 30 years, Jersey City personal injury lawyer Anthony Carbone has been helping thousands of clients throughout New Jersey with their slip and fall accident cases. If you feel like you have a case or need legal advice, contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone now for a free consultation.
