SLIP AND FALL ATTORNEY IN NEW ALBANY

Slip and fall accidents occur in places people trust, such as grocery stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, offices, schools, and public walkways. In New Albany, the most frequent hazards include wet floors from spills or mopping, uneven sidewalks, loose floor tiles, broken steps, torn carpets, poor lighting in hallways or stairwells, clutter in aisles, and weather-related hazards like ice, rainwater, or slick entryways.

Even when these hazards seem “minor,” property owners are responsible for finding and fixing them before someone gets hurt.

A slip and fall becomes a premises liability case when someone gets hurt because a property owner failed to keep the space reasonably safe. That failure could include ignoring a known leak, skipping routine inspections, leaving hazards unmarked, or failing to repair a broken step that tenants had complained about.

If your injury required medical treatment, affected your ability to work, or caused ongoing pain, an attorney can evaluate the hazard, your injuries, and the property owner’s responsibilities under Indiana law.

Successful claims rely on strong evidence showing the hazard, the owner’s negligence, and the impact on your life. Valuable evidence includes:

• Photos or video of the condition that caused the fall
• Incident reports from businesses or property managers
• Witness statements
• Medical records linking the injuries to the accident
• Maintenance logs or inspection records
• Security camera footage (if available)

Your attorney can gather additional evidence, request records, and ensure your documentation supports your claim.

Yes. While reporting an incident right away strengthens the case, it’s not an absolute requirement. If you didn’t file a report at the moment, maybe you were embarrassed, in pain, or didn’t realize how badly you were hurt; you can still bring a claim.

Your lawyer may rely more heavily on medical documentation, witness statements, photographs, or video footage to show how and where the injury occurred.

Landlords and property managers must keep common areas reasonably safe, including hallways, stairwells, parking lots, shared walkways, and laundry rooms. They’re also responsible for notifying tenants of hidden defects and complying with building and safety codes.

Depending on where the fall happened and what caused it, liability may fall on:

• The landlord
• A property management company
• A maintenance contractor
• Another tenant
• A third-party vendor

If the hazard existed long enough that the landlord should have known about it, or if it violated safety codes, they may be held financially responsible.

Indiana sets a legal deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits, and claims involving government property often come with even shorter notice requirements. Because these windows vary based on the details of your case, it’s important to act promptly. Evidence can disappear quickly; video footage gets overwritten, hazards are cleaned up, and witnesses become harder to reach, so contacting an attorney early can help protect your ability to pursue compensation.

Compensation depends on the severity of your injuries and how they impact your life. Many victims pursue damages for:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of mobility or independence
• Long-term therapy or rehabilitation
• Disability or permanent impairment
• Home modifications or mobility equipment

A slip and fall may seem simple, but the effects can last for years. An attorney can calculate the full value of your claim, not just your initial medical bills.

Yes. Government entities have additional legal protections and shorter deadlines. You may face stricter filing claims if your injury happened on government property, including:

• A city sidewalk
• A government building or office
• A public park
• A county-owned property

In cases involving government entities, you must file a specialized notice of claim before pursuing a lawsuit. Missing that deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation entirely. A lawyer can help ensure the claim is filed correctly and on time.

Insurance companies often argue that:

• The hazard wasn’t there long enough to be discovered
• The victim wasn’t paying attention
• The danger was “open and obvious”
• The injuries weren’t caused by the fall
• The victim’s shoes, medical history, or behavior were to blame

Indiana also uses comparative negligence, meaning insurers try to shift part of the blame onto the injured person to reduce payouts. Morgan & Morgan pushes back against these tactics and fights for every dollar our clients deserve.

Even injuries that seem small at first, like sprains, strained ligaments, or bruising, can worsen over time. Insurance companies routinely minimize these cases, hoping victims won’t pursue compensation.

If you received medical treatment, missed work, developed ongoing pain, or were injured because of negligence, speaking with an attorney is smart. A consultation is free, and you decide how to move forward.

Across New Albany, common hazards appear in retail stores, grocery chains, restaurants, office buildings, rental properties, and public walkways. Weather can make indoor entryways slick, and older buildings may have uneven flooring or dim lighting that can conceal hazards.

These accidents aren’t just “clumsy moments”; they often stem from poor maintenance or ignored safety standards.

Indiana’s comparative negligence law means your compensation can be reduced if you’re found partially at fault. For example, if you were 20% responsible (maybe you were distracted), and the property owner was 80% responsible, your compensation is reduced by that percentage.

If you’re found more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover damages at all.

This is one reason insurance companies push hard to shift blame; an attorney protects you from unfair accusations.

Ice, snow, sleet, and rain create predictable dangers. Property owners aren’t expected to control the weather, but they are expected to:

• Salt icy walkways
• Lay down mats in entryways
• Clean up tracked-in water
• Warn visitors about slippery surfaces

Failing to fulfill these responsibilities can make them liable for resulting injuries.

The moments after a fall are crucial to your claim. After a fall:

• Get medical attention right away
• Report the incident to the property owner or manager
• Take photos of the hazard
• Gather witness names
• Save your clothing and shoes
• Document your pain, symptoms, and medical care

Then, contact an attorney. Early involvement helps preserve evidence and strengthen your claim.

Falls can lead to ongoing back pain, herniated discs, hip fractures, concussions, torn ligaments, and mobility issues. This affects everything from working to driving to caring for yourself.

Financial impacts may include long-term treatment, surgeries, rehab, time off work, and necessary home modifications. Victims often underestimate future costs, which is exactly why legal representation matters.

Slip and fall cases are rarely simple. Property owners deny responsibility. Insurance companies shift blame. Evidence disappears quickly. An experienced attorney can:

• Preserve critical video footage
• Investigate maintenance failures
• Work with medical specialists
• Calculate long-term damages
• Negotiate with insurers
• File a lawsuit if necessary

With America’s Largest Injury Law Firm behind you, you don’t have to take on a property owner or insurance company alone.

A slip and fall accident can disrupt your health, your income, and your peace of mind. Morgan & Morgan helps New Albany families hold negligent property owners accountable and pursue the compensation they need to recover.

Starting your case is fast, free, and risk-free. The Fee Is Free® — you only pay if we win. Fill out a free case evaluation today.