Slip and Fall Lawyer in Kinston

A slip and fall injury can be excruciating and cause lasting damage and disability, particularly if the victim suffers fractures to the hip, back, or skull. For example, a recently waxed linoleum floor at a department store or a poorly kept sidewalk may cause injuries. After suffering damages, you can seek help from a Kinston slip and fall lawyer.

If a negligent property owner or manager is to blame for the hazardous conditions that caused your accident, you can file a claim or lawsuit to seek financial compensation for related losses.

At Whitley Law Firm, our Kinston personal injury lawyers have more than 120 years of combined experience. We will be your advocates as you pursue a settlement or verdict. 

How a Kinston Slip and Fall Attorney Can Help Establish Liability

When you file an insurance claim or lawsuit, proving liability is key to recovering an appropriate settlement or judgment. Many parties could be liable for your losses, including:

• The property owner
• The property lessor or renter
• A worker at the business where the slip and fall occurred
• The manufacturer of a defective product that caused your accident

The person or entity responsible for permitting the conditions that caused your fall and ensuing injuries may be liable and could owe you compensation.

Our in-house investigative team will leave no stone unturned while looking into the accident to identify the liable party or parties. Your Kinston slip and fall lawyer will then use that evidence to support your case.

Most slip and fall cases fall under premises liability law, which means the property owner is likely liable for injuries resulting from dangerous conditions.

Defective products may also cause slip and fall injuries. In these cases, a manufacturer may be financially accountable for the costs of your injury. These situations fall under North Carolina product liability laws.

Time Limits for Filing a Lawsuit After a Slip and Fall Accident

When pursuing compensation after suffering damages in a slip and fall accident, you need to pay attention to the filing deadlines that apply to your case. In North Carolina, the personal injury statute of limitations is three years, which means you generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against the liable party.

If you miss the filing deadline, you may be barred from seeking compensation for your losses. Hiring an experienced attorney as soon as possible after your accident is the best way to ensure you meet all applicable time constraints. Your lawyer can review the details of your case to determine whether any exceptions apply that may alter the filing deadline.

Another benefit of hiring an attorney soon after your accident is that doing so will put them in a better position to build a strong case on your behalf.

The sooner they can get started, the easier it will be for them to collect evidence before it becomes lost or corrupted. Furthermore, they can interview eyewitnesses before their memories of the accident fade. 

Kinston Slip And Fall Lawyer Near Me (800) 785-5000

Our Experienced Legal Team Gets Paid for Results

When you hire us to handle your slip and fall case, you never have to worry about being billed for services you can’t afford. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t charge a retainer fee or bill at an hourly rate. Instead, we collect our fee after your case ends, once we have secured compensation on your behalf.

Should we fail to get you money for your losses, we won’t receive a single cent in payment. When we do recover damages, the fee we collect is assessed as a fixed percentage of the money paid by the liable party and is taken directly from the court-ordered payout or settlement.

By charging our clients in this manner, we can provide experienced legal representation to any accident victim, regardless of their financial situation.

Contributory Negligence in North Carolina

When assessing fault after a slip and fall accident in North Carolina, it is important to understand that the state operates on a contributory negligence model. This strict rule means that accident victims are barred from pursuing compensation for their losses if they share in the fault for their accident.

Even if you were only 1% to blame for causing your slip and fall, contributory negligence blocks you from taking legal action against the party that was 99% to blame. Because of this harsh standard, you should hire an experienced attorney as soon as possible to help prove that you were blameless for your accident.

The primarily liable party will go to great lengths to attempt to shift some of the blame to you. Having a knowledgeable lawyer who can help you fight back is critical.

Economic Damages in a Kinston Slip and Fall Compensation Claim

Adding up your medical bills is important, but accounting for all the losses you experienced due to a slip-and-fall accident is equally vital for your long-term health and finances.

Recoverable out-of-pocket losses, or economic damages, you may be able to recover after a slip and fall in Kinston can include:

• Medical costs
• Lost  income
• Property damage

Medical Costs

Your medical expenses start the day you are injured and may last weeks, months, or a lifetime. You may receive invoices for hospital stays, surgeries, ambulance rides, medical devices, prescriptions, rehab, in-home care, and more. The list is long and dependent on the type and severity of the injury you suffered.

When accounting for your medical costs, our dedicated and caring Kinston slip and fall attorneys will consult with medical experts to determine your potential long-term needs and include those expenses in your claim.

Lost Income

When you are seriously injured in a slip and fall, you may be unable to work for a while, causing you to lose income. Your injuries may also make it impossible for you to continue working in your current job, and you may have to switch to a lower-paying position. In some cases, your injuries may be such that you can’t ever work again.

Whether your lost income is short-term or permanent, it may be compensable and should be part of your claim. We understand the financial difficulties being out of work for any amount of time can cause, and we will fight for every penny you deserve.

Property Damage

Any personal property damaged or destroyed during your slip and fall accident should be recoverable.

Non-Economic Damages in a Kinston Slip and Fall Compensation Claim

Some losses don’t come with bills or receipts. When you are seriously injured, your life may never be the same. In this case, we believe you deserve compensation for much more than just your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.

It’s common to suffer anxiety and depression or even PTSD from a serious injury. The quality of your life may diminish from the pain, disfigurement, or disability you experience. Your relationships may change, or you may lose relationships completely due to the accident’s aftermath.

Thankfully, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress can help cover these subjective losses.

Our compassionate Kinston slip and fall lawyers will listen to you to understand how your injury has affected your life, so we can help you identify and account for these and other subjective losses in your claim.

Most Slip and Fall Cases Are Settled Out of Court

The vast majority of slip and fall cases never go to trial. It is generally in the best interests of everyone involved to negotiate a deal quickly and put this troubling period in the past.

However, even though your case is likely to settle, you must still be prepared to go to court. There is always the possibility that you will be unable to come to terms with the liable party on a settlement agreement.

Furthermore, by showing that you are ready and willing to go to court, you can gain leverage during negotiations and increase the settlement amount.

Having a Kinston slip and fall accident attorney with plenty of courtroom experience is critical for ensuring the best possible outcome for your case.

Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claims in Kinston

Among the most common personal injury claims are slip and fall cases in which a person loses their footing because of a loose floorboard, a pothole in a parking lot, or another obstacle on a walkway that leads to a fall and injury.

While we often consider older adults with mobility troubles the likeliest victims, anyone can suffer a catastrophic injury because of a fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five falls results in serious injury.

Some of the injuries that may occur due to a fall include:

• Fractures and dislocations
• Back and neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

When medical bills pile up and possible wage loss adds to the mix, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of an accident can be daunting.

If the conditions of the property or a product involved in a fall caused the incident, a slip and fall lawyer in Kinston can help you seek compensation equal to your suffering.

You Deserve “The Whitley Advantage” for Your Kinston Slip and Fall Case

Established in 1974, our firm has spent over half a century helping our clients move forward. We pride ourselves on protecting you from unscrupulous insurance companies. From the moment you call us for your free consultation, you will become a member of our family.

Our Kinston slip and fall attorneys offer each client The Whitley Advantage. We believe hard work and honesty lead to success, and we will treat you as we would want to be treated.

We provide:

• Legal services in English and Spanish
• Your attorney’s email address and phone number
• Returned calls within 24 hours

If you ever believe you aren’t receiving the care and attention your case deserves, please tell us immediately, and we will do everything possible to make it right.

Our Case Results

Although compensation will never completely erase your injury, it can help you build a future for yourself and your loved ones. Our personal injury attorneys will work fiercely for you to have everything you need to recover.

Client Testimonials

We focus on being kind, compassionate, and empathetic. Our clients’ words speak to this better than we can. Here are just a few examples:

• “I would just like to thank you for your hard work. It resulted in my favor. I look forward to continuing working with you. I appreciate your advice, honesty and integrity. You make me feel special. I will have no trouble recommending you to everyone.“ -Sharon B.
• “I would like to send my appreciation and gratitude out to the Whitley Law Firm in Kinston . . . The entire staff treats everyone with respect, courtesy and dignity . . . They helped me & my family through the roughest darkest days of our lives. For anyone who is seeking sound legal advice and direction, as well as welcome you in like you are part of their family – WHITLEY LAW FIRM is the ONLY place to call. Thank you all for everything and staying by my side every step I had to make!!” -K.J.
• “I was injured while working. I realized I needed to hire an attorney shortly after being injured. I went to about five different ones to ask about my options . . . The Whitley Law Firm makes you feel like family. I will use them again for any issues that may arise. They are also the only firm I will ever refer others to. I could not have had a better experience.” – Jenn T.

Call Today to See How a Compassionate Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help You

If you were injured in a fall, a Kinston slip and fall attorney from our caring team at Whitley Law Firm can assist. We’ll assess your case and determine whether you could get financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Our lawyers offer whole-hearted care and a firm commitment to each case we handle. We’re here to listen and will advise you on the next steps. Give us a call or complete our online contact form to schedule your free case review today.