Did you slip and fall because of an unsafe condition on someone else’s Milwaukee-area property? Maybe you were shopping for groceries when you slipped on a recently mopped floor that nobody had put up a warning sign around. Perhaps you tripped because of a loose stair railing at an apartment complex. Regardless of the exact circumstances, you could be entitled to compensation, and the team at LawtonCates can help you demand it.
Since 1958, we’ve been proud to serve accident victims in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin. We believe your life counts, and we will never charge you a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Milwaukee slip and fall lawyer, and let us put our determination, experience, and education to work on your behalf. Your case review is fully confidential, and you pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your matter.
What Is a Slip-and-Fall Claim in Wisconsin?
A slip and fall claim is a particular type of personal injury claim involving a person who fell because of a hazard on someone else’s property. Property owners and occupiers have a responsibility to keep their premises in good condition and repair hazards that could injure lawful visitors. When they fail in this responsibility, they can be held liable for the consequences.
Common Causes and Locations of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Milwaukee
Common causes of slip-and-fall accidents in Milwaukee include the following:
- Wet or slippery floors from spills, leaks, or recent cleaning
- Uneven flooring and cracked pavement
- Loose rugs, mats, or carpeting that create tripping hazards
- Clutter, debris, or objects left in walkways
- Snow, ice, or other weather-related hazards on walking surfaces
- Poor lighting that makes it difficult to see hazards
These accidents often happen at the following places:
- Grocery stores and supermarkets
- Retail stores and shopping malls
- Restaurants, bars, and cafés
- Hotels and resorts
- Apartment complexes and rental properties
- Office buildings and workplaces
- Parking lots and parking garages
Proving Negligence in a Slip-and-Fall Case
To win your slip and fall claim, you will need to show that the property’s owner was negligent in maintaining their premises. In other words, the person knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to either correct it promptly or warn you of its presence. This can involve evidence like the following:
- Photographs or videos of the accident scene
- Surveillance camera footage of the accident occurring
- Incident or accident reports taken by management
- Statement from witnesses who saw what happened
- Medical records establishing the cause and nature of your injuries
- Maintenance, cleaning, and inspection records
- Weather reports (when relevant)
- The footwear and clothing you were wearing at the time of the slip and fall
An experienced lawyer can connect you with experts in fields like safety standards or accident reconstruction to turn this evidence into a compelling narrative about what happened.
How Wisconsin’s Comparative Negligence Rule Affects Your Claim
Wisconsin’s comparative negligence law allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for your slip and fall. However, the rule also reduces your compensation in proportion to your share of fault. For example, if a court finds you to be 20 percent to blame for a slip and fall that costs you $100,000, you would recover $80,000 instead. Further, if the court decides you’re more than 50 percent to blame, you won’t get any money at all.
Don’t put your rights at risk. Instead, get help from a Milwaukee slip and fall lawyer who can minimize your share of fault and maximize your compensation.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Depending on the circumstances, your Wisconsin slip and fall compensation could include money for the following:
- Past and future medical care
- Lost wages and reduced earning potential
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Property damage
Why Hire a Local Milwaukee Slip-and-Fall Attorney?
You should hire a local Milwaukee slip-and-fall attorney because they know how courts here operate, what arguments are particularly compelling to area juries, and how city ordinances and state laws may affect your claim. They provide an inside edge that outside attorneys can’t always offer. What’s more, they’re easier and more convenient to get in touch with, so that you’re never wondering how your case is progressing or what happens next.
Why Choose LawtonCates?
With all the personal injury firms to choose from, why trust LawtonCates with your slip and fall injury claim in Milwaukee? Because of the following:
- Excellence and Integrity – Richard L. Cates founded our firm in 1958 on the belief that Wisconsinites deserve high-quality legal assistance from attorneys they can trust. These beliefs continue to inform our work to this day.
- Experience and Versatility – Our attorneys have taken and won a wide range of personal injury cases. We’ve handled many precedent-setting cases that continue to affect state law to this day.
- Commitment to Wisconsin – We genuinely care about the people who make up the communities we serve. That’s why we provide our services at no upfront cost. It’s also why we support charities like Porchlight, The Salvation Army of Dane County, and Do Good Wisconsin.
Milwaukee residents trust us because of our six-plus decades in practice and the meaningful compensation we’ve recovered for our clients, including $400,000 for the victim of a dog bite. As our past client Luke Jason said,
“Attorney Dixon did an amazing job and I would recommend him to anyone that has to go through the process of standing up to large insurance companies. He was great at communicating the office staff were very warm and helpful. The end result was more than I expected.”
We believe your life counts, and we’re prepared to do what it takes to help you live it to its fullest.
Call LawtonCates Today to Speak with an Experienced Milwaukee Slip-and-Fall Lawyer
The aftermath of a slip and fall can be a painful, confusing time, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Instead, you can turn to a firm that’s been fighting and winning tough cases for more than six decades and has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of clients like you.
Don’t wait another moment to get the determined, experienced, and dedicated legal help you need. Contact LawtonCates today to discuss your options with a Milwaukee slip and fall lawyer at a free, no-obligation consultation.