How Long do Slip and Fall Settlements Take?

On This Page

1. What Factors Will Affect How Long Your Slip and Fall Case Takes to Settle? 
2. Can Hiring an Attorney Help You Settle a Slip and Fall Case Faster? 
3. What Damages Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall? 
4. Call Berger and Green Today for Assistance With Your Slip and Fall Settlement

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

October 10, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Every case is different, so how long your slip and fall settlement takes will depend on factors unique to your case. Here, we cover slip and fall accidents and how you can seek compensation for your injuries. 

What Factors Will Affect How Long Your Slip and Fall Case Takes to Settle? 

There is no set time limit for how long slip and fall settlements take, although several factors can affect how long it takes to resolve your case. 

• The length of your slip and fall accident investigation. It takes time to build a robust slip and fall accident case. First, you (or an attorney working on your behalf) must investigate to determine what caused your fall and who is liable for the negligent conditions that caused it. Then, you will need time to collect evidence and apply it under state and federal laws. 
• The severity of your slip and fall injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slip, trip, and fall injuries can be severe, with one in five falls causing broken bones or a head injury. If you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), hip fracture, spinal cord injury (SCI), or other serious physical harm, it can take time to understand the full extent of your injuries and treatment. If you settle before knowing your prognosis or having estimates of your future medical expenses, you could pay out of pocket. 
• The insurance company’s response. Insurance companies focus on making profits. Therefore, the insurer you deal with will likely look out of their company’s bottom line before your interests. The insurer may try to stall your claim for as long as possible, play hardball during negotiations, or offer you less than you deserve. They may also try to blame you for your slip and fall. 
• The statute of limitations. You have a limited time to recover your slip and fall accident damages in court. The statute of limitations for personal injury in Pennsylvania is two years, according to Pa. C.S.A. § 5524. If you do not file your lawsuit before time runs out, a court will likely dismiss your case. This deadline could also affect your insurance claims because no longer having the option to take legal action will reduce your insurance bargaining power. 

In general, it is a good idea to get started on your case right away. The sooner you act, the sooner you can begin working toward an advantageous resolution. In addition, acting quickly protects you from allegations that your injury did not occur during your fall and allows you to:

• Consult with eyewitnesses before their memories of the accident fade
• Obtain cell phone or surveillance video that is at risk of being recorded over or deleted
• Photograph the accident scene before the condition that caused your fall gets cleaned up or repaired

Can Hiring an Attorney Help You Settle a Slip and Fall Case Faster? 

Hiring a personal injury attorney does not mean your case will settle faster. However, a lawyer with our firm can help you complete case-related tasks (such as preparing and filing paperwork and collecting evidence) faster than you could alone – especially if you are also coping with injuries. We can also make sure the insurance company does not engage in bad faith tactics and adheres to deadlines your policy or state law establishes. 

In addition, we can check up on your claim’s status, ensure the insurance company is moving it forward, and provide you with frequent updates. Furthermore, we can use our legal knowledge and case experience to build a robust case – making it more difficult for the insurance company to challenge your account of events. Finally, we can aggressively negotiate on your behalf to achieve the most advantageous settlement possible. 

What Does It Cost to Work With a Lawyer? 

Working with our firm’s slip and fall accident attorneys will cost you nothing upfront or out of pocket. We take cases on contingency, which means our payment comes from a percentage of your settlement or verdict. You pay no attorney’s fees unless or until we win your case. 

What Damages Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall? 

Slip and fall settlements may include compensation for the following losses:

• Current and future medical expenses, including ambulance transportation, emergency department treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, walkers, wheelchairs, and other medical equipment, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and long-term nursing services
• Lost income, earnings, and benefits for time missed at work due to your injuries and recovery
• Lost earning capacity if you suffered an injury that will have a long-term impact on your ability to earn a living
• Personal property damages
• Physical pain and suffering, including scarring, disfigurement, chronic pain, or loss of mobility
• Mental and emotional distress
• Inconvenience
• Impaired quality of life
• Wrongful death of a loved one and survival damages, including compensation for funeral and burial expenses, medical bills, and the deceased’s lost income, support, and services

Who Is Financially Liable for Your Losses? 

Property owners and managers are responsible for their premises. If your slip and fall resulted from negligent or dangerous conditions the property owner knew or should have known about, you can hold them financially liable with a premises liability claim or lawsuit. Examples of negligent property conditions include:

• Wet or slippery floors
• Broken or cracked floorboards or tiles
• Unsecured cords
• Potholes or cracked sidewalks
• Torn or ripped carpeting
• Broken stairs
• Broken or missing hand railings
• Neglected spills
• Negligent snow/ice removal
• Lack of signs warning of known hazards
• Inadequate lighting
• Obstructed walkways

Call Berger and Green Today for Assistance With Your Slip and Fall Settlement

Berger and Green has more than 40 years of experience fighting for injured clients. If you slipped, tripped, and fell due to a property owner’s negligence, we can use our decades of experience to help you seek economic justice. We can also determine how long a slip and fall settlement takes once we can assess the factors in your case.

We can handle every detail of your claim or lawsuit and ensure the insurance company treats you fairly. We will work tirelessly to secure the awards you need and deserve as quickly and efficiently as possible. Contact us today for a risk-free, no-cost consultation and learn more about how we can take your case on a contingency fee basis.