Best Slip And Fall Lawyers in Durham, NC

FAQs

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Durham, North Carolina?

  The non-emergency contact number for Durham Police Department is 919-560-4600.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Durham, North Carolina?

  You can get a copy of police incident reports by contacting the Durham Police Department Records Division at 919-560-4423. You may also drop by their office located at 602 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701. It is available from Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Can slip-and-fall victims in Durham recover compensation from the other party if they are also at fault?

  No. Durham follows North Carolina negligence laws, which are based on the concept of pure contributory negligence. Unlike comparative negligence, which allows the victim to receive a reduced sum according to their degree of responsibility, contributory negligence prevents plaintiffs from recovering compensation if they are even 1% at blame for the slip-and-fall accident.

• What should plaintiffs prove to recover compensation in a slip-and-fall claim in Durham?

  To successfully achieve financial compensation in a slip-and-fall lawsuit in Durham, the plaintiff must prove that they were legally visiting the property and that unsafe or defective circumstances caused their fall. Furthermore, they must demonstrate that the owner or occupier was aware of the circumstance that caused them to slip and fall but did not remedy it or warn them. Claimants also have to show that they have incurred expenditures or losses that can be monetarily reimbursed.

• Is there a time limit for filing for slip-and-fall lawsuits in Durham?

  Yes. Plaintiffs in Durham have three years from the date of the accident to pursue a slip-and-fall claim against a property owner or a negligent person. In circumstances where the person died as a result of a slip-and-fall accident, family members have two years from the date of death to submit a wrongful death claim.

• Would the store owner still be liable if another customer caused the slip-and-fall accident in Durham?

  Store owners can still be held responsible for the slip-and-fall accident in Durham if they knew the hazard and failed to address it before the incident happened. For example, the store was aware that there was a certain spot where customers often spilled their drinks but did not mop the area, they may still be liable even when another customer caused the spill.

• How often do slips and falls occur in Durham?

  In Durham, slips and falls are common causes of injury. Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury mortality for individuals of all ages in Durham and across the state, and the top cause of injury-related death for persons 65 and older, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. It is responsible for a 59.6% spike in death rates during a nine-year period. Non-fatal fall injury rates also increased, with 226.7% more fall-related hospitalizations.