Their Property. Their Responsibility. We Prove It.
A slip and fall can happen in seconds — and the injuries that follow can sideline you for weeks or months. If someone else's negligence put you on the ground, you deserve a fair look at what your claim is worth.
What Property Owners Owe You Under New Jersey Law
NJ Premises Liability Law
New Jersey premises liability law places a clear duty of care on property owners and businesses. When they fail to maintain safe conditions and someone gets hurt, they can be held financially responsible.
The legal question in most slip and fall cases is not whether you fell — it is whether the property owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard. There are two standards courts apply:
- Actual notice — the owner was directly aware of the dangerous condition and failed to fix it
- Constructive notice — the condition existed long enough that a reasonable owner should have discovered and corrected it
A wet floor sign does not automatically protect a business. What matters is whether the warning was timely, adequate, and placed where it could actually prevent harm. We investigate the property, the timeline, and the owner's maintenance practices to build the documentation that establishes liability.
"What If They Say the Accident Was My Fault?"
This is one of the most common fears we hear from slip and fall victims — and it is exactly the argument insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will make. New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover at all.
"You should have been watching where you were going" is a standard defense tactic. It is not a reason to walk away from a valid claim.
Our job is to shift the focus back to the property owner's conduct. We document when the hazard was created, how long it existed, whether the owner had any record of prior complaints, and whether their response — or failure to respond — fell below the standard of care New Jersey law requires.
South Jersey Properties Where Slip and Falls Happen Most
Slip and fall accidents occur in a wide range of settings across the region. Common locations we handle include:
- Retail stores, supermarkets, and shopping centers
- Restaurants and bars
- Apartment complexes and rental properties
- Office buildings and medical facilities
- Parking lots and parking garages
- Sidewalks and public walkways
Cherry Hill Mall — the first enclosed mall built in the eastern United States and one of the largest retail destinations in South Jersey at over 1.3 million square feet — is a location where slip and fall incidents occur with regularity. We know this property, we know this market, and we know how to pursue claims here.
We represent clients throughout Camden County, Burlington County, and Gloucester County, including Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Mount Laurel, and Washington Township.
Snow, Ice, and Winter Slip and Falls in New Jersey
Winter conditions create some of the most contested premises liability claims in the state. New Jersey law draws a meaningful distinction between private homeowners and commercial property owners when it comes to snow and ice removal obligations.
For commercial properties in Cherry Hill, the standard is clear: sidewalks must be cleared within 48 hours of daylight following a snowfall. When a business or property manager fails to meet that obligation and someone is injured, that failure is documented and actionable.
Ice patches hidden under light snow, refrozen melt at building entrances, and poorly maintained parking lot drainage are all conditions we have handled. If you were injured in a winter slip and fall, the property owner's maintenance records and response timeline are central to your case — and we know how to get them.
Evidence Disappears Fast. Here Is What You Need to Do Now.
Surveillance footage is overwritten on a regular cycle — often within 30 to 72 hours. Incident reports get filed and then become difficult to access. Witnesses move on and become harder to locate. The window to preserve the evidence that supports your claim is short.
When you contact us, we move immediately to:
- Send preservation letters to the property owner and their insurer
- Request surveillance footage before it is overwritten
- Secure the incident report if one was filed
- Identify and document witness contact information
- Photograph or obtain records of the hazardous condition
The sooner you call, the more we can preserve. Do not wait to find out whether your case is worth pursuing — find out before the evidence is gone.
What a Slip and Fall Claim Can Recover
If we establish that the property owner's negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including future treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Out-of-pocket costs related to your recovery
Even injuries that feel moderate at the time of the accident can require extended treatment and carry lasting effects. A free consultation costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of whether you have a claim worth pursuing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
If I slipped and fell at a store in Cherry Hill, NJ, what are my rights?
You have the right to pursue a premises liability claim if the store's negligence caused your fall. That means showing the store knew or should have known about the hazardous condition and failed to correct it in a reasonable amount of time. A free consultation with our team will help you understand whether the facts of your situation support a claim.How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in New Jersey?
New Jersey's statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including slip and fall cases, is generally two years from the date of the accident. Claims against government entities have shorter notice deadlines — sometimes as little as 90 days. Do not assume you have time to wait.What if I was partly at fault for the fall?
New Jersey's modified comparative negligence rule allows you to recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a property owner's negligence contributed to your fall, you likely still have a viable claim even if you share some responsibility.Does it matter that the business put up a wet floor sign?
Not automatically. A wet floor sign can be part of a business's defense, but it does not eliminate liability on its own. The relevant question is whether the warning was placed in time, positioned where it could actually alert people to the hazard, and sufficient given the extent of the condition. We evaluate the specific facts of each situation.What if I did not go to the emergency room right away?
A delay in treatment does not automatically end your claim, but it can complicate it. Insurance adjusters use gaps in medical care to argue your injuries were not serious. If you were injured in a slip and fall, seek medical attention as soon as possible and document your symptoms from the start.
Talk to a Slip and Fall Lawyer Before the Evidence Is Gone
Stopper Lopez LLC has represented South Jersey injury victims for decades. We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If you were hurt on someone else's property, call us or submit a contact form to schedule your free consultation.
