Common Serious Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents

Falls can cause major injuries. Data from the National Safety Council shows that, in 2022 alone, 8.5 million people went to emergency rooms across the U.S. for fall-related injuries. These falls can lead to death, disability, and serious pain.

Falls pose higher risk for people over 65. Data from the CDC shows that 1 out of every 10 falls results in a serious injury needing medical care, and about 3 million older adults visit the ER for falls each year. 1 million require hospitalization, and 319,000 older people suffer hip fractures each year from falls, making daily activities much harder.

Serious injuries can happen at any age. Some of the most frequent injuries from slip and fall accidents include:

• Soft Tissue Injuries: Tears to ligaments and tendons can be painful and, if left untreated, cause lasting mobility loss or chronic pain.
• Cuts and Deep Lacerations: Significant cuts can damage tissue, nerves, or organs, and increase infection risk, which can sometimes become life-threatening.
• Broken Bones: People commonly break arms, legs, ribs, or even suffer skull fractures in falls—especially when trying to catch themselves. Some falls cause complex or severe breaks.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): TBIs occur when a person hits their head during a fall, sometimes causing loss of consciousness. Swelling or bleeding inside the skull can damage the brain and affect memory or thinking. Mild to severe concussions can also result from a fall.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: A fall can injure vertebrae or the spinal cord, sometimes leading to partial or complete loss of movement.

These slip and fall injuries can require emergency care, surgery, and rehabilitation. Victims may face weeks or months in the hospital and may have lasting limitations.

In Portland, winter falls on icy sidewalks often lead to broken bones and joint injuries that need surgery. Local hospitals regularly see more ER visits during snow and freezing rain. In neighborhoods with older buildings and uneven walkways, ankle and hip fractures increase during cold months. Older adults especially may face longer recoveries after hip or spine injuries.

If you suffered any of these or other serious injuries after a slip and fall in Portland, ME, set up a free consultation to speak about your legal rights. This gives you a chance to pursue compensation for your losses. Our client testimonials tell our story.

Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident in Maine

If you suffer an injury on someone else's property or at a business, you may seek compensation from those responsible. These cases fall under premises liability laws, which our Portland slip and fall attorney can explain.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability law means property owners must take reasonable steps to keep their residential, commercial, or other property safe for visitors. Property owners may be liable if:

• They knew about a hazard on the property
• They should have known about a hazard
• They failed to address or repair the problem
• They did not warn about the risk

To hold an owner responsible, you must prove the victim had a legal right to be on the property and that the owner breached their duty of care, causing injuries that led to medical bills or other losses.

In Maine, property owners—including those in Portland—must follow city and state rules to quickly clear snow, fix cracked sidewalks, and provide proper lighting. Portland ordinances can result in faster property inspections, and businesses face strict liability for ignoring these safety requirements. What property owners must do varies by location, so liability can depend on local building codes or industry safety standards. Our legal team reviews these technical details to determine responsibility under Maine premises liability law.

Who Can Be Responsible for a Slip and Fall Accident?

Several parties may be responsible for a slip and fall accident, depending on who had control over hazards and failed to fix or warn about them. In most cases, this includes anyone expected to maintain a safe environment. The following parties may be held liable:

• Property Owners: Most slip and fall claims name the property owner, particularly if the owner knew or should have known about a hazard and did not fix it.
• Landlords: Landlords may be liable for falls in common areas of rental properties, such as sidewalks, parking lots, or hallways.
• Tenants: Apartment or storefront tenants may be responsible for unsafe conditions inside their spaces if they control maintenance there.
• Municipalities: The city or another government may bear responsibility if a slip and fall occurs in a public space due to unaddressed risks. However, Maine law heavily restricts such claims. Speak with our slip and fall lawyers in Portland to discuss your options.
• Business Owners: Businesses must keep their spaces safe for the public; failing to do so can make them liable for injuries.
• Product Manufacturers: Rarely, a manufacturing error—such as faulty flooring—can cause a slip and fall. In these cases, the manufacturer may share responsibility.

For each situation, your slip and fall lawyers in Portland, ME will need to document how and why the property owner—or another party—was negligent. This may mean showing they knew about, or should have known about, the danger but did nothing to fix it.

Properties in Portland often go through rough winters and rainy springs. Sidewalks, parking lots, and commercial spaces can become dangerous without ongoing maintenance and timely repairs. In neighborhoods with older buildings, property owners must look for shifting concrete or loose handrails that appear after frost or heavy rain. Business owners in busy areas must keep entrances clear and safe, especially during storms, to keep visitors protected.

Proving Your Right to Be on the Property

When building your claim, your legal right to be on the property matters. When a property owner opens a space to the public, they accept the highest duty to keep those visitors safe.

If you cross into an area marked with "no trespassing," the owner generally is not responsible for injuries. Still, simply posting a sign may not remove all obligations.

In most Maine cities, property owners must clear snow and ice from sidewalks, fix holes, and make sure cracks do not create dangerous conditions. If you fall on an icy sidewalk after the owner had a reasonable chance to clear it, the owner could be found liable for your injuries.

To clarify your rights, Maine law recognizes several types of visitors:

• Public Invitee: Someone who enters a property open to the public for its intended use. The property owner must keep the property safe.
• Business Invitee: Someone on the property with the owner's permission for a business-related reason. The owner must maintain safety.
• Licensee: Someone allowed on the property for their own reasons, not business. The property owner must warn of known hazards.
• Trespasser: Someone on property without permission. Owners usually owe little duty but cannot intentionally harm them. Owners must take special care if trespassers are children or if they are aware of repeated trespassing.

Because these details can get complicated, working with our slip and fall attorneys in Portland, ME, helps you navigate your legal options.

How Your Slip and Fall Lawyer in Portland Builds Your Case

To prove liability, you need evidence. Your slip and fall lawyers in Portland collect proof about what happened and who owns or controls the property. They may use:

• Video footage of the incident
• Witness statements
• Records of other incidents in the area
• Photos or proof of hazardous conditions still in place
• Accident reconstruction to show how the fall occurred

This evidence helps determine fault, changes that could have prevented the accident, and your losses. Learn more about Berman & Simmons and how we can support you.

When working on a slip and fall case in Portland, our team reviews city regulations, maintenance logs, and weather records. Local safety professionals can help clarify if a property owner met Cumberland County standards. Daily records of clean-up after storms—or repeated complaints—can strengthen your claim. Local sidewalk maintenance rules can play a key part after snow or ice events.

Compensation for a Slip and Fall Accident

If your slip and fall lawyer proves negligence, you can claim compensation for the full range of losses you faced. Claims often include:

• Medical costs: Care, medications, hospital visits, surgery, rehabilitation, and therapy
• Lost wages: Time missed from work and income you could not earn
• Ongoing medical needs: Future treatment, in-home help, or nursing services
• Loss of earning ability: Reduced capacity to work or permanent disability
• Pain and suffering: Pain during the accident and throughout recovery
• Mental anguish: Changes in mood, anxiety, depression, or trauma because of your injury

For fatal injuries, families may pursue wrongful death claims that can include the costs above, plus end-of-life care and financial support for dependents.

Slip and fall claims sometimes account for long-term losses and changes to your life. Serious injuries requiring ongoing care may lead to larger claims. In Portland or other parts of Maine, pain and suffering damages can vary depending on how the injury changes your everyday life. Collecting documentation from local medical providers and tracking your recovery process will strengthen your claim. Journals describing symptoms or challenges can also support your claim for non-economic losses. Everyone’s claim has its own details, so careful documentation matters.

FAQs

How Long Do I Have to File a Slip & Fall Claim in Maine?

In Maine, you generally have six years from the date of your slip and fall to file a claim, but you may have less time if the claim involves city or state property. Acting promptly preserves your right to seek damages.

Can I Still Recover Damages If I Was Partially at Fault?

You may recover damages if you are less than 50% responsible for the fall. Maine’s comparative fault law reduces your compensation in proportion to your share of responsibility.

What Evidence Should I Gather After a Slip & Fall?

Collect photos of the scene, records of your injuries, witness details, and any incident reports. Keeping these items will help you and your legal team evaluate liability and possible recovery.

Set Up a Free Consultation with Our Portland Slip and Fall Lawyers

Your future can depend on how you respond to injuries and losses caused by someone else’s negligence. Berman & Simmons stands ready to support your case. Set up a free consultation with a slip and fall attorney in Portland, ME, to discuss your case, the value of your claim, and who may be responsible.

Our legal team serves clients statewide. Contact us now by calling (207) 383-3216 for a free consultation.