Most people think of slip-and-fall premises liability lawsuits as some of the simplest legal claims. In many ways, this is true: slip-and-fall claims can settle quickly in most cases and if the case is strong, they can be simple to win.
However, not every case of this kind is that simple. Defendants will fight these aggressively in many cases, and some of these cases can last a long time.
Protracted Case against Burger King Franchise in Pennsylvania
A recent report from PennRecord online, a premises liability case against a Burger King in Fairview was just ordered into alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
The case involves a New York woman who slipped on an ice patch walking into the restaurant in January of 2015 and brought a premises liability claim for the injuries and other damages suffered from the fall.
Important Takeaway Points
With cases like this, there are a few important things to note:
- The timing: The original accident took place in January of 2015, two years ago this month. While many of these cases do settle early, for whatever reason this one has lasted a long time.
- The diversity: This case has been in litigation and now it is going into alternative dispute resolution. Presumably the parties tried to come to a settlement on their own before this time, as well. The point here is that there have been numerous phases of this case, each of which could have brought equitable resolution.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Attorney
If you are in a premises liability or other injury claim, this current case can give you insight into the factors you should look for you in your attorney.
First, you need someone with experience who knows how to get your case resolved quickly. If you’ve been hurt, you probably don’t want to be in a lawsuit this long.
Second, make sure your attorney can handle all types of legal situations in your case. A good lawyer should be comfortable in negotiations, in the courtroom and in ADR proceedings.
Third, and perhaps most important, you should hire an attorney you are comfortable working with. Regardless of what happens in your case, you will need to work closely with your lawyer, so he or she should be someone you can talk with candidly and feel comfortable working with.