Premises Liability
Slip and fall lawyer in Michigan
When a property owner fails to keep their premises reasonably safe, a fall can cause lasting injuries. We connect you with attorneys who handle Michigan premises liability claims.
A serious fall is rarely just clumsiness. Wet floors without warning, ice left to build up, broken stairs, poor lighting, and hidden hazards send people to the hospital every day. When a property owner or business fails to take reasonable care, Michigan premises liability law may allow you to recover for the harm that follows.
We connect injured people across Michigan with attorneys who handle slip, trip, and fall claims. Getting matched is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
What you have to prove
A property owner is not automatically responsible just because you fell. In general, you must show that a hazardous condition existed, that the owner knew or should have known about it, that they failed to fix it or warn you, and that the hazard caused your injury. The duty an owner owes depends partly on why you were there, with the strongest protection generally owed to customers and other invited guests.
The open and obvious doctrine has changed
For years Michigan let property owners escape responsibility by arguing that a hazard was open and obvious, meaning an average person should have noticed it. That changed. The Michigan Supreme Court has since held that whether a danger was open and obvious is no longer an automatic bar to your claim. Instead, it is generally weighed as part of comparative fault. This is a meaningful shift in favor of injured people, and it is exactly the kind of evolving rule an experienced attorney tracks.
Comparative fault and your recovery
Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule. Your share of responsibility can reduce your recovery, and being found more than half at fault can bar non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Evidence about the hazard, the lighting, and any warnings helps establish that the property owner, not you, bears the blame.
How matching works
Tell us what happened, get matched with an experienced Michigan premises liability attorney, and get a free case review at no cost and with no obligation.
No fee unless you win
The attorneys we connect you with typically work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost and no fee unless they recover money for you. Learn more on our No Fee Unless You Win page. You can also review Michigan court information at Michigan Courts.
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Slip & Fall FAQ
Michigan slip and fall questions, answered
What is premises liability?
Premises liability is the area of law that holds property owners and businesses responsible when they fail to keep their property reasonably safe and someone is injured as a result. Slip and fall cases are the most common example.
What do I have to prove in a slip and fall case?
Generally that a dangerous condition existed, that the owner knew or should have known about it, that they failed to fix or warn about it, and that it caused your injury. The owner's duty depends in part on why you were on the property.
What is the open and obvious doctrine?
It is an argument property owners used to defeat claims by saying a hazard was obvious enough that you should have avoided it. Michigan law has changed so that this is no longer an automatic bar, and it is generally treated as part of comparative fault instead.
What if I was partly at fault?
Michigan uses modified comparative fault. Your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are found more than 50 percent at fault you cannot recover non-economic damages. How fault is assigned often turns on the evidence.
What evidence helps my claim?
Photos of the hazard, the lighting, and the lack of warning signs, incident reports, witness contact information, and prompt medical records all help. Conditions like spills or ice can be cleaned up quickly, so documenting early matters.
How long do I have to file?
Most Michigan premises liability claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations from the date of injury, though shorter notice rules can apply if a government property is involved. Acting early protects your evidence and your rights.
Do I need a lawyer for a slip and fall?
Property owners and their insurers fight these claims hard, and the law has been shifting. A free case review costs nothing and helps you understand whether your fall is a claim worth pursuing.
Related practice areas
Other Michigan injury claims we connect people with.
Workers Compensation
Job injury benefits and denied claims.
Dog Bite Injuries
Strict-liability dog bite law.
Catastrophic Injuries
Brain and spinal injury claims.
Michigan No-Fault
PIP benefits and the 2019 reform.
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Hurt in a fall in Michigan?
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