Durham, NH Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

In a Split Second, Your Life in Durham Is Turned Upside Down

You might be walking into the Durham Marketplace, stepping into a coffee shop near Main Street, or heading into a building on the UNH campus. Then suddenly, your foot slips on black ice or a damp tile, and you hit the ground hard. Your day takes a turn you never expected. The pain is instant. The shock, even worse. It is hard to breathe, and your mind starts to race: What just happened? Is something broken? How long will I be out of work?

At Horn Wright, LLP, our Durham slip and fall attorneys help people who find themselves in this exact situation. We know how painful and frustrating these accidents can be, both physically and emotionally. Our role is to step in, take over the legal legwork, and fight for the financial recovery you need so you can focus on healing, not on haggling with insurance companies.

Why a Slip and Fall in Durham Is More Serious Than It Sounds

Slip and fall injuries might not sound dramatic until they happen to you. One moment you feel completely fine. The next, you're lying on the ground with intense pain in your back, wrist, or head. These falls can result in injuries that linger for weeks, months, or sometimes forever.

Many victims in Durham suffer from injuries that include:

• Fractured wrists, ankles, or hips, especially in older adults who are more vulnerable to serious harm
• Concussions or traumatic brain injuries that occur when the head strikes a hard surface with force
• Torn ligaments and spinal injuries that lead to chronic mobility issues or even disability
• Deep emotional trauma such as anxiety, depression, or loss of confidence walking in public spaces

What starts as a seemingly ordinary walk around town can suddenly impact every part of your life. These injuries often mean lost wages, ongoing therapy, or even permanent changes in lifestyle. The emotional distress is just as real as the physical pain, especially when your independence has been taken from you by someone else’s negligence.

Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents in Durham, NH

Durham may be a quiet college town, but it is no stranger to dangerous walking conditions. Winters here are unpredictable and severe, and even warm weather brings risks when walkways are not maintained. Falls often happen where people least expect them, especially in areas that see a lot of daily foot traffic.

Many of the calls we receive involve accidents at or near the following locations:

• Sidewalks along Mill Road and Main Street that become slick from snow, ice, or melting runoff
• Entrances to businesses in downtown Durham that fail to display proper wet floor signage
• Walkways and staircases within off-campus housing near Madbury Road and Strafford Avenue
• Common areas at the University of New Hampshire, especially during rain or snow melt when maintenance crews are delayed

Even though Durham is relatively small, the volume of foot traffic around campus and the downtown district creates an elevated risk for slip and fall hazards. When property owners fail to inspect or treat these areas in a timely manner, the consequences can be serious.

Who Is Legally Responsible for a Fall in Durham?

In New Hampshire, property owners, landlords, and business managers are required by law to keep their premises safe. This legal responsibility is known as premises liability. If someone is hurt because a property owner failed to fix a known hazard or failed to warn people about it, that owner may be considered negligent and can be held financially accountable.

Premises liability depends on several factors, including whether the owner knew about the danger, whether they had time to fix it, and whether a warning was provided. Just because a fall happens does not automatically make the property owner responsible, but if the hazard was known or should have been known and ignored, they may be liable.

For example, if a landlord was informed about loose tiles in an apartment stairwell and chose to ignore the repair, they may be responsible if someone gets hurt. Similarly, if a retail store fails to clear ice from its front entrance after a storm, the business could be held accountable for any resulting injuries.

What You Should Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Durham

What you do immediately after a fall can significantly affect your health and your potential legal case. The first few hours and days are key. It is important to act quickly but thoughtfully to protect your rights and strengthen any future claims.

Start by seeking medical attention. Go to urgent care or a local provider like Wentworth-Douglass Express Care to get checked out. Even if you feel fine at first, symptoms often show up later. A medical report creates a valuable timeline that documents how your injury started and how it affects your life.

Then, take the following steps:

• Photograph the exact spot where you fell, showing the hazard (such as ice, spills, or uneven flooring)
• Report the incident to the property owner, store manager, or landlord and ask for a written report
• Collect names and contact information from witnesses who saw what happened
• Preserve any physical evidence, including the shoes and clothing you were wearing

Every piece of evidence you can gather will help your attorney build a case that connects the property owner's negligence to your injuries. Photos, medical records, and written statements give us the tools we need to negotiate or litigate effectively.

What Can Compensation Cover in a Durham Slip and Fall Case?

Slip and fall cases can lead to significant damages, both economic and non-economic. Many victims underestimate how expensive recovery can be. Emergency treatment is just the beginning. If your injury keeps you from working or requires ongoing therapy, the financial impact can last for years.

Under New Hampshire law, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including hospital visits, surgeries, prescriptions, and rehabilitation
• Lost income during recovery, along with any future loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress, anxiety, or loss of mobility

Our team of slip and fall attorneys carefully evaluates how your injury has impacted your daily life, your family, and your future. Every dollar you are owed should reflect what you have already endured and what may still lie ahead.

Insurance Companies and Slip and Fall Claims in Durham

If you have already been contacted by an insurance adjuster, proceed with caution. Insurance companies are not there to help you. Their main goal is to pay as little as possible. They might offer a quick settlement or try to get you to say something that weakens your claim.

We strongly advise not giving a recorded statement to an insurance representative without speaking to an attorney first. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can shift blame to you. They might downplay your injury or imply that you were not paying attention when you fell.

Our legal team takes over all communication with insurers. We present evidence, negotiate firmly, and push back when insurers try to lowball our clients. You focus on your recovery. We focus on getting you paid.

Deadlines Matter: Act Quickly After a Durham Slip and Fall

In New Hampshire, you have just three years from the date of your fall to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations. If you miss that window, your case will almost certainly be dismissed, no matter how strong your evidence may be.

More importantly, acting quickly helps preserve evidence. Weather changes, businesses clean up hazards, and memories fade. Surveillance footage can be deleted in a matter of days. By starting the process early, we can lock in facts and protect your claim from day one.

Horn Wright, LLP: Trusted Slip and Fall Attorneys Serving Durham, NH

Slip and fall injuries are more than temporary setbacks. They can disrupt your life, your career, and your long-term health. At Horn Wright, LLP, we work with clients throughout Durham to make sure they are not left dealing with those consequences alone. From gathering evidence to negotiating with insurers, we handle every step with the focus and respect you deserve.

We know how to build strong cases because we have done it for clients across New Hampshire. Let us do the same for you. When you are ready to take the next step, we are here to help you move forward with confidence.