Slip and Fall Lawyer in DeSoto County, MS

When someone slips, trips, or falls on another person's property, the injury is often dismissed as minor or embarrassing. The truth is that slip and fall accidents cause some of the most serious injuries we see — broken hips, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and chronic pain that lasts for years.

If a property owner's negligence caused your fall, you have the right to seek compensation. But these cases are not easy. The property owner and their insurer will argue that you were not paying attention, that the hazard was obvious, or that they did not know about it.

Martin & Martin, PA represents slip and fall victims in DeSoto County who are dealing with real injuries caused by someone else's failure to maintain safe conditions.

Slip and fall cases fall under an area of law called premises liability. In Mississippi, property owners and occupiers have a duty to keep their property reasonably safe for visitors.

The level of care owed depends on why you were on the property:

Invitees

Customers, shoppers, diners, hotel guests, and other people invited onto the property for business purposes. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care — they must actively inspect for hazards and fix or warn about dangerous conditions.

Licensees

Social guests and others who enter the property with permission but not for the owner's commercial benefit. Owners must warn licensees about known hazards that are not obvious.

Trespassers

People who enter without permission. Generally, property owners owe a limited duty to trespassers, though there are exceptions — particularly for child trespassers.

Most slip and fall cases involve invitees — people who fell in a store, restaurant, parking lot, or other business. The property owner had a duty to keep the premises safe, and they failed.

Wet or Slippery Floors

Spills, mopping without warning signs, leaks, and tracked-in rain or snow create slick surfaces. Grocery stores, restaurants, and retail shops see these hazards frequently.

Uneven Surfaces

Cracked sidewalks, buckled flooring, uneven thresholds, and broken tiles can catch a foot and cause a fall. These hazards are especially dangerous because they are often difficult to see.

Poor Lighting

Stairwells, parking lots, hallways, and entryways that are not adequately lit make it hard to see obstacles or changes in elevation.

Missing or Broken Handrails

Stairs without handrails, or with loose or broken handrails, are a common cause of falls — particularly for older adults.

Cluttered Walkways

Merchandise, boxes, cords, and equipment left in walking paths create tripping hazards.

Damaged Parking Lots

Potholes, loose gravel, faded or missing striping, and crumbling curbs in parking areas can cause falls before a visitor even reaches the building.

Weather-Related Hazards

Property owners must take reasonable steps to address ice, standing water, and other weather-related conditions in a timely manner.

Broken Hips

Hip fractures are one of the most serious slip and fall injuries, especially for older adults. A broken hip often requires surgery and months of rehabilitation, and many patients never fully regain their prior level of mobility.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Hitting your head on the ground during a fall can cause concussions or more severe brain injuries. These injuries may not be immediately apparent but can have lasting effects on memory, cognition, and mood.

Back and Spinal Injuries

Herniated discs, compression fractures, and other spinal injuries from falls can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, and the need for ongoing medical care.

Broken Wrists and Arms

Instinctively trying to catch yourself during a fall often results in fractures to the wrist, hand, or forearm.

Knee Injuries

Torn ligaments, dislocated kneecaps, and meniscus tears from falls can require surgery and extended rehabilitation.

Shoulder Injuries

Rotator cuff tears, dislocations, and fractures from the impact of a fall can cause lasting pain and limited range of motion.

The biggest challenge in a slip and fall case is proving that the property owner knew about the hazard — or should have known — and failed to address it.

Constructive Notice

Even if the owner did not actually know about the specific hazard, they can still be held liable if the dangerous condition existed long enough that a reasonable owner would have discovered and fixed it. For example, a puddle that sat on a grocery store floor for an hour without being cleaned up suggests the store was not inspecting properly.

Evidence We Gather

• Incident reports — The report filed with the property owner or manager at the time of your fall.
• Surveillance footage — Many businesses have security cameras that may have captured your fall and the hazard that caused it. This footage can be deleted quickly, so acting fast is critical.
• Maintenance records — Inspection logs, cleaning schedules, and work orders that show whether the property was being properly maintained.
• Witness statements — Other customers or employees who saw the hazard or witnessed your fall.
• Photos — Images of the hazard, the scene, your injuries, and your footwear (to counter claims that your shoes caused the fall).
• Medical records — Documentation connecting your injuries directly to the fall.

Economic Damages

• Medical bills (emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, medication)
• Future medical expenses for ongoing treatment
• Lost wages from missed work
• Reduced earning capacity if your injuries limit your ability to work

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

Comparative Negligence

The property owner's insurance company will almost certainly argue that you were partly at fault — that you were distracted, wearing improper shoes, or should have seen the hazard. Mississippi's pure comparative negligence rule means you can still recover damages even if you were partly responsible, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. We work to minimize any fault attributed to you.

Slip and fall injuries can happen almost anywhere. Some of the most common locations include:

• Grocery stores and retail shops — Spills, cluttered aisles, and wet entryways
• Restaurants and bars — Greasy floors, spilled drinks, and uneven surfaces
• Hotels and resorts — Pool areas, lobby floors, and stairwells
• Office buildings — Elevators, parking garages, and common areas
• Apartment complexes — Broken stairs, icy walkways, and poorly lit hallways
• Government buildings — Courthouses, libraries, and municipal facilities
• Sidewalks and parking lots — Cracked concrete, potholes, and missing curbing

No matter where your fall happened, if the property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, they may be liable.

Slip and fall cases are often undervalued by insurance companies. They dismiss the injuries as minor and offer lowball settlements. Martin & Martin, PA knows better.

We take slip and fall cases seriously because we have seen the real impact these injuries have on people's lives. We investigate thoroughly, build strong evidence, and fight for compensation that actually reflects the harm you have suffered.

We work on a contingency fee basis. No upfront costs. You only pay if we recover money for you.

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in DeSoto County, these resources may help:

• Community resources and support in DeSoto County

For legal help with a slip and fall claim, contact Martin & Martin, PA for a free consultation.