Michigan Slip and Fall Claims: Evidence Before You Settle

After a slip and fall, identify the condition that caused the injury and preserve the scene before it changes. A fall alone does not prove legal responsibility, and an online settlement range cannot value the individual case.

Show the hazard in its surroundings

Photograph the condition and the route, lighting, warnings, entrances, and nearby alternatives. Record when the images were taken and whether the condition changed. Preserve witness details, incident reports, and available footage.

Identify who possessed or controlled the area and what evidence exists about creation or notice of the hazard. Do not assume the property owner personally handled every repair or that only actual notice can ever matter.

Keep the present legal framework in view

The Kandil-Elsayed decision changed how Michigan premises cases address obvious hazards. Obviousness remains relevant, but the old categorical no-duty account is not the complete current analysis. Our broader premises-liability guide addresses that framework.

A tenant’s statutory claim can involve different obligations; see landlord and tenant injury duties. The correct theory depends on the location, relationship, condition, and facts.

Before evaluating an offer, organize

• The scene record and evidence about notice, inspection, repair, or control.
• Medical records and the connection between the fall and injury.
• Work restrictions, wages, expenses, and any continuing assistance needs.
• Policy and insurer correspondence, proposed releases, and possible reimbursement issues.

Avoid generic averages and automatic reimbursement claims

An offer should be assessed using the supported losses, legal issues, coverage, and consequences of settlement. Health-plan or government-benefit repayment obligations require individual review; they are not identical in every case.

See gross value and net recovery and our premises liability practice. Do not sign a release before understanding what claims it ends.

Talk with Logeman & Iafrate

Request a free consultation or call (734) 994-0200 to discuss your situation with our Ann Arbor office. Bring the relevant records and any insurer correspondence. Advice about your claim depends on the facts, coverage, and applicable deadlines.

General information only; this article is not legal advice for an individual case.

Does an online settlement range predict my claim?

No. Liability, injury evidence, coverage, and other circumstances differ.

Should I keep the incident report?

Yes. Keep it with photographs, witnesses, footage information, and the medical record.