Michigan Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Updated August 21, 2026 | Reviewed by Emily Peacock, Michigan Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

For more than 50 years, the Michigan slip and fall lawyers at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock have held negligent property owners accountable for injuries on unsafe stairs, sidewalks, floors, and other dangerous conditions. Our team includes firm founder Jules B. Olsman (40+ years of trial experience), Donna M. MacKenzie (past president of the Michigan Association for Justice and repeat Michigan Top 100 Super Lawyer), Emily Peacock (2025–2026 Chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus), and Chrissy Hagen, and we have recovered millions of dollars for injured Michigan families.

Can you sue for a slip and fall in Michigan? Generally, yes, if a property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn about it. Since the Michigan Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Kandil-Elsayed v. F & E Oil, Inc., an open and obvious hazard no longer automatically bars a claim; it is now weighed as part of each party’s fault.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a slip, trip, or fall, call 1-800-366-8653 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of injury in the United States. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), slips, trips, and falls account for roughly 15% of all accidental deaths, second only to car accidents. A fall on unsafe stairs, a wet floor, an icy sidewalk, or a missing handrail can cause serious, life-changing injuries, especially for older adults and other vulnerable people.

At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, our slip and fall lawyers represent injured people across Detroit, Oakland County, Berkley, Battle Creek, Lapeer, and throughout Michigan. We hold negligent property owners accountable and pursue the full compensation our clients need to move forward.

SEE OUR SLIP & FALL SETTLEMENT RESULTS

When Can You Sue for a Slip and Fall in Michigan?

Not every fall gives rise to a lawsuit. To succeed in a premises liability case, you must generally prove four things:

A dangerous condition existed on the property.
The property owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
The owner failed to fix the hazard or provide a warning.
The dangerous condition caused your injuries.

If these elements can be established, you may have a valid slip and fall claim.

Is the Open and Obvious Defense Still Valid in Michigan?

For more than two decades, Michigan property owners used the “open and obvious” danger doctrine to defeat slip and fall claims at the earliest stage. That changed in 2023. In Kandil-Elsayed v. F & E Oil, Inc., the Michigan Supreme Court held that whether a hazard is open and obvious is no longer part of whether the owner owed a duty. Instead, it is weighed as part of breach and the injured person’s comparative fault. In practice, a visible hazard no longer automatically ends a case; it becomes one factor for the jury to consider.

Michigan appellate courts have continued to apply that framework in slip and fall cases. We discuss several recent decisions, including Murray v. NOM Estates (missing handrail), Bowerman v. Red Oak Management (uncovered trench in a common area), and Minniti v. Meijer (a plaintiff’s right to a jury trial). If a property owner or insurer tells you your fall was “too obvious” to sue over, that defense is far weaker than it used to be. Our Michigan premises liability lawyers can evaluate how the current law applies to your fall.

What Are Common Examples of Dangerous Conditions?

Slip, trip, and fall accidents often occur because a property owner failed to correct or warn about hazards such as:

Wet or slippery floors without warning signs
Snow and ice that is not cleared in a reasonable time
Broken or uneven stairs
Missing or unstable handrails
Poor lighting in stairwells or parking lots
Potholes or cracked sidewalks
Loose carpeting or floor mats

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Commonly Happen?

Slip and fall claims can arise in many settings. What they share is that a property owner, landlord, or manager failed to keep the area safe for visitors. Common examples include:

Grocery and Retail Stores

Shoppers have the right to expect a safe store. Falls often happen when staff fail to promptly address spilled liquids, dropped produce, cluttered aisles, or merchandise stacked too high. If a jar breaks in a supermarket and employees leave the spill unattended or fail to post warning signs, the store may be liable for the resulting injuries.

Restaurants and Bars

Liability may arise when a spilled drink is not cleaned or marked, when wet bathroom floors are left unmarked, when stairs or entryways are poorly lit, or when outdoor patios are not cleared of snow, ice, or rainwater.

Apartments and Rental Properties

Landlords and property managers must keep common areas safe. They may be liable for broken steps or loose carpeting, parking lots and sidewalks not cleared of ice or standing water, poorly lit hallways, or leaks that create slippery puddles that are left unaddressed.

Workplaces and Construction Sites

Slip and fall claims may arise when floors are left covered in oil or grease, when construction walkways are not secured from debris or cords, when required mats or railings are ignored, or when loading docks and warehouses are not kept clear of spills and tripping hazards.

Public Spaces and Government Property

Cities and government entities must maintain public property in safe condition. Liability may exist when sidewalks are cracked and not repaired, when snow and ice are not cleared within a reasonable time, or when public buildings fail to address leaks and spills. Claims against government entities carry shorter notice deadlines, so it is important to act quickly.

Why Do Slip and Fall Claims Require a Lawyer?

Many people assume the property owner’s insurance company will treat them fairly after a fall. In reality, insurers are profit-driven and often work to minimize or deny slip and fall claims. They may argue the hazard was obvious, dispute that the owner had notice, claim your injuries are pre-existing, or push a quick, low settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known. Insurance companies use a range of tactics to deny liability.

As Michigan slip and fall lawyers, we can:

Investigate the fall and identify every responsible party, including owners, property managers, and maintenance or snow-removal contractors
Preserve critical evidence before it disappears, such as surveillance video, incident reports, and the hazardous condition itself
Establish that the owner knew or should have known about the hazard
Work with our in-house registered nurses and medical experts to document the full scope of your injuries
Handle the insurance companies and negotiate for a fair settlement
Take your case to a Michigan jury when insurers refuse to pay fairly

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyer?

Most Michigan slip and fall attorneys, including Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. This means:

You pay no upfront fees to get started.
We advance the costs of investigating your claim and preparing your case.
Our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover, through a settlement or a jury verdict.
If we do not recover for you, you owe no attorney fee.

This arrangement allows every injured person to have access to experienced representation. Call 1-800-366-8653 to speak with an experienced Michigan slip and fall lawyer and learn about your options for recovery.

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Michigan Slip and Fall Case?

Depending on the facts, an injured person may recover both economic and non-economic damages, including:

Emergency care, hospitalization, and surgery
Physical therapy, future medical care, and assistive devices
Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
Pain and suffering and emotional distress
Permanent disability, disfigurement, or scarring
Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful death damages when a fall results in the loss of a loved one

There is no single average value; each case depends on the severity of the injury, the property and insurance coverage involved, and the strength of the notice evidence. See our Michigan slip and fall settlement results for examples.

Michigan Slip and Fall Settlements and Verdicts

$1,100,000 Settlement for a client injured in a construction zone when a commercial tractor-trailer made an improper turn and struck the vehicle.

$182,500 Settlement for a client who sustained an ankle fracture in a parking lot fall.

$100,000 Policy-limit settlement for a client injured in a dog bite incident.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case depends on its own facts. See more premises liability and slip and fall settlement results.

What Our Clients Say

A. | Avvo 5-Star Review
“ Jules Olsman is a fearless trial attorney. He represented my family in Federal Court, did an outstanding job, and won the case. He has integrity, works hard, and is never intimidated. He is a man you want on your side”

B.W. | Google 5-Star Review
“Many thanks to Donna MacKenzie and her assistant for doing a superb job with our case. The entire process was handled with outstanding care, professionalism, and perseverance. We were pleased with the outcome and would highly recommend Donna and her staff”

L.R. | Google 5-Star Review
Our attorney was outstanding. I give her and her staff the highest recommendation.”

Why Michigan Families Trust Olsman MacKenzie Peacock for Slip and Fall Cases

With more than 100 years of combined personal injury experience and millions recovered for injured Michigan families, Olsman MacKenzie Peacock has the experience and resources to handle complex slip and fall and premises liability claims throughout the state.

Our team includes firm founder Jules B. Olsman, who has more than 40 years of trial experience; Donna M. MacKenzie, a past president of the Michigan Association for Justice and repeat Michigan Top 100 Super Lawyer; Emily Peacock, Chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus for 2025–2026; and Chrissy Hagen, a nationally recognized trial attorney who has successfully litigated hundreds of serious injury cases.

Recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Avvo, and business, our attorneys represent clients injured by dangerous property conditions, including falls in grocery stores, retail establishments, apartment complexes, nursing homes, parking lots, and other commercial and residential properties across Michigan. Our mission is not only to recover damages for our clients but also to improve safety standards across Michigan to prevent future injuries.

FAQs About Slip and Fall Cases in Michigan

What should I do immediately after a slip and fall accident?

Report the incident to the property owner or manager.
Take photos of the hazard and your injuries.
Collect names and contact information of witnesses.
Seek medical treatment, even if you feel “okay” at first.
Contact a slip and fall attorney as soon as possible.

Is an “open and obvious” hazard still a defense in Michigan?

Not the way it used to be. After the Michigan Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Kandil-Elsayed v. F & E Oil, Inc., the open and obvious nature of a hazard no longer automatically eliminates the property owner’s duty. It is now considered as part of whether the owner used reasonable care and how fault is shared between the parties.

Who is liable for a slip and fall on someone else’s property?

Liability generally falls on the person or company that controlled the property and knew or should have known about the hazard. Depending on the facts, that can include a property owner, a landlord, a property management company, or a maintenance or snow-removal contractor. More than one party may share responsibility.

How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Michigan?

Michigan law generally gives injured individuals three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. If the claim involves a government entity, a much shorter notice deadline may apply, so it is important to act quickly.

What if the property owner blames me for the accident?

Michigan uses a comparative negligence rule. Even if you were partially at fault, you may still recover damages, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% responsible and awarded $100,000, you would receive $80,000. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover non-economic damages.

How much is a Michigan slip and fall case worth?

There is no single average. Value depends on the severity and permanence of the injury, the type of property and the insurance coverage involved, and the strength of the evidence that the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Our slip and fall settlement results show the range of recoveries we have obtained.

Talk to a Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyer Today

At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, we handle slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no legal fees unless and until we recover compensation for you.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident in Michigan, contact us today for a free consultation. Call 1-800-366-8653 or fill out our online form to get started.

Slip & Fall Accident