
If you or a loved one have suffered a slip and fall accident, you might be entitled to receive compensation from the property owner or an insurance company. If you have experienced a slip and fall injury, the likelihood is that you are facing a great number of medical bills. Therefore, you may be wondering how long it will take your slip and fall case to reach a settlement so that you can have the compensation that you deserve.
Slip and fall cases differ greatly in the length of time it takes to settle them. Unfortunately, because it is often difficult to prove negligence, a slip and fall case may take a long amount of time to settle. In Florida, what is meant by negligence is outlined in Florida Statute 768.81. With the help of a personal injury lawyer at The Law Place, you will be giving yourself the best chance of getting the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to.
If you contact us today, you will be able to schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys. An attorney will be able to examine your slip and fall case to estimate what sort of settlement you could expect to receive from your injury case. An attorney-client relationship at our law firm is one of commitment and loyalty. We promise that we will fight as hard as we can to ensure that you win the justice that you deserve. Our Florida offices are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us now at (941) 444-4444.
Why Does a Slip and Fall Case Take So Long to Settle?
This is one of the many frequently asked questions that we receive at The Law Place. As we have already mentioned, slip and fall cases typically take quite a long time to settle. They could take months or even years to reach settlements. A slip and fall case can usually, with the help of a personal injury lawyer, be resolved without going to trial. An insurance company and property owner will typically prefer to reach a settlement outside of court to avoid paying the expenses that the court may involve. However, a lawyer will not hesitate to go to trial with a slip and fall case if negotiations are failing to produce a satisfactory settlement.
Slip and fall cases can take such a long time to settle in Florida because of the typical timeline for a slip and fall lawsuit, which will include the following stages:
- Seeking the necessary medical treatment, attention, and care.
- File a complaint and summons.
- Wait to get an answer from the defendant of your slip and fall case. This is usually the property owner.
- Send the demand letter.
- Pre-trial discovery phase.
- Pre-trial discovery motions.
- Mediation and settlement.
- Go to trial.
- Receive a judgment.
It is clear from this process why a slip and fall lawsuit can take such a long amount to come to a settlement. If you think you may have a case or have any more queries concerning what is involved when a case goes to trial, call us today and schedule a free consultation. An attorney may be able to give you all the legal help and information you may need. You don’t have to be afraid of trial.
What’s the Average Payout for a Slip and Fall?
No slip and fall accident is the same as another. Therefore, there is no such thing as an “average” payout that victims of slip and fall accidents receive in settlements. The amount of compensation victims may be able to get in a settlement for their injuries will depend on several factors. Some of these factors include:
- Who the negligent parties are; this will usually be the property owner in a slip and fall accident.
- How much the injuries have impacted your life.
- The severity of the injuries that you sustained in your case.
There are many factors that can determine how much victims are entitled to in a compensation settlement. At The Law Place, our attorneys will fight for your justice. We will ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible for your cases. You don’t have to suffer through this alone. We will be able to guide you through the whole process, giving you all the legal help and information that you will need to navigate Florida’s complex laws.
Do Most Slip and Fall Cases Settle Outside of Court?
You may be relieved to hear that, in Florida, most premises liability claims and personal injury claims are settled outside of court and avoid going to trial. In fact, you may be surprised to know that only 2% of slip and fall cases end up going to trial in court. There are several reasons why these cases don’t tend to go to court. The main reason is that with so many of these cases occurring, Florida’s court system would simply be unable to manage them all.
Additionally, the threat that you may take your case to trial will usually be the catalyst in persuading the property owner or insurers to agree to the settlement that you deserve. Our attorneys have a vast amount of experience helping people with cases similar to yours. You don’t have to fear a lawsuit or court. If an attorney believes it necessary to resolve your case in court, they will build you a strong lawsuit and guide you through the whole process. However, you may also wish to avoid the hassle of a lawsuit and accept a lesser settlement. The decision is all yours, and our attorneys will support whatever you decide.
How Do You Win a Slip and Fall Settlement?
A claim made for a slip and fall accident is not usually the easiest to win. It can take months, even years, to resolve your claim. This is why we strongly recommend that you get legal guidance from a reputable lawyer. By seeking the legal representation of a lawyer, you will be giving yourself the greatest chance of winning your case. To win a case, a lawyer will usually need evidence to prove the following:
- That the slip and fall accident is directly related to the injuries that you are making a claim for.
- That the property owner was at fault for your accident – a lawyer will have to prove negligence in your case.
- That the financial losses you are making a claim for are directly related to your slip and fall case.
How Much Time Do I Have to File an Injury Claim?
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident, you may be wondering how long you have to file a claim for compensation. We strongly recommend that you begin the process of receiving justice for your accident as soon as you are well enough to do so. The statutes of limitations in Florida are highlighted in Florida Statute 713.23(3) and state that victims have four years to file for compensation if they have suffered injuries in an accident. You may think that four years is a lot of time and put off claiming for months. However, this isn’t the case.
If you have tragically lost a loved one, unfortunately, you have even less time to receive justice for your case. The statutes of limitations state that the relatives of loved ones who have passed away only have two years to file for wrongful death after the accident occurred.
The sooner that you get the help of an attorney and begin the process of receiving justice for your slip and fall case, the greater the chance that you will receive the maximum amount of damages that you are entitled to. The evidence used in your case will be more credible the sooner you begin seeking justice for your case. This will also be beneficial if you wish to avoid taking your case to trial.
Contact The Law Place Today!
If you or a loved one has been the innocent victim of a slip and fall, let us help you win the justice that you deserve.
You may have lost wages, your ability to work, and/ or your enjoyment for life. You shouldn’t have to go through this suffering alone. Contact us today to organize a free consultation. In this meeting, a lawyer will be able to examine your case to determine who the defendant is and what kind of damages you could be eligible to receive. A lawyer will also be able to answer any questions that you may have, as well as give you all the legal information that you may need.
Our Florida offices are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have suffered a slip and fall, don’t waste another second Contact us now to organize a free consultation with a reputable personal injury lawyer at (941) 444-4444.