Most people tend to think that slip and fall accidents are not serious cases, but they can become very complex. If you sustained a personal injury by slipping and falling on someone else’s property in the State of Florida, then you could be entitled to compensation under premises liability law.
There are many different types of slip and fall cases, and it is crucial that you develop an understanding of them so that you know what type of compensation you might be eligible to receive. To accomplish this, you will need the assistance of a slip and fall injury lawyer.
At The Law Place, we have helped hundreds of clients who have been injured in slip and fall accidents throughout the State of Florida. We have the necessary experience and knowledge when it comes to handling slip and fall cases, and we will make sure that the at-fault party is held liable for your accident.
Our law firm will explore all of your available options to ensure that you receive full compensation for your injuries, losses, and other damages that you might have incurred. Our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys will determine the value of your claim and investigate the location where the slip and fall took place.
Call The Law Place today to set up a free case evaluation, in which a personal injury lawyer will discuss the details of your unique case and offer you a free piece of advice on how to best approach the situation.
Contact us now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your slip and fall accident together in the State of Florida.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Florida
Personal injury law uses the term ‘slip and fall’ when someone slips or falls on another person’s property and sustains an injury. Most slip and fall accidents will come under premises liability law, which means that the property owners can be held liable for injuries and other losses.
There are many conditions, both indoors and outdoors, that can cause slip and fall accidents in the State of Florida. Some of the main causes happen to be:
- Water – This includes wet surfaces caused by spilled liquid, oil leaks, and freshly mopped or waxed floors without a visible warning sign.
- Inadequate lighting – This includes poorly lit areas, such as staircases, which make it difficult to see changes in floor height or other hazards.
- Uneven surfaces – This includes sidewalks with potholes, cracks, and other uneven grounds.
- Store items – This includes stores that have stacked items at dangerous heights.
- Walkway obstacles – This includes obstacles on walkways that should have been removed within an appropriate time.
- Unmarked hazards – This includes any hazardous situation that should have been marked with a warning sign.
- Weather conditions – This includes slippery floors or sidewalks due to snow, ice, or rain.
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Proving a Slip and Fall Claim in Florida
Every slip and fall case is different from the next. In most cases, it will come down to whether the property owner was negligent of the hazard that caused you to slip and fall or whether you were behaving in a careless manner. If you wish to be successful in your slip and fall claim, then you have to prove that the cause of your accident was the result of a dangerous condition. In addition, you will have to prove that the owner of the property was aware, or should have been aware, of the dangerous condition in question, and they neglected to correct it.
In simpler terms, the property owner must have known that an individual could get hurt by ignoring the dangerous conditions. Furthermore, you will also have to prove that you took the necessary measures and precautions to not fall on the property, regardless of the circumstances. You are responsible for being aware of your surroundings, and the property owners have to take reasonable measures to make sure that their property is hazard-free and considered safe in the State of Florida.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur in Florida?
It is possible to slip and fall anywhere at any given time in the State of Florida. However, there are common public places where slip and falls are known to occur, such as:
- In a grocery store.
- On a curb.
- In shopping malls.
- In public restrooms.
- In a construction area.
- On a stationary sidewalk.
- On an a escalator or moving sidewalk.
- In a nightclub.
- In slippery areas near a swimming pool.
- In a bar.
- In a restaurant.
The Law Place will be there to help you in your time of need, and we will explain the legal process to you step by step. Rest assured that our law firm will work hard to recover compensation for your injuries and other losses caused by the slip and fall accident. Reach out and call our office today to set up a free case evaluation.
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Negligence in a Slip and Fall Claim in Florida
Slip and fall cases can be complicated, especially when it comes to proving negligence for an accident. That is why you must hire a slip and fall lawyer to guide you through the legal system and determine who is at fault for your accident.
A slip and fall lawyer must be able to prove:
- Property owner liability – Every property owner has a duty of care in the State of Florida, which means that they have a responsibility to maintain their premises and make sure that it is safe. If they breach their duty of care by allowing a hazardous condition to remain on their property, then they can be held liable for an accident occurring on their premises.
- Causation and damages – Proof that the hazardous condition was the cause of your slip and fall, which resulted in a personal injury.
The Law Place will work hard to thoroughly investigate your case and establish who was at fault for your slip and fall accident. We will make sure that we recover the right amount of compensation to cover all of your costs from the negligent party.
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Common Slip and Fall Injuries in Florida
Slip and fall accidents can result in a variety of injuries, which ultimately depend on how the person fell and how they landed on the property. Here are some of the most common injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident:
- Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries – The second highest cause of spinal cord injuries is falling. A slip and fall accident can result in broken vertebrae in the neck or back, including the compression of the spinal cord. A back, neck, or spinal cord injury has the potential to cause permanent or temporary pain or even partial or complete paralysis.
- Head, skull, and brain injuries – Anyone can hit their head when they fall, which can cause a skull fracture or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A brain or head injury has the potential to affect a person’s physical and emotional state, cognitive skills, speech abilities, and movement. It is possible for treatment to last a lifetime, which may involve therapy and health care assistance.
- Broken bones and fractures – When a person falls, they instinctively try to protect themselves from serious injury, which means that shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, arms, or knees can suffer the impact of the fall. Broken bones and fractures can vary in severity, as some people might require a simple cast, while other people might need a serious treatment plan for their long-term pain, which includes surgery, rehabilitation therapy, and more.
- Soft tissue injuries – A fall can cause torn or stretched tendons, ligaments, and muscles. In most cases, a strain and a sprain might seem minor in the beginning, but it can lead to more serious injuries down the line if it is left untreated. Treatment might include medication, alongside icing and elevating the injured area in question. A serious soft tissue injury might require surgery or immediate physical therapy.
- Bruising and lacerations – You might think that cuts and bruises are minor injuries, but you should always go to the hospital and get them examined by a doctor. A laceration might require stitches and other precautions to stop you from getting a serious infection, whereas a bruise might be the sign of an internal injury that must not be ignored.
It is crucial that you seek medical attention at the hospital as soon as possible after any type of slip and fall accident. Going to the doctor will protect your health, and it will also allow you to document the extent of your injuries, treatment plan, and recovery process. In addition, obtaining a medical report from your doctor will be vital to the process of your personal injury claim.
Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations in the State of Florida
Every state in the U.S. has statutes of limitations that tell you the amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim after an accident.
In the State of Florida, the statute of limitations declares that you have up to four years from the time of the accident to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for all of your injuries and other damages. This also applies to property damage that might have occurred in a slip and fall accident.
In the event that a loved one died in a slip and fall accident, then the surviving family can decide to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party in question. However, the statute of limitations declares that you have to file a claim within two years of the loved one passing away.
The statutes apply to any personal injury claim against the owner of private property or commercial property in the State of Florida. However, the rules will apply differently in the event that you slipped and fell on a property owned by the government.
Potential Damages You Can Collect Following a Slip and Fall in Florida
The State of Florida follows the rules of comparative negligence for a slip and fall accident. Comparative negligence means that the amount of compensation you receive will be reduced by the amount that you are determined to be at fault for the accident. For example, if you receive $10,000 in compensation for a slip and fall accident, and you were found to be 20 percent at fault, then your payout will be reduced by 20 percent, and you will only receive $8,000 in compensation.
The potential damages that you could recover in a slip and fall accident include:
- Medical bills – This includes hospital, surgery, rehabilitation, prescribed medication, transportation, and more.
- Lost wages – This includes the loss of past, present, and future earnings or any changes to your usual earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering – This includes any reduction in your enjoyment or quality of life caused by emotional trauma, mental anguish, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), anxiety, depression, and more following the accident.
What to Do Following Your Slip and Fall in Florida
If you were involved in a slip and fall accident that caused trauma to your head, cuts, bruises, scrapes, broken bones, or fractures, then it can result in hefty medical bills. In addition, injuries might prevent you from returning to work and earning your usual income for an extended period.
It is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible following a slip and fall accident – even if you think that you have not been badly hurt. In most cases, the adrenaline caused by an accident will mask any injuries, which is why you must immediately get a check-up at the hospital to fully understand the extent of your damages.
It is worth taking photographs of the accident scene, the hazardous condition that caused your fall, and any injures while you are still on the property. If there were any eyewitnesses to your slip and fall, then you should get their names and phone numbers as they might be able to provide a statement to support your claim for compensation. It would also be valuable if you document your accident by writing down your experiences in a journal.
Pursuing a personal injury claim might seem intimidating at first, but the good news is that you will have a slip and fall lawyer on your side to handle all the logistics of your case. A slip and fall lawyer will investigate your accident and gather evidence on your behalf to prove that the property owner was negligent and that they are the one who is responsible for your slip and fall.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident, then you must seek legal counsel from a reputable law firm that has the necessary knowledge of slip and fall accidents in the State of Florida.
At The Law Place, we have gathered over seventy-five years of experience when it comes to defending the legal rights of citizens across the State of Florida. Our law firm fights to achieve justice in each and every slip and fall accident case, and we want to be the ones to help you during this difficult time.
Our team of slip and fall lawyers will handle all of the aspects of your slip and fall case, such as investigating, collecting evidence, speaking to eyewitnesses, negotiating with insurance companies, and more – while you take the time that you need to recover from your slip and fall injuries.
The Law Place has an in-depth understanding of the many different types of slip and fall cases. We will determine the extent of your damages and estimate the amount of compensation that you are owed. Call our office today to speak to a slip and fall lawyer, who will discuss the facts of your case and offer you some free advice to help you in your current situation.
Contact us now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your slip and fall accident together in the State of Florida. Phone lines are open 24/7.
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