When a person slips or falls on another person’s property, then this is classed as a ‘slip and fall’ accident in the State of Florida. If you injured yourself on someone else’s business or property, then you could be entitled to file a claim to recover compensation under premises liability law.
Over one million people have to take trips to the emergency room every year due to slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall cases tend to involve a series of unique issues that require the assistance of a law firm with experience in handling personal injury claims. If you are looking for the best slip and fall accident lawyers in town, then you have come to the right place – The Law Place.
At The Law Place, we have represented hundreds of clients who have suffered injures due to slipping and falling on someone else’s business or property in the State of Florida. Our law firm will fight to recover compensation for all of your injuries, pain and suffering, loss of income, and medical bills. Our team of dedicated slip and fall lawyers will investigate the scene of the accident, gather evidence, and develop a case to prove the negligence of the property owner.
Some injures in slip and fall accidents can be minor, such as scrapes and bruises, while other serious injuries can affect the bones, spine, brain, or could even result in death. Our slip and fall lawyers will investigate your case and make sure that the guilty party is held responsible for your injuries in the State of Florida.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your slip and fall case together in the State of Florida. Phone lines are open 24/7 for your convenience.
Common Reasons for Slip and Fall Injuries in Florida
A slip and fall injury can be quite serious. If someone is responsible for ensuring the safety of the location by repairing or maintaining the property, then you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and other potential losses.
Here are some of the main conditions, indoors and outdoors, that contribute to causing slip and fall accidents:
- Uneven floors – An uneven ground can cause wavy or bumpy floors, which make it harder to navigate.
- Wet and slippery floors – Water is one of the most common causes of falls, which can come from improperly cleaned floors, leaky windows, or rainy walkways.
- Long wires and cords – Computer wires or appliance cords are hazards, and they must be tucked away properly.
- Cracked sidewalks – Sidewalks can get ruined by time, weather, or construction. There must be posted warning signs next to sidewalks that are in disrepair.
- Inadequate lighting – Businesses must ensure that their property is properly lit in order for everyone to see where they are stepping and avoid a potential accident.
- Drops-offs – An added extension or stairway might cause a drop-off that is deeper than usual, which can become a hazard for people to stumble and fall. There must be posted warning signs next to deeper drop-offs.
- Broken railings – A railing in disrepair can provide inadequate support for anyone that puts pressure on them. The property owners are responsible for maintaining the safety of all railings.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Florida
You must be aware of your legal rights after a slip and fall accident has occurred if you wish to pursue a personal injury claim later in the State of Florida. We understand that you could be inclined to get up quickly to avoid embarrassment following a slip and fall, but you must follow these steps to protect your legal rights:
- Request medical attention – If you sustained any type of injury, minor or major, then you must seek medical attention immediately. Call an ambulance or ask for help from someone else on the property nearby.
- Ask for the manager – If you slipped and fell on someone else’s business, then ask to speak to the manager, file an incident report, and make sure that you get a personal copy for your records.
- Eyewitnesses – If there were any eyewitnesses to your slip and fall, then get their contact information as they might be willing to provide a statement about the accident.
- Collect evidence – If you are in a capable position to do so, then use your mobile phone to take pictures of where the accident happened, your injuries, and anything else that is relevant.
There are certain locations such as hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, movie theatres, grocery stores, and office building complexes that all have a legal obligation to ensure that their premises are safe and clear of potential hazards.
Proving a Slip and Fall Claim in Florida
It can be difficult to prove a slip and fall accident, as each one is different from the next. The outcome of the case will ultimately depend on whether the property owner was negligent or whether you were behaving carelessly. If you wish to file a slip and fall claim with success, then you must prove that your accident was caused by a hazardous condition and that the property owner knew about the hazardous condition. The hazardous condition must have posed a serious risk to you, and it must be a condition that you could not have foreseen.
Furthermore, the property owner had to have known about the hazardous condition and failed to rectify it, or the property owner knew that the hazardous condition existed, and they had enough time to find and rectify it – but they did not. In simpler terms, the property owner must have been aware that someone could get hurt by ignoring the hazardous condition for them to be held liable for your injuries and other losses. In addition, you must be able to prove that you took the necessary steps to avoid slipping and falling under hazardous conditions.
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Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations in the State of Florida
You have up to four years from the date of the slip and fall accident to file a personal injury claim according to the statute of limitations in the State of Florida. The four-year time limit also applies to a personal injury claim for property damage after a slip and fall accident has occurred.
If a family member or partner died in a slip and fall accident, then you can file a wrongful death claim against the liable party according to Florida Statute 768.21. However, you only have up to two years from the person’s death to file a wrongful death claim.
The statute of limitations applies to any slip and fall claim against the owner of private or commercial property. However, the laws will apply differently if your slip and fall accident happened on property owned by the government in the State of Florida.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Liability for Slip and Fall Cases in Florida
A slip and fall lawyer from The Law Place will help you to prove negligence for your case in the State of Florida by determining:
- Property owner liability – A property owner has a duty of care to maintain the safety of their premises. The owner of the property will have breached their duty of care if they allow a potentially hazardous condition to exist on their premises.
- Causation and damages – The hazardous condition on the property was the cause of your slip and fall accident, which resulted in personal injuries.
Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases in Florida
The State of Florida works according to comparative laws according to Florida Statute 768.81. In other words, your compensation will be reduced by the amount that you are found to be at fault for the accident. For example, if you received up to $10,000 in compensation, and it is discovered that you are 20% at fault for your slip and fall, then your compensation will be reduced by that 20% – which means that you will only receive $8,000 in compensation.
You could be eligible to receive compensation for damages such as:
- Past, present, and future medical bills, including surgery, prescription medication, hospitalization, physical therapy, and more.
- Loss of wages and changes to your earnings.
- Pain and suffering, including depression, mental anguish, emotional trauma, and a reduction to your quality of life.
Common Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents in Florida
It might be easy to assume that slip and fall injuries are minor, but this is not true. If you suffer a head injury in a slip and fall accident, then you must seek medical attention quickly. It is possible for some injuries to linger and develop into more serious cases.
Here are some of the most common injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents:
- Broken bones.
- Back injuries.
- Neck and spinal cord injuries.
- Concussion.
- Contusion.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Florida
Every property owner has a responsibility to repair and maintain their premises for all entrants in the State of Florida. By maintaining the safety of their property, it will avoid any potential hazards.
In most slip and fall cases, the duty of care to find and rectify hazardous conditions is heavily contested. The property owner will argue that they were unaware of the hazard and that they could not have possibly found the hazard in time before you slipped and fell.
To win a slip and fall case, you must have qualified legal representation to defend your corner and fight for your rights in the State of Florida. Do not let a slip and fall accident cost more than it should. Reach out to a slip and fall lawyer from The Law Place today, and we will hold the negligent party accountable for your accident.
The Law Place has a team of slip and fall lawyers who are well-versed in building strong, persuasive arguments and winning compensation for injuries and other losses. We will make sure that all of your past, present, and future medical bills are covered, as well as any lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and loss of enjoyment in life.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property and suffered a personal injury, then you must seek legal counsel as soon as possible. A slip and fall case can become very complex, very fast – so you need to hire a slip and fall lawyer to explain the legal process and guide you through the legal system.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience in working on behalf of slip and fall accident victims to recover the compensation they deserve. Our team of slip and fall lawyers understands the intricacies of filing a personal injury claim, and we will make sure that all of your costs are covered.
Speak to a personal injury lawyer today to discuss the facts of your case and get the answers to all of your questions. Our phone lines are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your slip and fall case together in the State of Florida.