Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common accident types in America today, along with motor vehicle accidents on our roads. While these injury cases may sound benign, they can result in life-changing injuries. This is especially true if the person that suffered from the slip or fall was a person of high-risk status, such as an elderly person or someone with a pre-existing health condition or disability.
The good news is, with the help of a personal injury lawyer, you can get the compensation you deserve for your slip and fall case. This may take the form of a settlement with an insurance company or may require litigating through a personal injury lawsuit. Either way, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, The Law Place in Florida is here to help. However, there is a time limit when seeking compensation in accident and injury cases. After this time has expired, compensation will be out of your reach.
For help holding the property owner accountable for your slip and fall accident, contact our law firm today. We can provide free legal advice and a free consultation on a case-by-case basis, as each slip and fall accident is different. Our lines are always open, and all calls are at no obligation.
The contact number for our Florida offices is (941) 444-4444!
What Is Meant by the Term Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations is a piece of legal terminology which, in injury law, describes the amount of time that can pass between an accident or injury and the raising of a claim or injury lawsuit.
This period will vary depending on your state. However, in all states, the period of time will begin from the date that the accident or injury occurred.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Accidents in Florida?
The slip and fall statute of limitations in Florida is covered in Florida Statute 95.11.
This slip and fall statute of limitations states that if you were injured in a slip or fall, you have four years from the exact date that the event occurred to raise your claim.
However, just because the law states that you have four years in which to make a claim, this does not mean you should take your time. There are several reasons why speed is key in personal injury cases, which we will discuss in the following sections.
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How Evidence Can Become Harder to Obtain Over Time in a Florida Personal Injury
Whether you are dealing directly with insurance companies or filing a lawsuit, the evidence is key to maximizing your compensatory amount for a personal injury case in Florida.
Unfortunately, the more time you leave between the time of your accident and raising a case, the more chance there is of this evidence becoming lost or otherwise unobtainable. Eyewitness accounts may be uncontactable, or the property owner may attempt to cover their tracks.
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The Uses for Hard Evidence in Florida Slip and Fall Cases
There are two primary uses for evidence in a Florida slip and fall case, both of which mean that you should strike quickly to maximize the amount of evidence available in your case.
Firstly, you will need evidence that the property owner violated their duty of care in some way and is therefore liable for your injuries. This evidence may take the form of CCTV, eyewitnesses, or other forms of claim substantiation.
Secondly, you will require evidence to prove the extent of the damages your Florida slip and fall case caused you. This will help you to maximize the payout for damages such as those related to property damage, medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Racing Rival Legal Teams
There is another extremely good reason why you should begin your Florida personal injury case as soon as possible, regardless of the slip and fall statute of limitations.
This reason is that your personal injury attorneys are likely not the only legal team working on the case. There may be a rival team of lawyers and claims adjusters working for the insurance company. It is in the best interest of insurance companies to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out, and they will employ any number of tricks to do this.
Furthermore, it is likely that the property owner who is liable for the damages you received will have their own legal team attempting to protect them. The more time you give them, the more likely they are to succeed in blocking your claim or creating a successful argument for your comparative negligence.
What Is Comparative Negligence in a Florida Slip and Fall Case?
Comparative negligence essentially means that the property owner was not the only one at fault for the injuries caused by your slip and fall accident. Sometimes, this is justified. Other times, it is a clever argument utilized by property owners and their lawyers to help them avoid the consequences of violating their duty of care.
In Florida, comparative negligence laws are used to determine your share of the blame if you have suffered a slip or fall. If you are partially to blame for your accident, your compensation will be reduced by a percentage, which will be proportional to your level of blame.
What Are Some Examples of Justifications for Comparative Negligence Claims in Florida?
There are a number of precedents considered when calculating comparative negligence. The following are the most common examples:
- The personal injury victim was on the premises where they suffered the accident without the property owner’s consent.
- The victim was distracted by an avoidable situation at the time of the slip or fall, such as looking at their mobile phone instead of where they were going.
- The person who was injured was wearing footwear that was inappropriate for the situation or environment.
- The property owner had made a clear and obvious attempt to make people aware of the hazard and prevent any slip or fall. Examples of this would include cordoning off an area or displaying appropriate signage.
If you believe your slip and fall is at risk of falling foul to comparative negligence laws, an attorney can help. A high-quality personal injury lawyer will be familiar with the various arguments involved in comparative negligence claims and will be able to argue the best case for negligence on the part of the property owner.
Help us to make your claim the most valuable it can be by calling today to tell us the circumstances of your slip and fall accident. Following a free consultation, we can work together to formulate the strongest argument possible to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Injuries Are Commonly the Result of Slip and Fall Cases?
The injuries inherent to slip and fall cases can vary widely. All this depends on the environment where the accident occurred, the height and speed of the fall, and many other variables.
As mentioned earlier, it also depends on the vulnerability and general frailty of the victim involved in the case. Many health conditions or age can increase the risk of a life-altering injury.
Injuries commonly seen by our Florida personal injury team include:
- Bruising, cuts, lacerations and abrasions.
- Broken or fractured bones, as well as sprained limbs.
- Muscle damage.
- Internal bleeding or organ damage.
- Head or brain injuries and the possible resulting cognitive complications these may entail.
- Impairments of movement or other disabilities.
- Scarring or other bodily disfigurement.
If you have suffered a slip or fall on a property in the last four years, you are entitled to raise a case for compensation for the damages you have received. These damages can take the form of reimbursement of your medical bills, compensation for the time you were forced to spend off work recovering, or considerations for your level of pain and suffering.
How Much Will It Cost You to Raise a Personal Injury Claim With The Law Place?
There are a whole host of financial reasons why someone may be put off making a compensatory claim. Medical bills, time spent off work, or fear of legal fees can combine with financial precarity to stop many people from even looking into what legal options are available to them.
Here at The Law Place, we believe that nobody should be left without recourse to justice in the case of an accident that was not their fault. This is why all our personal injury and accident cases operate on a no-win-no-fee basis. All fees will only be taken from your final compensatory settlement.
This also means that if for some reason, your case is not successful, the process won’t cost you anything. It couldn’t be less risky. All our work is monitored by the State Bar Association. This means there are no hidden costs, extra fees, or nasty surprises in store for you.
Contact The Law Place Today
Don’t let time run out on your slip and fall claim. You may have four whole years to make a claim, but to ensure the highest value of compensation, you need to act quickly.
The lawyers at The Law Place in Florida have a total 75 years of experience helping to maximize the compensation of their clients in accident and injury cases. If you need a helping hand, our team is just a phone call away. We have the experience, the skillset, and the compassion required to ensure you experience a bolstering and robust response to your personal injury damages.
What’s more, each phone call is completely free and at no obligation. Everything you tell us is covered by the attorney-client confidential disclosure agreement, so you don’t need to worry about slipping up and devaluing your claim. We will use the information you give us to establish the most solid case possible to maximize your payout from the insurance company.
To speak to a legal professional first-hand, receive free, impartial legal advice, or to begin the process of making your personal injury claim, call (941) 444-4444 as soon as possible! Phone lines are open 24/7.
