Accidents happen, and one of the most common types of accidents is a slip-and-fall. These accidents can cause serious injuries, unexpected medical bills, and lost wages.
Maintaining a clean and safe environment is the responsibility of every property owner or manager, especially if their property is open to the public. If you or a loved one is injured in a public slip-and-fall accident due to negligence, you deserve compensation for your damages.
Don’t try to handle your personal injury claim alone. Reach out to our team of skilled slip-and-fall attorneys at WHG for a free consultation. You can contact us online or call us at (800) 320-HELP.
Slip and Fall Accident
Slips and falls are among the leading causes of preventable injuries in America. While some slip-and-fall accidents don’t result in any serious injuries, other victims suffer from catastrophic injuries and other consequences.
Common Causes of Public Slip and Fall Accidents in Florida
Slip-and-fall accidents are common, and walking in public areas can expose you to many risks that can lead to a fall. Some of the most common causes of slip-and-fall accidents include:
- Wet floors: Spills, leaks, or recently mopped floors can create treacherous conditions, especially if warning signs aren’t used. Food courts, recently cleaned restrooms, and areas around pool decks are particularly risky.
- Uneven surfaces: Cracked pavement, potholes, uneven sidewalks, or poorly constructed walkways can easily cause trips and falls.
- Inadequate lighting: Dimly lit walkways, stairwells, parking garages, or outdoor paths at night can be a potential slip-and-fall hazard. Property owners have a responsibility to ensure adequate lighting in these areas.
- Loose objects: Debris left from construction work, overflowing trash cans, or merchandise that tumbles from shelves can all create tripping hazards. Property owners should maintain a clean and clutter-free environment to minimize these risks.
You can help reduce your risk of serious injuries by staying aware of these common slip-and-fall hazards. However, personal injury accidents may still occur even if you’re keeping an eye out. In these cases, seek legal representation right away.
Injuries Caused by Slips and Falls
Slip-and-fall accidents can range from seemingly minor to life-altering, depending on the force of the fall and the body part impacted. Here’s a breakdown of some common slip-and-fall injuries:
- Broken bones: Hips, wrists, ankles, and arms are especially vulnerable in falls and may suffer severe breaks.
- Sprains and strains: Torn ligaments or muscles can cause significant pain, swelling, and mobility limitations.
- Head injuries: Even minor bumps to the head can lead to concussions or more serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), potentially resulting in long-term cognitive difficulties.
- Back and spinal cord injuries: Falls can damage the back and spine, leading to chronic pain, nerve damage, or even paralysis.
If you are injured in a public slip-and-fall accident, you should seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor. Your accident may have caused injuries you haven’t noticed yet, and medical records will be a key piece of evidence if you decide to seek compensation later on.
Slip and Fall Accident Claim
Slip-and-fall accidents can have cascading effects, with physical injuries leading to financial strain and emotional suffering. Some potential personal injury damages you might recover compensation for include the following.
- Medical expenses: All medical costs associated with your injuries, including hospital bills, doctor’s appointments, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and any future medical needs.
- Lost wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, you deserve compensation for the wages you lose during your recovery period. Compensation can be sought for future lost income if you suffer a permanent disability.
- Pain and suffering: This includes not only the immediate pain but also any ongoing pain or limitations you face as a result of the fall.
- Emotional distress: Anxiety, fear of falling again, depression, and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are all potential consequences that warrant compensation.
- Property damage: If your personal belongings were damaged in the fall, such as a broken phone or eyeglasses, you can seek compensation for their repair or replacement.
- Loss of enjoyment: Serious injuries can significantly impact your ability to participate in activities you once enjoyed. This loss of enjoyment of life can be included in your compensation claim.
Recovering fair compensation requires evidence to prove the severity of your injuries, the impact on your life, and the property owner’s negligence. A personal injury lawyer experienced in slip-and-fall cases can help gather the right evidence and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Who is Liable in for Public Slip and Fall Accident?
The legal concept of premises liability defines how slip-and-fall accidents are handled in public spaces in Florida. This means, essentially, that property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment for visitors.
Florida law classifies visitors into three main categories:
- Invitees: Invitees are invited onto the property for the owner’s benefit, like customers in a store. Members of the public in places like parks or hospitals are also classified as invitees. Owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, meaning they must take reasonable steps to discover and fix hazards or warn visitors about them.
- Licensees: Licensees are guests on the property, like a visiting neighbor. Owners owe a lesser duty to licensees, mainly to refrain from creating hidden dangers.
- Trespassers: Those who have no permission to be on the property. Property owners don’t have the same duty of care towards trespassers. However, they can still be held liable if they intentionally cause harm or if the injured trespassers are children.
Proving Negligence in a Slip and Fall Accident on Publicly Accessible Property
Securing compensation for your slip-and-fall injuries hinges on proving negligence. You’ll need to prove the owner or manager:
- Knew or should have known about the hazard
- Failed to take reasonable steps to fix the hazard or warn visitors
- Your injury resulted from this negligence
- You suffered damages as a result of your injury
Negligence can be difficult to prove, so be sure to consult with an experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyer.
How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Reach a Fair Settlement
The last thing you want to do in the aftermath of a slip-and-fall injury is navigate a complicated legal system and defend your rights. However, that’s exactly what you must do to recover the compensation you deserve. That’s where your slip-and-fall accident attorney comes in.
A skilled personal injury lawyer with experience handling public slip-and-fall accident claims is an invaluable ally to victims. Your attorney can assist with your case by:
- Gathering evidence like photos, witness statements, incident reports, and expert testimony to build an airtight case
- Negotiating with insurance companies for fair compensation that truly reflects the impact of your injuries
- Using their knowledge of Florida’s personal injury laws to make sure your claim is successful
Suffering from an injury can be a challenging and stressful time, and property owners and their insurance companies may not be willing to help. An experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyer can minimize your stress and maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation.
Choose Excellence When You Hire Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia
In the aftermath of a slip-and-fall accident, victims may suffer from severe injuries that lead to pain, emotional suffering, and financial burdens. At Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, our team of experienced personal injury attorneys is ready to use their knowledge and skills to fight for your rights.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your legal options and get the support you need. Speak with our team by contacting us online or calling us at (800) 320-HELP.
Frequently Asked Questions
I slipped and fell in a public place and got hurt. Should I see a doctor?
It is crucial to seek medical attention right away after a public slip-and-fall accident, even if your injuries seem minor. A doctor can diagnose any potential injuries and document your condition, which will be vital evidence if you decide to pursue legal action.
Who is responsible if I slip and fall in a store?
Under Florida’s premises liability laws, the store owner or manager should be liable if they fail to maintain a safe environment. This could involve spills not being cleaned promptly, uneven flooring, or inadequate lighting.
If you were injured in a slip and fall at a rental property, such as your apartment, your landlord also has an obligation to prevent accidents, so they may be liable for your damages. Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney for an evaluation of your slip-and-fall accident.
Can I still receive compensation if I wasn’t looking where I was going?
Florida law operates under a comparative negligence system. This means that you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for your slip-and-fall injuries. Your damages will simply be reduced by an amount matching your assigned percentage of fault in the slip-and-fall accident.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit after a public slip-and-fall accident?
In Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is generally two years from the date of the accident. This means you have two years to file a slip-and-fall accident lawsuit against the responsible party. Make sure to consult with an accident injury lawyer soon after your slip-and-fall accident in a public place. They’ll explain your legal options and ensure you meet all deadlines.
