Florida Attorneys For Slip-And-Fall Injuries
Most people have lost their footing and have fallen at one point or another. If you fell and were lucky, only your pride would have been injured and you would have been able to pick yourself up and continue on your way. Unfortunately, many victims of slip-and-fall accidents are not so lucky. The resulting injuries from an accidental fall can lead to weeks or months of physical therapy, rehabilitation, or surgeries in some cases.
If your injury occurred in a public place, private business, or on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation under Florida law. Florida’s premises liability laws require property owners and business owners to ensure their properties are safe, and to warn visitors of potential hazards. An owner who fails to meet this obligation may be liable for a victim’s resulting injuries.
Florida slip-and-fall lawyers help victims injured in a variety of slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents, seeking to hold negligent property owners accountable for victims’ losses. If you were injured because you slipped on a wet floor, tripped over an object, or lost your footing on uneven flooring or pavement, the slip-and-fall accident attorneys at Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.
What Florida Law SaysAbout Slip-And-Fall Accidents
To prevail on your slip-and-fall claim, you will need to be able to prove that the property owner or manager should be held liable. Ultimately, this will hinge on whether there is evidence that they were negligent somehow.
Your slip-and-fall injury attorneys will need to prove that the property owner knew, or should have known, about the hazardous condition that caused you to fall, that they were responsible for the dangerous condition, and that they failed to correct it or to reasonably warn visitors about the potential danger.
Actual Knowledge vs. Constructive Knowledge
The business owner does not need to have had actual knowledge of the hazard; constructive knowledge can be enough to establish negligence. Actual knowledge means that the owner was aware of the dangerous condition. For example, if a business owner saw an employee spill water on the floor but did not do anything about it and someone slipped in that puddle and was injured, the owner had actual knowledge. However, in slip-and-fall cases, it is enough for the business owner to have been on notice about a potentially hazardous condition. If the owner knew about a leaky roof, they may be deemed to have had constructive knowledge about a wet floor which led to an injury accident.
Code Violations May Lead To Accidents
A property owner may also be held liable for a victim’s injuries if the hazardous condition was caused by, or was exacerbated by, a code violation. For example, if a structure was erected too close to a power line or if indoor tile was used outside, these violations can be evidence of a property owner’s or manager’s negligence.
Failure To Take Reasonable PrecautionsLeads To Accidents
Ultimately, property owners have a responsibility to ensure the premises are safe. Yet, injuries occur every day because business owners or managers failed to take simple steps like installing supportive railings in stairwells or on walkways, warning people of uneven surfaces, or installing non-slip flooring.
Steps To Take If You Suffered ASlip-And-Fall Accident
If you were injured while at a business, in a public place, or at someone else’s home, taking the right steps can help preserve your rights. Report the accident as soon as possible to the property owner or manager and ask to file a formal report.
If you can do so safely, document the scene and your injuries right away. Photos and videos of the accident scene, witness statements, and witness contact information can be valuable evidence which can help your Florida slip-and-fall lawyers prevail in your legal claim.
It is also important to seek prompt medical attention, and to follow the provider’s orders for treatment and follow-up care. Keep all records of medical appointments, including documentation of related expenses. If your injuries kept you from working a regular schedule, be sure to document missed time at work. The responsible party may be required to compensate you for lost wages.
Common Slip-And-Fall Accident Locations
Slip-and-fall accidents can occur anywhere. However, our slip-and-fall accident lawyers tend to see more injury accidents at certain types of establishments than at others. Some of the most common locations for slips-and-falls include:
- Airports
- Grocery stores
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Parking lots
- Parking ramps/garages
- Stairways
- Shopping malls
- Private employers (workplaces)
What Compensation Can I ReceiveFor A Slip-And-Fall Claim?
The value of your slip-and-fall case will depend on several factors and on your specific circumstances, including the nature and extent of your injuries. In general, however, lawyers for slip-and-falls in Florida help their clients pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic injuries.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include easily quantifiable losses, including:
- Hospital visit
- Ambulance ride
- X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other imaging diagnostics
- Surgeries
- Medications
- Prosthetics and other medical devices
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are harder to quantify but are also available to slip-and-fall accident victims. This category includes funds designed to compensate victims for their pain and suffering related to the slip-and-fall incident.
Your Florida slip-and-fall lawyers will fight to help you obtain full and fair compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Choose Skilled RepresentationFor Your Slip-And-Fall Case
If you or someone you love was injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you need a skilled legal professional in your corner. When you work with Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys, you can be confident your claim is in capable hands. With more than 25 years of experience helping Florida accident victims obtain the compensation they are owed, we have knowledge and experience you can trust.
We are dedicated to providing peace-of-mind to our clients. Our FL attorneys for slip-and-falls are compassionate and are committed to helping injured victims obtain the restitution they deserve.
Contact our slip-and-fall injury legal experts today to learn more about how we can help you and to schedule your free initial consultation.