A slip and fall accident can occur anytime if a negligent property owner does not maintain their premises. Slip and fall accidents often result in serious injuries, leaving victims potentially unable to work for a period of time, needing prolonged medical treatment and care, or in the worst cases, they might even lead to life-long disabilities or death.
Since victims are often left unable to work and receive income and must also deal with mounting medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses, their only choice to receive financial support is to pursue a personal injury claim against the liable parties.
Property owners are usually the responsible party in most slip-and-fall cases but a common defense tactic used against victims is Florida’s comparative negligence laws. These laws can reduce the compensation for slip and fall victims as they might be used to appoint a percentage of fault to the victim, which directly affects their overall compensation amount.
To combat these common defensive tactics and ensure that all liable parties are held responsible for their negligence, victims should consult a slip and fall attorney to ensure that their personal injury case receives the attention it deserves and increase the chance of a fair settlement.
1-800-Injured is a lawyer and medical referral service that can help slip-and-fall victims pursue justice by connecting them with experienced Miramar Beach slip-and-fall lawyers. A slip-and-fall injury lawyer can help you understand the claims process and your legal options, and assist and guide you in your pursuit of justice. Here is what you should know about slip and fall accidents.
Types of Injuries in Slip and Falls
Slip and fall injuries that occur on someone else’s property can lead to various types of injuries and long-term disabilities. Among the most common types of slip and fall injuries are:
Head Injuries
When slip and fall accidents happen, the injuries sustained can be life-threatening, especially if the victim suffers head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common in slip and fall cases, as they occur when a person suffers a powerful blow to the head. TBIs can affect cognitive functions, lead to comas, and generally cause various complications that last for a long time, depending on the severity of the injury and the victim’s overall health.
Soft Tissue Injuries
A slip-and-fall injury can lead to soft tissue damage in the right circumstances. These types of injuries can go unnoticed for some time, so victims should seek medical attention right after their fall injury.
Cuts and Bruises
A fall injury on private or public property can be worsened if sharp objects are on the ground. In such instances, victims will suffer cuts and abrasions that can range in severity, potentially leading to the need for surgery. Cuts and bruises are common in a slip and fall case if the person falls on a rough surface.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Many slip-and-fall accidents result in back injuries. Spinal cord injuries are also common and can be devastating as they can potentially leave a victim paralyzed. Since back injuries often heal slowly, victims may experience pain for extended periods of time, affecting their quality of life.
Bone Fractures
Broken bones can occur in slip-and-fall accidents, especially if the victim is elderly. Fractured bones can lead to severe pain, difficulty moving, and inability to work for extended periods.
Liability and Negligence in Slip and Fall Accident Cases
In Florida, property owners owe a duty of care to their visitors or customers. A property owner has a legal duty to ensure that their premises are safe. If they know that a dangerous condition is present on their property, they must attend to it as soon as possible or at least place warning signs to alert the general public.
If a property owner fails to provide reasonable care in warning guests about potentially hazardous conditions on their premises, they have breached their duty of care, which makes them liable if someone suffers injuries.
Slip and fall victims must prove negligence to ascertain a property owner’s negligence and file a premises liability claim.
Proving Negligence and Establishing Causation
To secure financial compensation in a slip and fall case, a victim must prove that the accident happened on a property where they were legally allowed to be and that the property owner failed in their duty of care to keep their property free of hazardous conditions or place warning signs to highlight dangerous conditions, or that they should have known about them but failed to act in a timely manner.
In any personal injury claim, proving that the negligent party had a duty of care to you, breached that duty, and you suffered injuries because of that breach is critical for validating liability and recovering compensation, such as lost income or lost wages, medical costs, and other damages.
The injured party must establish that the incident was foreseeable and that it wouldn’t have occurred if the property owner had not breached their duty of care and showcase a direct link between the conditions present and the injuries sustained. This is where a slip-and-fall accident lawyer can help you.
A slip-and-fall lawyer will focus on the evidence available in your case and highlight the damages you have suffered and help you recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Contact 1-800-Injured to get connected to a law firm experienced in slip and fall cases.
Compensation in Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall accident cases can result in economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and other quantifiable losses. Non-economic damages do not have a specific monetary value assigned to them, but they are often worth more than economic damages.
Non-economic damages refer to intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, etc. To seek compensation for all these damages or pursue punitive damages, victims can collaborate with a Miramar slip and fall accident lawyer who can aid them in seeking fair compensation.
Miramar personal injury lawyers specializing in premises liability cases know exactly what type of damages you are entitled to based on the specific circumstances surrounding your case. Contact 1-800-Injured to get connected with an experienced Miramar slip-and-fall lawyer.
Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident
Miramar slip and fall cases can result in permanent impairment or other severe injuries that require extensive and prolonged care. This is why slip-and-fall accident victims should use Florida’s laws to their advantage and expose someone else’s negligence when premises accidents could have been avoided.
A hazardous condition isn’t always easy to miss, and a property manager who fails to notice the hazardous condition should be held liable for their negligence. To pursue a successful Miramar slip and fall accident claim, everything that you do from the moment the accident occurs is crucial. Here are the steps you should take when you are involved in a Miramar slip-and-fall accident:
Seek Medical Attention
Seeking prompt medical attention after a slip and fall accident is crucial to ensure your well-being and establish a link between the accident and your injuries through the medical records that will be created.
Gather Evidence
Before leaving the accident scene, try to collect as much evidence as possible if you are able. This means taking pictures of your injuries, the hazardous conditions that led to your accident, and visible signs of negligence, such as wet floors, lack of warning signs, or uneven surfaces.
It’s essential to take note of the witnesses present who may have seen the event. Write down their contact information, as they will play a crucial role through their statements in your slip and fall accident case.
Preserve Evidence
If you have torn clothing or other evidence related to your Miramar slip and fall accident, keep it so you can use it in your claim. Everything that can highlight your slip and fall accident is crucial.
Consult Slip and Fall Attorneys
It is essential to consult a Miramar slip and fall accident attorney when pursuing your claim. The property owner or the insurance company might try to downplay your injuries and even use Florida’s comparative fault laws against you to reduce your compensation.
However, if you have a skilled slip-and-fall lawyer by your side, they can aid you in defending your claim and strengthen it. A slip-and-fall lawyer can help you gather evidence, prepare your claim properly, and even employ the use of other professionals, such as qualified medical experts, to support the damages you have incurred and seek compensation.
Contact 1-800-Injured to connect with various established and experienced Miramar slip and fall accident lawyers who can guide you. Contact our office now and connect with an attorney offering free consultations. Take note that many lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay anything unless they win your case.