Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries and significantly impact your personal and professional life. If your accident occurred on someone else’s property, the property owner could owe you damages for some or all of your injury-related expenses.
The attorneys at the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine have years of experience helping slip and fall injury victims recover compensation. We are ready to take on your claim. Call us today at 800-747-3733 for a free case evaluation with a slip and fall injury lawyer in Boynton Beach.
When Can I Hold Someone Else Responsible for My Slip and Fall Accident?
Not all slip and fall accidents warrant a claim for compensation. Under the state’s premises liability laws, property owners must make a reasonable effort to keep their property safe and free from hazards. If we can show the defendant in your case failed to do this, we can hold them responsible for their negligence. There are, however, certain details we must investigate to determine if you have a valid claim for compensation.
Were You a Trespasser?
In order to recover damages in most cases, you must be a licensee, or social visitor, or an invitee, like a customer at a store. If you were trespassing on the property without permission, the property owner may not be liable for damages.
Was a Dangerous Hazard Present on the Property?
If the property had an unsafe condition, you may have a case against the property owner for compensation. This is especially true if the property owner knew about the defect but did not fix it. However, even if they did not know about the defect, but had a reasonable amount of time to discover it, they may still be liable.
Did the Hazard Cause Your Injury?
Merely falling down on someone else’s defective property is not enough. The hazard must have directly and proximately caused your injury.
In some cases, the victim may have tripped over their own clothing or shoelaces. However, Florida victims who are partially at fault for their own injuries may still recover some damages if the property owner was at least partially at fault.
How Will a Slip and Fall Lawyer Handle My Case?
In order to assist you with your slip and fall case, our attorneys will take the following steps.
Collect Evidence Relating to the Accident
The first and most important part of any personal injury case is collecting substantial, reliable evidence to prove that you suffered injuries in an accident and that the defendants in your case are responsible for what happened. The evidence we collect will be critical to proving your case. This evidence may include:
- Photographs of the property hazard that caused your injury, such as a broken shelf, uneven tiles, or ice or snow accumulation;
- Surveillance videos showing the property conditions or your accident;
- Accident reports from store managers and police officers;
- Medical records and bills detailing the severity of your injuries and the treatments you received;
- Contact information of any witnesses at the scene of the accident;
- Insurance policy information from all parties involved; and
- Employment records and pay stubs to indicate your lost wages.
Contact Witnesses
Our next step will be to contact any person with information relating to the accident. We will call witnesses who were at the scene to find out what they saw and get a fresh perspective on what happened. We may also contact store managers, maintenance personnel, and others who may have knowledge about the incident or the defective property.
Calculate the Full Value of Your Losses
We will establish what your slip and fall accident has cost you in terms of your medical treatment, lost wages from work, long-term health effects, and your pain and suffering. We will tally these damages together to estimate a fair value for your claim.
Negotiate With the Insurer
In many slip and fall cases, we file a claim with the property owner’s insurer for damages. Our attorneys will provide the insurer with evidence to aid in their investigation and we request a fair settlement amount on your behalf. However, if the insurer offers you a lowball settlement, we will prepare to file suit in court.
Prepare For Court
If we are unable to work out a deal with the insurer, we will most likely take your claim to court. We will put together the evidence we collected and prepare witnesses to take the stand. We will also contact experts to testify on your behalf regarding your injuries and the mechanics of the accident.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Slip and Fall Accident?
It is in your best interest to contact one of our highly trained attorneys to handle your slip and fall claim. Many people make the mistake of not contacting an attorney after their accident because they do not think they are eligible for compensation for their injuries. However, even seemingly minor injuries can end up causing severe pain and costing thousands of dollars for treatment and rehabilitation. Many of our clients have recovered significant damages for the following fall-related injuries:
- Spinal cord damage;
- Neck and back pain or injuries;
- Broken bones or dislocated joints;
- Sprains and strains;
- Lacerations or bruises;
- Soft tissue injuries; and
- Concussions or other head injuries.
By speaking to an attorney as soon as possible, we can evaluate your injuries and give you an idea of what you can expect if we move forward with your claim. Once we decide to proceed, we will do everything in our power to maximize the amount of compensation you receive.
Another common mistake people make is waiting too long to see an attorney. The statute of limitations in Florida gives victims four years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This does not mean you should delay speaking to our attorneys. The sooner we start discussing your case, the sooner we can start collecting evidence, consulting with experts, locating witnesses, and preparing for trial.
Contact the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine Today for Help With Your Claim.
At the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine, we hold property owners accountable for their negligence and fight for the rights of slip and fall victims in Boynton Beach and all over the state. If you suffered an injury in a fall, call us at 800-747-3733 today to talk to an experienced premises liability attorney—for free.
We Can Help.
