Neck injuries are a common side effect of falls. If a business or property owner’s failure to safely maintain their premises caused your slip and fall accident, you might be entitled to compensation. A Clearwater slip and fall neck injuries lawyer may be able to help you win awards for medical bills and other damages. To learn more, call 1-800-747-3733 to speak with the team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Sometimes, falls happen because another person failed to ensure the condition of their property was reasonably safe. When this happens, the owner of the business or property, or the entity in charge of the public space, may be legally liable for your damages.
Examples of negligent conditions may include cracked concrete, loose floorboards, ripped or torn carpeting, or potholes. A lack of handrails, adequate lighting, or snow and ice removal may also be examples of liability. Sometimes, slippery floors are to blame.
Florida has specific laws regarding falls caused by spills. Florida Statutes §768.0755 states that businesses are responsible for falls caused by a “transitory foreign substance” only if the condition occurred long enough that the business should have been aware of it, or the condition happened often enough that the business owner should have foreseen the potential danger. For example, a restaurant owner may be liable for your injuries if you slipped on water from a habitually leaky roof. The owner may not bear responsibility for a fall caused by a glass of water spilled five minutes previously by another customer.
The bottom line is, if another person’s wrongdoing caused your fall, they should assist with your accident-related expenses. A Clearwater slip and fall neck injuries lawyer may be able to help you with an insurance claim or lawsuit. You should not be financially impacted because of injuries that are not your doing. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733 to discuss your options.
The Health Impact of Falls
Falls can be dangerous, especially for the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-fourth of people aged 65 and older suffer a fall every year. This results in serious injuries, millions of emergency department visits, and over 800,000 hospitalizations annually.
One potentially severe consequence of falls is neck injuries. The neck consists of muscles, joints, nerves, ligaments, bones, and tendons. Injuries to any of these parts can result in harm, such as sprains, strains, breaks, disc injuries, and even spinal cord damage. Neck injuries may result in:
- Chronic pain
- Full or partial paralysis below the site of spinal cord injuries
- Limited ability to turn the head
- Headache
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness
- Loss of strength in the arms and hands
Whiplash is a common neck injury often associated with car accidents. However, any impact that causes your head to jerk back and forth can cause whiplash, including falls. In addition to some of the physical symptoms listed above, whiplash may also cause anxiety, memory issues, fatigue, sudden changes in mood, and difficulty concentrating, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Treating neck injuries may be expensive. According to the Injury Prevention Program, Florida Department of Health, the median cost of non-fatal, fall-related injuries in Florida in 2012 was more than $46,000. Depending on your specific injuries and their severity, you may require:
- Traction
- Physical therapy
- Medications including pain killers, muscle relaxers, and antidepressants
- Steroid injections
- Surgery
- X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and blood tests
Recovering Your Costs
You may be facing enormous medical expenses on top of being unable to work during your recovery. An attorney may be able to help relieve some of your financial concerns by seeking a settlement through an insurance claim or lawsuit, if necessary. You may be able to recover your medical costs and lost wages, as well as pursue awards to help with household expenses and compensate you for your mental anguish, emotional suffering, and physical pain.
Many business and property owners have liability insurance policies to pay for accidents, like slip and falls, that happen on their premises. A lawyer can help you with a claim and represent you during negotiations in an attempt to secure an advantageous settlement. If your lawyer cannot achieve compensation through insurance, they can commence a lawsuit on your behalf.
To sue for personal injury or wrongful death, you must file your case in court before the statute of limitations expires. You have four years from the time your injury occurred to pursue a personal injury case, according to Florida Statutes section 95.11. If your loved one suffered a neck injury that resulted in death, the statute allows two years from the time of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Civil claims based on negligence are subject to the state’s laws regarding comparative fault, outlined in Florida Statutes section 768.81. The statute states that plaintiffs seeking awards are not barred from doing so, even if the accident that caused their injuries was mostly their fault. A plaintiff’s percentage of contributory fault can be as high as 99 percent, but any awards they win are reduced according to that fault percentage.
You Do Not Have to Seek Justice Alone
You do not have to face those responsible for your accident alone. A Clearwater slip and fall neck injuries lawyer is familiar with the insurance claims process and personal injury law. They will fight for you, so you can turn your attention to what really matters, healing from your injuries. You worry about getting better. We take care of everything else.
We understand that you have rent or a mortgage to pay, medical bills, and other costs. Our team will work quickly to get you the compensation you need to get your life back on track. To get started, call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733. A member of our team is ready to discuss your case and help you learn more about your options.
We Can Help.
