A slip and fall accident can leave you with serious injuries, excessive medical bills, and the inability to work. If your slip and fall occurred due to a hazard that the property’s owner or management knew about and failed to correct, you may be able to pursue legal action against that person or business. To prove your case and obtain compensation for your injuries, you must first prove legal liability and negligence.
Do not go through this process alone. A slip and fall lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can help. Call the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine today: 800-747-3733.
What are some of the most common slip and fall accidents? Who is liable?
Some of the most common scenarios that lead to slip and fall accidents are:
- Uneven walking surfaces, such as a broken sidewalk
- Unmarked obstacles, such as a step, curb, or extension cord
- Wet, slippery surfaces, such as a spill or water leak
- Improperly maintained property, such as potholes in a parking lot
- Steps or stairs without handrails
Although these are some of the most common situations than can lead to slips and falls, almost any hazardous condition can cause an accident of this nature. Victims may suffer broken bones, dislocated joints, traumatic brain injury, or neck, back, or spinal cord injury.
Your liable party is whoever was in charge of maintaining the property. In most cases, this will be the property owner or manager.
For a free legal consultation with a slip and fall accidents lawyer serving Fort Lauderdale, 800-747-3733
When is the property owner liable?
Under the Florida premises liability law, property owners must maintain their property in a way that is reasonably safe and free of hazards or danger for those who visit. This means that, if the property owner or manager knows — or should have known — about a potentially unsafe situation, they must take quick action to correct it.
If the owner or manager is unable to correct the problem reasonably quickly, he must do something to bring it to the attention to any visitors who might injure themselves. For example, he could rope the area off or place prominent signage in such a way that you can avoid the danger. If he failed to meet these standards, and someone gets hurt as a result, he may be liable for those injuries.
It is important to note that the property owner is only liable if the injured party was an invitee (e.g., customer, contractor working on the property) or licensee (e.g., social guest, someone who came in to use the restroom).
Fort LauderdaleSlip and Fall Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-747-3733
When might a property owner not be liable?
A property owner has no duty of care to a trespasser. This means that if the property owner did not protect a trespasser from a known hazard, he will likely not be liable. This does not mean that a property owner can intentionally cause injury to a trespasser however.
The property owner might also not be liable if you caused your injury. If you were running, engaging in horseplay, or texting as you walked, the court could find that you were at least partially responsible for the incident. Likewise, if you ignored warning signs or you entered an area that was clearly denoted as off-limits, the property owner might be able to deflect liability.
How do I prove the property owner was negligent?
Once you have determined that the property owner is your liable party, you must establish he was negligent. The four elements of negligence that you and your attorney must demonstrate in a slip and fall accident are:
- Duty of care: The property owner had a duty to you to maintain the premises free of dangers or hazards that could cause harm.
- Breach of duty: The owner breached his duty of care and allowed a potentially hazardous condition to exist on the premises.
- Causation: That hazard or condition was the cause of your slip and fall and, subsequently, the cause of your injuries.
- Damages: You sustained measurable damages (e.g., medical bills, lost wages, etc.).
The biggest challenge in proving negligence in a slip and fall case is demonstrating that the property owner either knew or should have known about the condition.
The standard for whether the owner should have known, the reasonable person standard, looks at whether most owners (or managers, if applicable) would have known about the problem and taken steps to correct it.
What should I do if I was hurt in a slip and fall?
If you slip and fall in a public place, you should seek immediate medical attention. Injuries sustained in this way may not be obvious immediately. Alert the property owner or manager about the incident and request his name and contact information.
Talk to any witnesses that may have been present, make note of their names and contact information and ask if they have any photos or videos of the incident.
As soon as possible, contact a slip and fall lawyer in Fort Lauderdale to assist you in requesting compensation for your injuries. Because businesses and insurance companies believe that many slip and fall claims are false or exaggerated, they will often try to discourage you by refusing to negotiate a settlement. Having a lawyer to assist you can help demonstrate the sincerity of your claim.
Your attorney will also be better equipped to obtain to important evidence for your case, such as video surveillance footage, employee statements, maintenance records, or existing company safety policies.
A Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyer will also have access to expert witnesses who can evaluate the scene of your accident to determine if other factors — inadequate lighting, poor signage, etc. — may have contributed to the hazard.
How do I find a slip and fall lawyer in Fort Lauderdale?
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer can make a difference in the outcome of your case. A local lawyer that handles slip and fall cases can help explain your rights under the law and provide the guidance and support to help you through this difficult time.
In Fort Lauderdale, the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine offers complimentary consultations and case reviews. Contact us today to speak with one of our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident lawyers: 800-747-3733.
Broward County Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer
A slip and fall lawyer in Broward County, FL is here to help you after a slip and fall injury. You worry about getting better. We take care of everything else. Slips and falls are not always accidents. They often occur because the property owner or occupier acted negligently. We can review your case for free and help you understand your right to pursue compensation.
If you suffered injuries in a fall in a store, restaurant, public park, or on private property in Broward County, we want to discuss your accident and injuries with you today. Call us at 1-800-747-3733 for your complimentary consultation and let us go to work on your case. We do not get paid unless you do.
We Can Pursue Compensation in Your Broward County Slip and Fall Case
Florida property owners have an obligation to keep their property free from hazards and ensure the safety of guests and visitors. This applies to almost any property where someone else might visit, including:
- Private homes
- Other private properties
- Community spaces
- Public parks
- Stores
- Restaurants
- Other businesses
Our injury attorneys know how difficult it can be to build a successful slip and fall case, but we have also handled enough of these cases to know how to build a strong argument that proves negligence and liability. We can seek compensation on your behalf no matter what type of hazard caused your fall to occur. Common reasons for slips and falls include:
- Spills or tracked-in liquids
- Sand or water on ramps, stairs, or floors
- Poor lighting, especially on uneven floors or stairs
- Missing or broken handrails
- Trip hazards in the walkway
- Unmarked step ups and step downs
- Torn carpet or broken tiles
- Potholes in the parking lot
- Cracks in sidewalks or concrete floors
- Missing tiles
- Uneven or poorly maintained stairs
- Lack of traction strips when needed
Let us review your Broward County, FL, slip and fall case today. We can help you understand your rights and legal options after suffering injuries in this type of incident. A slip and fall lawyer in Broward County, FL will identify the liable party and build a solid case against them. Call us today at 1-800-747-3733.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Provides the Responsive Legal Care You Deserve
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our attorneys strive to always go the extra mile to ensure our clients get the support and guidance they need during the personal injury claims process. We will handle all aspects of your legal case, letting you focus on your physical healing.
We will always pursue the highest amount of compensation possible for you, based on the facts we uncover about your case. This means we must conduct a thorough investigation into your fall and the circumstances surrounding it. We need to prove:
- The cause of your fall
- Negligence and liability
- The severity of your injuries
- The total of your fall-related expenses and losses
To do this, we will identify, collect, and analyze all available evidence in your case. Evidence may include:
- A police report or reports filed by other first responders
- Eyewitness testimony
- Video of the fall, if available
- Photographs or other evidence showing the hazard
- Other evidence to prove negligence
- Testimony about your injuries, prognosis, and care needs from medical experts
- Documentation of your medical bills, receipts, and other proof of your losses
You can expect our attorneys to work tirelessly to try to recover compensation on your behalf. We will try to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company to avoid going to trial, but we will never back down from taking legal action if necessary to recover the payout you deserve. We have gone to trial for countless clients and have the litigation experience necessary to successfully argue slip and fall cases in court.
Recoverable Damages in a Broward County, FL Slip and Fall Claim or Lawsuit
Our team has extensive experience handling personal injury cases similar to yours. Because of this, we can often spot expenses and losses you may overlook when trying to calculate your damages. When we investigate your case, we will work to identify as many accident-related losses as possible to ensure we seek just compensation on your behalf.
Common damages in a slip and fall case include:
- Medical care and related expenses
- Ongoing and future care costs
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity;
- Property damage including broken glasses, phones, and more
- Other out-of-pocket accident-related expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Wrongful Death After a Broward County, FL Slip and Fall
While rare, slip and fall accidents can sometimes lead to severe and even fatal injuries. If your family member passed away as a result of the injuries they suffered in a Florida slip and fall, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through a wrongful death claim. Call 1-800-747-3733 for a complimentary consultation with a member of our team.
Talk to a Slip & Fall Lawyer in Broward County, FL About Your Case Today
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our team knows how difficult it can be to overcome the physical and financial stress of suffering a serious personal injury in a slip and fall incident. We can help you seek a payout to cover your medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related expenses. While compensation will not make your pain go away, it can help reduce your financial stress so you can focus on healing.
Reach out to one of our slip and fall lawyers in Broward County, FL as possible after your fall. Florida law gives us only a limited time to take legal action and hold the negligent property owner liable in court.
Call us today at 1-800-747-3733 for your no-cost, no-obligation case review and consultation.