Slipping and falling may result in fractured bones, brain trauma, and other types of injuries. Being injured could cause you to miss time from work, saddle you with medical bills, and harm your overall quality of life.
A property owner or other party may be responsible for paying for your losses, and a Lakeland personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will wage your legal fight for awards. You can talk with our team to learn whether your injuries or a loved one’s wrongful death make you eligible for compensation.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today to find out how we go the extra mile for victims of slip and fall accidents.
Understanding the Duty of Property Owners
When you own a property, you have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe for visitors. Whether the property is a business, government-owned land, residence, or other class of premises, safety is a required feature.
A property owner likely owed you or your loved one a duty of care. The Legal Information Institute (LII) explains that a duty of care requires someone to act reasonably, and for property owners, this means protecting visitors from slipping hazards.
The person responsible for your slip, fall, and resulting injuries may have failed in one of the following ways.
Failing to Monitor Their Property
A property owner could be negligent if they fail to actively manage their property. Failing to monitor a property may be the fundamental reason why a slipping hazard was able to present itself and cause your injury. A property owner may be negligent if:
- They do not personally monitor their property for safety hazards
- They do not hire a property manager to identify safety hazards
Being attentive to a property is the first step in preventing slipping hazards. While a property owner does not necessarily need to monitor their property firsthand, they must at least hire trained employees who can do so in their place.
Failing to Train Employees
A property owner must train employees in safety-related aspects of property management. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that employers maintain a safe workplace for their employees, but those employees may also need to know how to keep customers (or other classes of property visitors) safe.
Among other safety-related responsibilities, property owners may need to train their employees to:
- Make regular trips around the property
- Look specifically for slipping hazards
- Isolate slipping hazards
- Clean slipping hazards
- Alert customers to freshly-cleaned flooring that may be slippery
Whether the property in question is a commercial business, residential property, or another type of property where employees are present, an owner must have systems in place to prevent slips and falls.
It is not always immediately clear how someone may have caused your slip and fall accident. A Lakeland slip and fall accident lawyer may review your accident and explain who could be responsible for your injuries and losses. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to find out how we provide each client with responsive legal care.
Injuries Can Be a Financial Burden
Financial losses are not the only type of loss, but they may be a significant class of damages. Injuries may be at the core of your financial losses after a slip and fall accident.
Being injured may result in various medical expenses. Some of the medical costs that you or your loved one may be faced with are:
- The cost of doctors appointments and various tests to diagnose your injuries
- The cost of treatment for your injuries, which could include surgery
- The cost of emergency care
You may have to participate in and pay for numerous appointments throughout the course of your recovery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that fatal falls cost $754 million each year, while non-fatal falls cost an additional $50 billion in medical costs.
One or more at-fault parties may ultimately cover your medical costs. They may also have to cover the other losses that you have suffered because of your slip and fall accident.
Falls Can Cause a Domino Effect of Losses
Being injured can lead to many other types of harm, creating a domino effect of losses that could entitle you to significant compensation. Aside from the medical costs stemming from your injuries, you may:
- Be permanently disabled
- Have long-term injury symptoms
- Experience mental anguish
- Be unable to earn a living due to your injuries
- Have diminished earning power even once you resume working
Some slip and fall injuries become fatal. If you have lost a loved one because of their fall-related injuries, then we can seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. You and other surviving loved ones may be entitled to financial coverage for:
- Your loved one’s medical expenses
- Your loved one’s lost future income
- The loss of your loved one’s comfort and companionship
- Your family’s pain and suffering
- Your loved one’s funeral
We can handle a wrongful death claim with the sensitivity that it warrants. Your family may want to avoid reminders of your loved one’s passing, and so your lawyer will handle as much of the legal process as they possibly can.
Your lawyer will seek a settlement. Negotiating a settlement allows you to avoid having to wait for a trial to be completed and may still result in fair compensation for you.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today
Whether you are dealing with a wrongful death or recovering from an injury, a Lakeland slip and fall accident lawyer may be of significant assistance. You can worry about getting better while your lawyer takes care of the rest.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today to complete your free consultation with our team. Do not wait to call, as statutes of limitation generally apply to both wrongful death and personal injury claims in Florida.
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