Slip and fall injuries are often more serious than many people believe. Broken bones, torn ligaments, or even a traumatic brain injury can occur after a fall, leaving victims with major injuries that require hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation.
If you fell after a property owner or manager ignored or overlooked a hazard, you may be eligible for compensation to pay your medical costs, cover your lost wages, and more.
The attorneys at the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine can help you recover damages for slip and fall injuries. Call us today at 800-747-3733 to schedule a complimentary case evaluation with a slip and fall lawyer in Port St. Lucie.
What role does negligence play in a slip and fall claim?
Any slip and fall claim hinges on proving negligence. To recover the compensation you need, we must collect the proper evidence to demonstrate that the property owner or occupier acted in a negligent manner and this caused your injuries. Proving negligence requires us to show a few factors.
The property owner or occupier had a responsibility to protect you.
This is often the easiest aspect to prove in a slip and fall claim. We need to show that you were not trespassing and were on the property as an invited guest, a customer, or someone else who had reason and approval to be there.
They failed to keep you safe.
We will talk to witnesses, secure any video of your fall, and collect other evidence to prove the property owner or occupier knew there was a fall hazard and took no action to prevent your accident. In some cases, we must use surveillance video or other documentation to show how long a hazard existed or otherwise prove the owner should have known about the issue.
Their action or inaction caused your injuries.
Your medical records are the primary proof of your injuries, which is one reason it is paramount you receive a prompt medical evaluation on the scene and go directly to the hospital after a fall. This is the best way to link your injuries to your accident. Eyewitness accounts and expert testimony may also play a role here, depending on the specifics of your case.
You suffered physical, emotional, and financial damages.
We use your medical bills, receipts, documentation from your employer, and testimony from expert witnesses to evaluate and prove your losses and expenses. By presenting evidence to show the full range of your damages, we can build a strong case for awarding you the maximum compensation available for your claim.
For a free legal consultation with a slip and fall accidents lawyer serving Port St. Lucie, 800-747-3733
How can someone else’s negligence cause a slip and fall?
There are a number of ways someone else’s negligence can cause a slip and fall accident and injuries. Many slip and fall claims name the property owner or occupier as the liable party. This is true even when an employee causes the hazard, because of vicarious liability laws that hold the business responsible for the actions of its employees.
Some of the most common ways falls occur include:
- Spills of food, drinks, or other liquids on the floor;
- Tracked liquids or other slick substances;
- Leaks that cause water or other liquids to puddle;
- Cracks or holes in sidewalks or pavement;
- Broken tiles, torn carpet, and other trip hazards;
- Uneven surfaces;
- Unexpected steps or curbs without adequate warnings;
- Items like extension cords in the walkway;
- Missing, broken, or weak handrails; and
- Broken lights or poorly lit areas.
Almost any reason you might fall could point back to poor maintenance or an unaddressed hazard. We are familiar with how negligence leads to each of these types of incidents and can help you identify the liable party in your case. Once we evaluate the details of your accident and determine how the property owner acted negligently, we can file your claim with their homeowner’s or business insurance provider. This begins the process of getting you the compensation you deserve.
Port St. LucieSlip and Fall Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-747-3733
How do premises liability laws affect my claim?
Florida premises liability laws play a central role in any slip and fall case. Any owner or occupier of a business or home must provide a reasonably safe environment for guests. They must ensure walkways are free of hazards and provide warnings of dangerous conditions they cannot address immediately.
Where we often see this law come into play is when owners or occupiers claim they were not aware of a spill or other hazard. This law sets a standard known as the reasonable person standard. This standard considers when a reasonable person would have known about the problem and taken action to protect guests. If a reasonable person would not yet know about a leak when you slipped in the water, then it will be much harder for us to recover compensation for you. However, we usually find that owners and occupiers ignore hazards much longer than a reasonable person would. By providing proof of this through surveillance video and eyewitness testimony, we can show you fell because of their negligence.
It is also important to note that these laws only protect you if you were not trespassing. If you were shopping, eating in a restaurant, or visiting a friend’s house, the property owner has an obligation to protect you. However, if you sneak into a neighborhood pool after hours, slip on the wet floor and hit your head, it is unlikely that you will be able to file for compensation. Property owners cannot deliberately cause harm to trespassers, but they have no obligation to protect them from fall hazards, either.
Do I need to call a slip and fall attorney about my injuries?
If you suffered injuries after a fall in Port St. Lucie, contact the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine as soon as possible. There is no reason to try to handle this on your own. Insurance companies often try to lowball this type of claim and may not take your injuries and other damages seriously. When you have a skilled attorney on your side, they cannot afford to ignore you.
We have experience with a wide variety of slip and fall claims and know what it takes to win these cases. We can collect the evidence necessary to prove your case while you work toward your physical recovery. We can even bring in specialists and experts to help us prove your claim and maximize your financial compensation.
Call us today at 800-747-3733 to talk to an attorney about your case. We offer complimentary case analysis and handle these claims on a contingency basis.
