A slip-and-fall accident can turn an everyday errand into a catastrophe. You could find yourself with painful injuries, medical debt, and financial problems from missing work. If your accident occurred on someone else’s property, you could be entitled to financial compensation.
However, your case must prove the property owner’s negligence caused your injuries to win damages. This requires evidence collection, case building, and more. A slip-and-fall injury in Jacksonville, FL, a lawyer from The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you pursue damages for your accident-related expenses. Our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers can handle your case while you rest and recover.
Are You Eligible For Compensation Following A Fall?
Let’s look at the following hypothetical scenario to better understand your potential premises liability case: Imagine, for example, a snapped handrail leading up the main stairs to a health club.
The health club owner notices the damage on her way in for her morning shift but fails to rope off that part of the staircase or put up a sign warning of the danger.
As a health club patron, you come for your daily workout and attempt to use the handrail, but it gives way, and you fall down the stairs. If you can provide evidence that the owner’s negligence caused your accident, they might be liable for your injuries.
A Property Owner Is Also Liable If They Should Have Known About A Hazard
We can consider another example that illustrates how a property owner may be liable for slip-and-fall injuries. Suppose a grocery store owner neglects to fix a roof, and it causes a leak overnight that someone slips on when the store opens. Even if the property owner could not have had time to notice the puddle, he should have fixed his roof a long time before.
In this scenario, the property owner is liable for injuries that result from hazards they should have known about. When you call us for a free case evaluation, we can determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim. If you were hurt due to negligence, you could pursue compensation.
What Types of Damages Can You Seek Through A Slip-and-Fall Injury Case?
When you hire our firm, one of our slip-and-fall injury lawyers could tabulate the total damages you may be entitled to. These damages may include:
- Medical treatment costs
- Loss of income and benefits
- At-home or residential care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Assistive devices and accessibility modifications
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Sadly, some falls result in more than soft tissue damage and broken bones. Head injuries from falls can often turn fatal. If your loved one passes away due to someone else’s negligence, our law firm can represent you in a wrongful death case.
After losing a family member due to an accident, your compensable losses could include the following:
- Funeral and burial or cremation expenses
- Your loved one’s healthcare costs
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of parental guidance, household benefits, and income
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File Your Slip-And-Fall Case Within Florida’s Statute of Limitations
You only have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. Per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), you generally have two years to sue from the incident’s date. You have only two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Failure to file your lawsuit on time could mean:
- The other party is not held financially accountable.
- You have to pay for your losses out of pocket.
- The insurance company has little incentive to settle your claim.
Give your case a chance at succeeding by connecting with our firm today.
How Our Jacksonville Slip-And-Fall Injury Team Will Serve You
When you choose one of our slip-and-fall lawyers, we will handle every aspect of your case. While you relax and focus on your recovery, we will work to build the strongest case possible and work directly with the at-fault party’s insurer to negotiate a settlement.
If necessary, we will argue your case in court. Here are some ways we help our clients:
We Provide Regular Updates On Your Case
We seek the quickest possible resolution of your slip-and-fall case and promise to stay in communication with you throughout the process. We will answer your questions and provide consistent updates on our progress.
We Thoroughly Investigate The Accident
We will assess available evidence and investigate every facet of your accident. Through this process, we can assign fault and document the scope of your losses.
We Work To Prove And Assign Fault To The Negligent Party
Property owners who fail to identify or remedy a hazard might be at fault for any injuries. Our slip-and-fall attorneys in Duval County determine fault by establishing the following:
- Duty of care: The other party had an obligation to keep you from harm.
- Breach of duty: This party breached their duty of care and risked your safety through negligence.
- Causation: You suffered injuries because of the breach.
- Damages: You have economic and non-economic damages after getting injured.
We Document The Accident’s Cause And The Resulting Damages
Your attorney will bolster your case by acquiring crucial evidence from the accident, such as:
- Accident reports and scene photos
- Surveillance videos
- Witness statements
- Owner or facility safety records
We will also gather any relevant documentation regarding your injury-related expenses, including:
- Medical records
- Bills for doctor or therapy appointments
- Wage statements
Our Jacksonville personal injury team will gather all the necessary evidence and documentation on your behalf.
Commonly Asked Questions About Slip-And-Falls In Jacksonville
Before you begin your free case review, here are some questions we can address:
How Does The Cause Of Your Slip-And-Fall Affect Your Settlement?
Your role in the accident could take away from your final settlement or award. For instance, if you wore inadequate footwear and slipped at a store’s entrance, you could be partially to blame. Your percentage of fault would reduce the money you receive.
Our team can evaluate your circumstances to determine if your fault percentage was assigned correctly. From there, we can estimate the total loss value you may be entitled to.
What Hazards Can Result In Slip-And-Fall Injuries?
Our case must establish who caused your accident and the hazardous conditions that led to it. Here are some common slip-and-fall accident causes:
- Wet floors: Even if the property owner did not personally spill something onto the floor, there is still a duty to regularly monitor the premises and address any spills in a reasonable amount of time.
- Unmarked obstacles: Property owners must mark hazards like curbs, wires, and other obstacles that a reasonable person would not expect. Failure to do so could make the negligent party liable for a fall.
- Poorly maintained property: Property owners must keep their properties reasonably maintained. This includes addressing outdoor issues such as potholes, crumbling asphalt or concrete, and downed trees that can become slip or trip hazards.
- Stairs without handrails: Failing to install handrails may constitute negligence, as it ignores a common and expected safety mechanism to prevent falls. A property owner that doesn’t install or repair handrails may be liable for a fall.
Talk to our slip-and-fall lawyers in Jacksonville if you fell on someone else’s property due to dangerous conditions the owner failed to address. We will examine the details of your case, identify its cause and contributing factors, and determine how to proceed.
When Is A Property Owner Not Liable For A Slip-And-Fall Accident?
Not everyone who slips and falls on someone else’s property can recover compensation. Defendants in slip-and-fall cases often attempt to claim the victim was not on the property legally, thus creating a legal argument regarding the victim’s “status” at the time of the accident.
Property owners owe a duty of care to guests like customers, employees, business clients, and social guests. However, they have limited responsibility to trespassers, per Florida Statutes § 768.075.
For instance, if a trespasser slips and falls due to an unmarked puddle on the property, the property owner may not be liable. That said, a property owner cannot set traps or take other steps to injure a trespasser intentionally.
If the defendant argues you were trespassing at the time of the accident, our case will aim to prove your status was that of an invitee or licensee, to which the property owner owed a duty of care.
Measures To Consider If You Were Harmed In A Slip-And-Fall Accident
Now that we’ve addressed some commonly asked questions, here’s what to do in the aftermath of a fall:
Seek Medical Care Following The Accident
Our personal injury lawyers will rely on your medical records to connect your injuries to the accident and establish the value of your damages. Even if you feel okay, visit a doctor for an evaluation.
You might have an injury that doesn’t present symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor is important for your health and your insurance claim. If you wait too long to seek medical attention, the other party might argue your injuries are unrelated to the accident.
Save Any Photos, Videos, Or Notes From The Accident Scene
Make copies of any photographs or videos you took at the scene. If others took photos or filmed something, ask for copies or give us the contact information of these witnesses so we can secure the evidence.
We also advise writing down the name of the property owner, manager, or other people present (such as bystanders and store employees).
Consider Working With A Jacksonville Slip-And-Fall Injury Lawyer
Reach out to our firm as soon as possible. The sooner we become involved in your case, the sooner we can secure evidence, calculate your losses, and initiate the legal process.
What You Can Expect from Our Jacksonville Slip-And-Fall Attorneys
We work relentlessly to get you the compensation you deserve and deliver top-notch service. When you hire our law firm, you will get a lawyer dedicated to your case. You will receive that attorney’s personal telephone number so you can reach out whenever you have questions.
You can also count on the following:
- You will receive frequent updates: You will always know what is happening with your case.
- You will have the final say: We do not settle your case without your permission.
- We respond to your calls and emails: We are here for you during this stressful time.
- We treat you with respect and compassion: We understand that you are going through a huge ordeal. We want to be a part of the solution, not the problem.
- We can schedule your appointments: You should not have to spend your time playing “phone tag” with your doctor’s office. We can take that task off of your plate.
- You can relax and recover: When we give you our “white glove treatment,” you’ll have the opportunity to rest and devote your energy to your health and well-being.
Because we go the extra mile, all you need to worry about is getting better. We take care of everything else.
Work With A Slip-And-Fall Injury Firm In Jacksonville Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, it is best to seek legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney. Falls can result in serious injuries that can have long-term consequences.
A qualified attorney can help you understand your rights and help you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A slip-and-fall lawyer from Anidjar & Levine can evaluate your claim and help you take legal action.
Contact us today for a free case review.
