If you were hurt on another party’s property in Brevard County, you could partner with a slip and fall injury lawyer in Melbourne from our firm. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can seek compensation for your lost income, medical bills, and non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
We’ve been going the extra mile for Floridians since 2006. Now, we’re prepared to do the same for you.
How Long do You Have to File an Injury Claim or Lawsuit?
The liable insurance company will set its own deadline for filing your slip and fall injury claim. Depending on the organization, you could have anywhere from a few days to a few months to file your claim. Most insurers want to know about accidents as soon as they happen.
However, there’s a firm, state-mandated deadline for filing civil lawsuits. Florida Statutes § 95.11 says that you could have anywhere from two to four years to file your lawsuit. We can examine your case and determine how the filing deadline applies to you.
Recoverable Damages Following a Premises Liability Incident in Florida
In general, you can seek two types of losses: economic and non-economic damages. There is no limit to how much money you can request in these situations. Your economic damages could include:
- Past and future healthcare expenses
- Lost income, tips, and employee benefits
- Bonuses, employment contracts, and commissions
- Loss of future earning ability
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Mental health counseling
- Funeral expenses
Your non-economic damages could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of parental guidance and household benefits
- Mental or physical disability
Some claimants can seek “punitive damages.” These losses are only available in accidents caused by extreme negligence or intentional wrongdoing. For instance, the property owner purposely laid out a trap, and you slipped, fell, and injured yourself, you could seek punitive damages.
What Our Team Needs to Prove in Your Slip and Fall Accident Case
We must prove the following elements in your case:
- You were lawfully on public or private property.
- There was a hazard that the property owner knew (or should have known) about.
- The property owner failed to warn others of the danger or remove it.
- You were injured and suffered financial, physical, and emotional damages.
Consider This Hypothetical Scenario to Understand Injury Cases
Let’s say that you are visiting one of Melbourne’s many privately-owned attractions. The venue sells self-serve soft drinks. The area around the soda dispensers experiences frequent spills from people filling their cups. The flooring in the beverage machine area makes it difficult for customers to see whether the floor is wet or dry.
The attraction owner is aware of the situation but does not provide a mat to absorb the puddling liquid. Also, the venue does not post warnings about the condition or require employees to mop up spills frequently.
If a patron slips and falls due to a spill, the venue owner will be responsible because they did not address or warn others of the potential hazard.
Things That Can Decrease the Value of Your Melbourne, FL, Slip and Fall Case
Sometimes, people receive less compensation than they should for their injuries. Here are some of the common pitfalls that your slip and fall lawyer in Melbourne can help you avoid:
Posting Information to Social Media
When you have an injury that will be the subject of an insurance claim or lawsuit, you should not post a single word or photo about it on social media. Once you put something on the internet, you lose control over it. The insurance company could use your words or pictures against you as an excuse to pay you less money than you deserve.
Accepting the First Settlement Offer
We understand that it can be quite tempting to accept a settlement check from a claims adjuster early on in the process, particularly if your injuries keep you from going to work and your bills are piling up higher every day.
You should not settle your injury claim until you have completed your medical treatment. Only then do you know the true value of your injury claim.
Giving a Recorded Statement
Claims adjusters love to contact injured people and ask them to give recorded statements to the insurance companies. This will not work to your benefit, as the claims adjuster will design questions meant to cast your claim in a bad light.
When the adjuster calls and asks you to give a recorded statement, you should tell him to talk to your lawyer. Once you get a personal injury lawyer to handle your case, the insurance company is not supposed to contact you directly.
Recommendations After a Slip & Fall Accident in Melbourne, FL
As you consider working with our Florida law firm, we recommend that you do the following:
Get Medical Attention
Getting medical treatment right away gives you the best chance of optimal recovery from your injuries, as explained by Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management.
Also, we will use your medical records as proof of your injuries. You should not delay in getting a medical evaluation because the insurance company will likely claim that your injuries came from some other event, not the slip and fall accident.
Keep Photos of Your Injuries
If your injuries include visible harm, like bruising, it can be a good idea to take some photos before the bruising fades. Make sure that you write down the date on which you took the photos.
Get Names and Contact Information of Witnesses
It can be helpful to get the names and contact information of other people who were on the premises when you got hurt. They might have information that could build your case. For example, if multiple people testify that there was a dangerous condition, it’s no longer your word against the property owner’s.
Consider Hiring Our a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Melbourne
When you have a slip and fall lawyer handling your legal matters, you no longer have a “David and Goliath” situation against a massive insurance corporation. We can handle everything involved with your claim while you focus on getting better.
Get Help for Your Melbourne Slip and Fall Accident Today
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can seek compensation for your injury-related losses. Now, you can begin a free case review where you can explore your options at no obligation. Feel free to ask us about our years of experience, previous outcomes, and what we can do for you.
Dial 1-800-747-3733 to begin.