Accidents in which a person slips, trips, or falls are one of the most common ways in which people sustain accidental injury in the United States. In fact, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), nearly 9 million people visit emergency departments around the country to seek treatment for injuries they’ve sustained in a trip and fall accident.
Being injured in this way can leave victims scared, confused, unable to work, and with significant medical bills, as well as with many questions about what to do next. Below, we have tried to answer many of the questions we commonly hear from clients who contact us in order to retain legal representation after a slip and fall accident. For specific advice regarding your case, call our office today. We never require legal fees from our clients prior to obtaining compensation on their behalf, so do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of our trip-and-fall lawyers.
Who can be held liable for trip and fall accidents that occur on commercial property?
Generally speaking, the person or party responsible for the condition of the premises on which a fall occurred can be held liable for any injuries that are sustained. In many cases, this is the owner of the property, but can also be the party leasing a piece of property from a landlord. In some instances, a third-party, such as a maintenance company or another visitor could potentially be held liable, if their negligence caused the fall.
It’s important to remember that not every slip and fall case is actionable, so it’s important for victims to have their case reviewed by an attorney familiar with Florida premises liability law. Some of the factors that are relevant to whether a victim will be able to recover include whether he or she caused the fall, the nature of the hazard that caused the accident, and whether the property owner knew or should have known about the condition that caused the victim’s slip, trip, or fall.
What injuries are commonly sustained in trip and fall accidents?
Many people immediately dismiss a slip and fall accident as a minor incident not requiring further action. In reality, slip and fall accidents can cause extremely serious injuries:
- Broken Bones
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Lacerations
- Dislocations
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Bruises
- Sprains
- Strains
- Concussions
- Other Soft Tissue Injuries[2]
Many of these injuries can leave victims with significant medical problems that require intensive treatment. As a result, it is imperative that anyone injured in a trip and fall accident undergo a thorough medical evaluation.
Do I need to retain an attorney if I am injured in a trip and fall accident?
There is no law that requires a person who has been injured in any type of accident to retain an attorney. In most cases, however, it is highly advisable for victims to do so. In many cases, liability can be contested, and the assistance of an attorney can help ensure that you obtain compensation for your losses. Furthermore, even in instances where liability is not contested, victims who have a lawyer tend to recover significantly more money than those who represent themselves.
Insurance companies, from the ones that deal with auto insurance to the ones who insure major retailers, are all trained to maximize the profits of their employer. In fact, their jobs depend on it. They do this by using tried and tested techniques to minimize: liability, the extent of an injury, or the level of pain the victim is in. They may gather evidence from social media accounts, witnesses, doctors, and all kinds of other sources to convince a victim that their case isn’t really worth that much. Hiring an attorney combats these moves.
Like an insurance company, Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA deals with accidents and injuries on a daily bases. We know what really goes on and we know what insurance companies are doing to minimize it. Having legal representation ensures that you have an expert working on your behalf, someone who knows the industry and how to get people what they deserve after being injured.
Am I entitled to compensation for my slip and fall injury?
People who invite the general public onto their property to conduct business owe their guests a duty to ensure that their premises are safe and free from unreasonably dangerous conditions. Basically, anyone who allows other people on to their property has a legal responsibility to keep them safe; and rightfully so.
Unfortunately, each year, millions of Americans are injured in trip and fall accidents that occur through no fault of their own. Thankfully for victims, Florida law often allows people who are injured by the negligence of others to recover for their losses by filing a personal injury claim. The kinds of losses that are often recoverable in these trip and fall cases include their medical bills, lost income, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life, as well as others.
Whether or not someone is entitled to compensation depends directly on fault and causation. These can be tricky topics, but when it comes down to it, many times cases are compensable. Check out this article to learn more about causation.
Contact a Florida trip and fall law firm today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney.
At the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we are committed to representing the legal rights of people injured in Florida trip and fall accidents and to collecting compensation on behalf of our clients. Unlike other personal injury law firms, we take every case with the full intention of taking it to trial if it is in the best interests of our clients. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 727-451-6900.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 451-6900
References:
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.0755.html
Sprains, Strains and Other Soft-Tissue Injuries
