Slip-and-Falls In Florida

Slip-and-falls are more common than most people think. Over eight million hospital emergency room visits are a result of falls. The reason is, even though they are more prevalent in older individuals, they affect everyone. Men, women, children, and adults alike can be injured in a slip-and-fall; no one is immune from these accidents. Anyone who sustains an injury from a slip-and-fall on another’s premises, such as a business, private individual, or any other entity, is entitled to compensation for their losses if the owner of the property was negligent. When inquiring to see if your situation is viable to obtain compensation, your best resource is a qualified Tampa slip-and-fall attorney.

Proving Liability for a Slip-and-Fall

Not every slip-and-fall results in a lawsuit where the owner of the property is liable. It is also important to note that if a property owner can say anything or do anything to avoid liability, they will likely do it. For instance, if you fall in a grocery store, don’t be very surprised if the manager will claim that they did not know about the hazard that leads to your fall, regardless of whether or not it is true.

To have an effective suit, supporting evidence is necessary to prove that there was carelessness or negligence on the part of the business. It must be proven that the property owner was aware of the hazards and did nothing or that the owner should have been aware to do something. The first step is to seek medical attention and obtain medical documentation of your injuries. Then, employing the assistance of a Florida slip-and-fall attorney will help you with the rest of your personal injury claim.

You may need to obtain the store’s security footage to see if there is any video evidence of your accident and the scene of the incident. You shouldn’t wait to obtain this, as many stores do not keep their footage for long periods, and if you wait too long, you risk losing valuable visual documentation. An effective attorney will be able to send a spoliation letter to obtain such evidence.

Additionally, taking photos of the scene of the accident, your injuries, lack of signage warning that there was a hazard present, and obtaining witness information will also be crucial to the strength of your claim. You should also contact the store after the accident to file an incident report. Make sure that if they have a process you follow those specific steps. Additionally, obtaining a copy of that report will be helpful to your claim.

Obtaining Compensation

You will be looking to be compensated through the insurance company of the negligent party. In most cases, especially with businesses, they will have liability insurance. The two types of damages that you can collect are:

• Economic damages including quantifiable monies that are associated with an accident, such as medical bills and lost wages
• Non-economic damages are things that are not as easily quantifiable, such as mental distress, pain and suffering, disability or impairment, etc.

A qualified Tampa personal injury attorney will be able to help you put together all of the damages, both economic and non-economic, that are owed to you after an accident.

Florida Slip-and-Fall Attorneys

If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you probably have many questions. Contact one of our Tampa slip-and-fall attorneys at Fulgencio Law at (813) 463-0123. We will answer all of your questions and let you know if you have a viable, strong claim.