Slip, trip, and fall accidents are a regular occurrence in the US, leading to over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, 1 million doctor visits, and 10 million missed work days each year! Most slip-and-fall cases end up with no compensation or very little compensation for the victim.
Find out how you can avoid this mess! Contact one of our experienced Jacksonville slip and fall attorneys at Leon Law Firm to handle your case with care and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve after a severe accident. Don’t wait another moment before contacting us for a case evaluation.
What our Jacksonville Slip and Fall Attorney Can Do For You
Leon Law Firm has an experienced team of slip and fall lawyers who can help you file your claim and ensure that you recover the fair compensation you deserve for medical bills and other damages. We are here to help you. Here’s what we can do for you:
- We will help you get the medical treatment you need.
- We will gather all evidence that supports your case.
- We will contact the insurance company, send them a demand letter, and represent you in negotiations with their attorneys, if necessary.
- We will negotiate the settlement with the defendant.
- If that fails, we will litigate your case in court.
- We will provide support from start to finish.
Why choose Leon Law Firm to handle your Jacksonville slip and fall accident case
Our legal team has helped countless accident victims for many years. Throughout our experience, we handled various slip and fall accident cases, ranging from a simple slip in a workplace to a fatal construction accident fall.
Our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys can help you get compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering from a slip and fall accident. We’ll handle every aspect of your fall injury case, including:
- Gather evidence from relevant witnesses.
- Take photos of the scene.
- Interview property owners.
- Negotiate with insurance companies and any other parties involved.
We’re here to help you get the best results for your case and get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.
Common types of slip & fall accidents in Jacksonville, FL
Slip and fall accidents are common in Jacksonville, so it’s important to know what to do when you find yourself in this situation. Listed below are the most frequently reported type of slip and fall accidents in Jacksonville, FL:
- Slipping on a loose rug or mat;
- Tripping on uneven surfaces;
- Tripping on loose or broken floor tiles or pavers;
- Slipping on spilled food or beverages or tracked-in water;
- Tripping on loose or damaged stairs; and
- Tripping on stairs without proper handrails.
Most common causes of Jacksonville slip and fall accidents
Some conditions in which a property owner or business owner might be liable for injuries caused by a fall are:
- Lack of warning signs around dangerous walking areas;
- Improper safety materials (at construction sites);
- Poor lighting;
- Broken stairs;
- Torn carpet;
- Objects in walkways;
- Falling objects;
- Poor construction;
- Holes and uneven walking surfaces;
- Spills of food or drink;
- Spilled substances;
- Lack of handrails; and
- Defective elevators and escalators
Common types of slip and fall injuries
- Head Injuries: Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). TBIs arise when a significant bump or blow to the head affects brain function. With a traumatic brain injury, you may have reduced mental cognition, slurred speech, dizziness, loss of balance, or be placed in a coma.
- Broken Bones: The pressures involved in a slip-and-fall accident are strong enough to break bones. The elderly are more likely to break bones when falling, but anyone can break bones in any body part. Hip fractures are one of the most dangerous breaks because they can lead to severe complications. However, fractures of the lower legs, arms, rib cage, shoulders, and collarbones might also need lengthy treatment and recovery.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries can be as minor as a sprained ankle or wrist or as severe as a torn tendon or ligament. If you don’t treat soft tissue injuries, they can cause long-term pain, making you more likely to get hurt again. Even if you feel fine after a fall, you should go to the doctor because soft tissue injuries don’t always appear immediately.
- Cuts, Lacerations, and Abrasions: Slip-and-fall accidents that cause cuts and abrasions can look very bad, but the injuries are often not as bad as those from other types of accidents. Head and hip wounds, like cuts on the legs and arms, are also common. Most of the time, these injuries only need to be cleaned up and maybe stitched. But if the fall is hard enough, cuts and abrasions may be on top of more serious injuries like broken bones and concussions.
- Back and Spine Injuries: Injuries to the back are often quite painful, and the resulting discomfort may reduce one’s quality of life. Slipping and falling may cause back vertebrae to be broken, crushed, or misplaced. Spinal cord injuries are the most damaging because they can create lifelong complications. Some may even result in paraplegia (paralysis of the lower limbs) or quadriplegia (paralysis of both the arms and legs).
Understanding potentially liable parties
Slip-and-fall accident claims are often against the owner or manager of the property where the accident happened. Different parties might be liable for any damages if the slip-and-fall event occurred on commercial, residential, or government property.
Listed below are some parties that may share liability in a slip-and-fall case.
Property Owners
A property owner is responsible if they were told about a problem by a business tenant or manager and didn’t fix it immediately. For example, if the renter tells the owner about danger and the property owner fails to provide enough security or protection.
Commercial Tenants
Many companies rent their space from a landowner, including supermarkets, shopping centers, and retail establishments. Most of the time, the property owner is responsible. But commercial tenants are liable if an employee is careless and doesn’t take care of a potential danger right away, like cleaning up a spill.
Property Managers
Property managers may be liable for injuries when a management firm is in charge of maintaining the facilities. Many apartment buildings and institutions for assisted living depend on this kind of connection. For example, a management company is responsible if someone trips and falls because a floorboard is crooked. Or if the dim lighting on the property kept you from slipping on water from a leaking pipe.
Another Homeowner
If you slip and fall while on a residential property, the owner of that home is liable for your injuries. To make a claim, you’ll need their homeowner’s insurance information.
When is a property owner not liable for a slip and fall accident?
Not everyone who trips and falls on another person’s property is entitled to compensation. Defendants in slip-and-fall cases often say that the victim was not legally on the property, creating a legal argument about the victim’s “status” at the time of the accident.
Property owners have a duty of care to customers, employees, business guests, and social guests invited onto their property. But, according to Florida Statutes § 768.075, they don’t have to do much about trespassers.
So, if a trespasser slips and falls on an unmarked puddle on the property, the property owner may not be responsible. Still, a property owner can’t set up traps or do other things to hurt a trespasser on purpose.
So, it’s essential to hire an experienced Jacksonville slip and fall lawyer to prove that a property owner’s negligence caused your harm.
Damages available to slip and fall victims in Jacksonville, FL
The injured party may be entitled to financial compensation from the person at blame if they can show another party’s carelessness. Often, the insurance covers the loss.
Possible recoveries:
- Property Damages;
- Diminution of Value of Property;
- Past and Future Medical Expenses;
- Money Spent on Care and Treatment;
- Money Lost Because of Injury;
- Compensation for Pain and Suffering;
- Compensation for Disability;
- Compensation for Loss of Capacity for Enjoyment of Life;
- Compensation for Physical Impairment and Loss of Use;
- Compensation for Scarring or Disfigurement;
- Wage Loss;
- Loss of Capacity to Earn;
- Damages to Spouse; and
- Damages to Children
10 steps to take after a slip and fall accident in Jacksonville
- Report your accident. Look for who is in charge of the property where you fell, and inform them that you got injured in the fall. Ask to fill out a report form. Some firms will have policies, notification processes, and documents to fill out, but many will not. If the police or the building’s security staff come to help you after the accident, ask for a copy of their report in writing and keep a copy of your letter.
- Get Medical Care. Slips and falls may result in severe pain and harm. After a slip and fall, you must see a doctor right away. Call emergency services to the place where you were hurt, and make sure to do what they say.
- Create a file. Keep a copy of your accident report and any other correspondence with the property owner, manager, or anyone who works for them as an insurance company. Keep all bills and receipts related to your medical care, time away from work, or any other changes in your life caused by your fall and injury.
- Record everything. Taking pictures of the accident site can help your claim. Things that cause you to trip and fall, like puddles, loose stairs, holes, or torn carpet, can change quickly after your accident. Make sure you take pictures of the injury site from different angles to get a complete picture.
- Gather Information From Potential Witnesses. Collect all information from potential witnesses (their names, address, phone numbers, and email addresses). Ask a witness, such as a friend or family member, whether you may record their statement using your phone’s camera after your slip and fall.
- Note your experience. What occurred before your accident? If you were shopping, note where and how you fell. Keep records of your medical treatment, discomfort, setbacks, mobility issues, missed work, and activities or special events.
- Protect your interests. After a slip-and-fall injury, the compensation you seek for medical costs, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering will come from an insurance policy. Don’t feel bad about taking legal action against a property owner. Insurance will cover the costs if someone gets injured on a business or homeowner’s property.
- Don’t discuss your case on social media. Even though you might want to discuss your case, you should never discuss the accident on social media. Stay off social media while you wait for your slip-and-fall case to conclude.
- Watch out for representatives from insurance companies. After being hurt in a fall, an insurance adjuster could contact you. Their job is to find ways to pay you the least amount possible. Pay attention to what you say. Do not accept fault for your accident or downplay your injuries.
What you need to know about premises liability
Owners of the property (or non-owner inhabitants) are responsible for maintaining a reasonably safe environment to prevent injuries to visitors. The legal term for this duty is “premises liability,” which makes both property owners and occupants answerable for mishaps and injuries. A slip and fall on a crowded sidewalk or an accident sustained on an amusement park ride are examples of situations that may give rise to a premises liability claim.
The victim bears the burden of showing that the cause of the accident is the negligence or carelessness of the property owner or operator and the laws governing premises liability claims. Therefore, having an experienced attorney on your side is crucial to ensure the complete investigation and preparation of your case.
Statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuit in Florida
Section 95.11(3)(a) of the Florida Statutes says you have four years. It usually starts from the date of the accident or incident to filing a civil lawsuit seeking a legal solution (compensation) for “an action based on negligence.” That covers every possible kind of personal injury claim since the “negligence” liability standard regulates them.
Florida’s pure comparative negligence rule might affect your claim
If your slip-and-fall case in Florida goes to court, the “pure comparative negligence rule” will determine how much money you can still get from the property owner even though you were partly to blame for the accident.
Any damages awarded to a plaintiff for a personal injury under “pure comparative negligence” would be lowered in proportion to how much of the accident they were responsible for.
So, let’s say the jury decides that you were 15 percent to blame for your fall injury. They would also say that your damages, which include your medical bills, lost income, and “pain and suffering,” add up to $20,000. So, the property owner will have to pay $17,000, the original $20,000 minus the 15%, which is your share of fault.
Contact an experienced Jacksonville slip and fall lawyer for a consultation
Ultimately, slip and fall injuries can cause devastating, long-term harm to victims. That’s why it’s always in your best interest to contact a reliable Jacksonville Slip and Fall Attorney. An experienced attorney can evaluate your case and recommend appropriate legal action. Here at the Leon Law Firm, we know personal injury law and have litigated numerous slip and fall cases with positive results for our clients. Our fall attorneys will work hard to help you or your loved ones recover the compensation they deserve after a slip or fall accident. Schedule your case evaluation by calling (904) 944-4515 or visiting our website.
