While some people may make light of slip and fall accidents, these types of incidents can easily lead to catastrophic injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury, fractured bones or a spinal cord injury. When a victim suffers serious or life-altering injury in a slip and fall accident in Florida, it is in their best interests to seek the guidance and legal support of a Palm Beach personal injury attorney who has experience with this specific type of case.
What is a slip and fall accident?
“Slip and fall” is a common term used when a person slips, falls or trips on someone else’s property and it results in an injury. The phrase “trip and fall” may also apply.
If an individual is injured in a slip and fall accident in Florida and wants to seek compensation for their injuries, a Palm Beach personal injury attorney would typically help them to file a premises liability claim against the responsible party or parties.
What is a premises liability claim?
A Florida premises liability claim is typically filed when an individual experiences a slip and fall on someone else’s property, or premises. This is because the owner of the property may be held liable for failing to properly maintain the premises.
An owner who neglects or fails to do their part to keep the premises safe could be held liable for damages.
Damages in a Florida premises liability claim may include:
- lost income;
- pain and suffering;
- medical bills; and
- physical therapy.
What can lead to a slip and fall accident in Florida?
A slip and fall accident can occur when any number of dangerous conditions exist.
Some examples of dangerous conditions that can lead to a slip and fall accident in Florida include:
- broken/cracked sidewalks or potholes;
- uneven flooring surfaces;
- wet floor;
- torn carpeting;
- overwaxed floors;
- spills on floors that are not cleaned up in a timely fashion;
- poor lighting; and/or
- broken stairs.
These are just some examples of what can lead to a slip and fall accident in Florida. Your Palm Beach personal injury attorney will investigate the details of your case to determine what caused your slip and fall and resultant injuries.
How do you prove fault in a slip and fall accident in Florida?
Your Palm Beach personal injury attorney is a tremendous asset when it comes to proving fault in a slip and fall accident. Liability for a premises claim can be a notoriously difficult area to prove. It must be proven that an owner was careless or neglected to take care of a condition that resulted in an individual’s injuries.
In addition, you should know that your own role in the accident will play a part in determining liability and your potential for claiming compensation in a Florida premises liability claim. If it is determined that you were careless in some manner or failed to avoid a condition that caused the slip and fall, your compensation may be reduced or denied altogether.
To prove fault in a Palm Beach slip and fall accident the following factors must be demonstrated:
- the owner was responsible for the dangerous condition (by either creating it or knowing about it);
- the owner failed to take steps to prevent or correct the dangerous condition;
- the dangerous condition caused a risk to you;
- you were unaware or could not anticipate the dangerous condition; and
- the dangerous condition led to you becoming injured.
Who can be held responsible in a slip and fall accident in Florida?
Depending on where the accident takes place, the following parties may be held responsible for a slip and fall accident:
- commercial property owner;
- residential property owner; or
- government entity.
It is important to note that the way in which you pursue a claim against these differing parties will vary with the type of defendant involved in the case. For example, pursuing a premises liability claim against a government entity is entirely different than filing a claim against the owner of a grocery store. Your Palm Beach personal injury attorney should have experience handling slip and fall accident cases that are similar to your own so that you can benefit from their past experience.
Contacting a Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney
When it comes to choosing an attorney, you can’t afford to play a game of chance. Picking a Palm Beach personal injury attorney based on a colorful bus ad or a touching TV commercial won’t necessarily put you in touch with the attorney best suited for your case.
Palm Beach personal injury attorney Theodore Babbitt has spent years building his practice and growing his network of trusted colleagues and well-respected lawyers. Simply fill out our online form for Florida injury victims, and Mr. Babbitt will personally review your story to see if you have a valid Florida premises liability claim. He will then put you in touch with the attorney best-suited to handle your case. There is no cost to get started – 1-877-751-8087.