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Personal injury lawyers in Fort Walton Beach handle more than their share of slip and fall cases. Aside from car accidents, slip and fall injuries may be the most common type of injury. It doesn’t matter where you go, you could suffer a fall. You may go to the grocery store and slip on a wet floor. Or, you’re at a pizza shop and slip on a piece of pizza that fell on the floor.
If you suffer a slip and fall, you may escape with just a few bumps and bruises. Others aren’t so fortunate. Some people suffer some pretty serious injuries. Some of the injuries you could sustain include:
- Brain injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Vision impairment
- Broken arm, wrist or leg
All of these could land you in the hospital for at least a few days. You’ll probably miss a good bit of time from work. This means you need a personal injury lawyer in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Your attorney can fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Is the Value of My Case If I Slipped and Fell at Fort Walton Beach?
This is, obviously, the most often asked question. The fact is that each instance is unique. You may be thinking this because you are anxious about whether the compensation you get will cover all of your losses. We can promise you that our mission is to get every money you are entitled to.
Some factors that may influence the worth of your case include:
- Your total medical expenses
- Whether or whether there were any warnings concerning the hazardous situation
- Whether you are anticipated to recover completely
- The amount of insurance coverage that is available
- Whether or if the injury hampered your capacity to work (and if so, for how long)
- Accidents that result in serious injury or death are more valuable. The best way to find out how much your case is worth is to schedule a consultation with our Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.
What you don’t want to do is make your attorney’s job harder than it already is. Here are 5 common mistakes people make when they suffer a slip and fall.
1. They Refuse Medical Treatment
When you get hurt, it’s really important that you seek medical treatment immediately. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, you need to get checked out. At the hospital, they’ll do the necessary tests to determine what kind of injuries you’ve suffered. When you don’t go to the hospital, you make it almost impossible for your lawyer to prove you’re injured. If he can’t do this, he won’t be able to get you any compensation. The defendant will claim that your injuries were caused by something else and you’ll have no way to prove that he’s wrong.
2. They Don’t Fill Out an Incident or Accident Report
If you fall anywhere but in someone’s home, they are probably a business owner of some sort. It could even be a government agency or a school. All of these places have some type of accident or incident form you can fill out when you fall. This form will give the basic information about your fall. It will also give you a chance to list any witnesses who may have seen your fall. You’ll get a copy of this report that you can give to your Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer.
3. They Post About it on Social Media
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is posting about your fall on social media. You may think only your friends have access to these posts and comments. That's not always true. Not only can the defendant see your posts, but he can print screenshots and give them to his lawyer. These can be used against you in court. It’s much safer for you to not post about your slip and fall anywhere. This includes emails and text messages to friends and coworkers. You never know who the defendant will subpoena to testify against you.
4. They Tell the Property Owner They’re Fine
A lot of people hate confrontation. So, when they fall on someone else’s property, they just say they’re fine and go on their way. Or, they're too embarrassed to make a big deal about it. This is not a time to be proud. If you fall on someone’s property, you need to document it. You could find out a day or two later that you have serious injuries. If you tell the defendant you’re fine, he’ll argue that you got hurt some other way.
5. They Don’t Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
It’s really important that you call a lawyer shortly after your slip and fall accident. You need to retain someone who knows how to handle a personal injury case. Your lawyer won’t be afraid to go up against the insurance adjuster and attorneys. He won’t be intimidated by their strong-arm tactics. Your lawyer has years of experience handling cases just like yours. They know what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Happens If I Share Responsibility for a Florida Slip and Fall?
Yes, most certainly. Florida has a contributory fault legislation that controls what occurs when more than one individual is at blame for an accident. Each party is responsible for the proportion of blame that is assigned to them.
For example, if you were found to be 30% at fault in a situation where you would have gotten $100,000, your compensation would be reduced by 30%. In such situation, your total prize would be $70,000.
It is critical to have an experienced Fort Walton Beach slip and fall accident attorney on your side to fight any unwarranted blame. Blaming the victim is a typical tactic used by at-fault parties to avoid paying you what you're due.
What is the Florida Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Lawsuits?
In the state of Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, including slip and fall accidents, is four years. That is the amount of time you will have after your injuries to bring a lawsuit.
If a loved one died, you have two years to submit a wrongful death lawsuit.
Circumstances in your situation may change the timeframe in your unique instance. You may have less time if a government agency is involved. Alternatively, if you were injured at work, you may have additional criteria for submitting a workers' compensation claim.
Don't put yourself at jeopardy of missing a deadline. It might mean giving up your right to get compensation for your injuries.
Contact a professional Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident for a thorough case evaluation.
What Do I Need to Prove to Win a Slip and Fall Case?
Premises liability cases include slip and fall incidents. Depending on why you were on the property, the law has various unique obligations.
However, unless you were trespassing, the property owner owes you the following:
- Keep the property fairly secure; and protect against reasonably anticipated third-party offenses.
- It's unlikely that you were the victim of any crimes on the property if you slipped and fell.
As a result, you'll almost certainly need to establish negligence based on the defendant's failure to keep the premises in a safe condition.
All four components of negligence must be proven: (1) duty, (2) breach, (3) causation, and (4) damages.
If your harm was caused by a material spilled on the floor of a business property, you must establish that the company had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazardous situation under Florida premises liability law.
This may be difficult. You may have an uphill struggle if the spill was not in a location where the store's workers might reasonably be expected to notice it. Brannon & Brannon has a long history of successfully proving complex matters. We only practice personal injury litigation because we know we can assist people like you. Allow us to put our track record to work for you.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for Slip and Fall Accidents in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
Accidents happen all the time, and no one is to blame. In such instance, you will most likely be unable to claim compensation for your injuries.
However, these mishaps often occur when a property owner is careless.
This might happen if a harmful situation is created or left in a walking area. It might also happen if individuals are not warned about any threats they may face.
Slip and fall incidents are caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Grocery or retail establishment with slick flooring
- Leaving "wet surface" signs up after a spill until it can be cleaned up
- Inadequate security
- Carpeting that is uneven or ripped
- Sidewalks that are cracked or collapsing
- Stairwells with insufficient lighting
- Obstacles in corridors or aisles
It is not unusual for many parties to be held accountable for your injuries. That is why it is critical to have an expert slip and fall attorney do a thorough investigation before advancing with your case.
Call and Schedule Your Free Consultation with a Fort Walton Beach Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, you need a lawyer by your side. Call and schedule your free initial consultation today with a Fort Walton Beach personal injury attorney. You can sit down with an experienced lawyer and ask any questions you may have. He can also review your case and let you know what it may be worth. The defendant will have lawyers working for him and you should too.