In Central Florida, slip and fall accidents are common causes of serious injuries. They can happen just about anywhere — home, work, outdoors, school, senior care facilities, shopping establishments, gyms, etc. — when you least expect it. These kinds of accidents can happen for many reasons, including:
- Inadequate maintenance: Loose or missing handrails, poorly maintained entryways and walkways, broken steps, etc.
- Hazardous conditions: Poor lighting, wet sidewalks, unsecured rugs or carpets, fallen merchandise, wet floors, improperly placed product displays, dirty or cluttered floors, loose cords, cables or wires, etc.
- Defective construction: Damaged floors or ceilings, uneven surfaces, cracked slabs, water penetration, heaving sidewalks, ponding, etc.
Spinal injuries, bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and disfigurement are just some of the serious, even catastrophic injuries that can result from a Central Florida slip-and-fall accident.
What the Law Says About Slip and Fall Accidents in Central Florida
Under Florida’s premises liability laws, property owners have a “duty of care” to keep customers, visitors, guests, and others safe from harm while on their premises. A lot of Central Florida slip-and-fall accidents happen when a property owner or manager is negligent in this duty of care. When this occurs, the state’s premises liability law gives the injured party the right to seek compensation for the damages resulting from their slip and fall accident.
Recovering Compensation for a Sip and Fall Injury
The first step in collecting this compensation is to speak with Central Florida slip and fall attorney Tania Rivas of Rivas Law Group. Tania Rivas has successfully represented clients all over Central Florida who have been injured because of a property owner’s negligence. Her keen grasp of Florida’s premises liability laws and experience handling premise liability claims make Tania one of the most sought-after personal injury attorneys in Central Florida.
Attorney Rivas can assist you at every stage of the personal injury claim process, including investigating and gathering the evidence you’ll need to support your claim. To succeed in a premises liability slip and fall lawsuit in Central Florida, you’ll have to be able to establish that:
- You were legally on someone else’s property.
- Hazardous conditions existed on the property.
- The owner knew or should have known about the hazardous conditions on their property.
- The owner was negligent in removing the hazardous conditions or failed to provide adequate warning of any hazardous conditions on their property.
- Your slip and fall accident happened because of this negligence.
- You were injured as a result of your slip and fall accident. And
- You suffered damages as a result of your slip and fall accident injuries.
Evidence is the key to proving your claim. Evidence in a Central Florida slip and fall accident injury claim can include medical records, accident photos, eyewitness accounts, expert testimony, police reports, and more. Your lawyer will use this evidence to negotiate with the insurance companies. If negotiations don’t produce a satisfactory settlement, you have the option of going to trial and arguing your case before a judge and jury.
Answers to Your Slip and Fall Questions
What Steps Should I Take After a Slip and Fall Accident?
Here’s what you need to do following a slip-and-fall accident:
- First, seek medical care (even if you think you didn’t sustain any injuries);
- Get the contact information for any eyewitnesses to your fall. Take pictures to record the dangerous conditions that caused your fall;
- Report your accident to the owner or whoever was in charge of the property; and
- Contact a Central Florida personal injury lawyer.
What Mistakes Should I Avoid in a Slip and Fall Accident Claim?
Here are some mistakes that could impact the amount of compensation you’ll be able to recover for your accident-related injuries:
- Not reporting your slip and fall accident.
- Neglecting to seek medical treatment after your accident.
- Not filing the injury claim in a timely manner.
- Failing to collect evidence from the scene of the accident.
- Discussing your case with anyone who isn’t your attorney (including posting on social media).
- Failing to take into account the total costs of your slip and fall injuries
- Talking to the insurance company before you talk to an attorney.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
Most Florida accident attorneys, including Rivas Law Group, operate on a contingency basis. This means there are no upfront charges for our clients, and we only collect our fee as a predetermined percentage of your settlement.
Speak With an Experienced Central Florida Slip and Fall Attorney
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident in Central Florida, it’s important to seek legal help as soon as possible after your accident. Contact Rivas Law Group without delay. The sooner Central Florida personal injury attorney Tania Rivas gets to work on your case, the better your chances of collecting the full compensation you are due for your accident injuries. Tania’s experience and dedication to her clients have helped her recover millions of dollars in settlements for her clients.
Contact Rivas Law Group through our website or call us at (877) 299-5539 today to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Central Florida personal injury lawyer.
