A slip and fall accident occurs when someone falls on another person’s property because of an unsafe condition, such as a slippery floor, uneven sidewalk, or faulty railing. Property owners in Palm Bay, FL, have a legal obligation to maintain their property free of unreasonable hazards. Failure to do so may result in liability for injuries incurred on their property.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, an experienced Palm Bay slip and fall accident lawyer can help you navigate the claim process and fight for compensation.
The attorneys at Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers have the knowledge and experience you can rely on after an accident in Palm Bay, Florida. Contact our office at 470-801-3000 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Palm Bay slip and fall accident attorneys.
How Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident in Palm Bay
Our skilled Palm Bay personal injury lawyers have over 75 years of combined experience helping injured victims seek compensation. To date, we’ve recovered tens of millions on behalf of our clients.
When you hire one of our experienced attorneys in Palm Bay, FL, you can count on us to fight for full compensation in your case.
Our Palm Bay slip and fall accident attorneys can do the following for your case:
- Investigate the accident and identify the at-fault party
- Explain your rights and offer sound legal advice
- Gather evidence to support your claims
- Assess the extent of your damages
- Contact the insurance company to negotiate a settlement agreement
- Take your case to court, if necessary
To speak with a knowledgeable Palm Bay personal injury attorney, contact Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers and schedule your free consultation.
How Common Are Slip and Fall Accidents in Palm Bay, FL?
The National Floor Safety Institute reports that slip and falls account for one million emergency room visits each year. Slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of worker’s compensation claims and the leading type of occupational injury for workers over the age of 55.
What Is My Slip and Fall Accident Case Worth?
It’s impossible to accurately estimate the value of a slip and fall accident without reviewing the details of the accident.
Many factors impact the value of a slip and fall accident claim, including:
- The extent of the injuries
- The extent of other damages, such as lost wages and emotional anguish
- Whether you were partially at fault
- Where the accident took place
- The insurance policy limits
Your attorney will review your case in light of these factors to calculate the value of your case.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
Accident victims can recover damages to compensate them for their losses. These damages can be divided into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the financial costs caused by the accident. These often relate to specific transactions and are relatively straightforward to calculate.
Economic damages include past and future medical bills, property damage, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and out-of-pocket expenses. They are sometimes called tangible damages or special damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are the emotional, psychological, or subjective costs of the accident. They are harder to calculate because they don’t correspond to a specific transaction and, instead, relate to things that are difficult to put a price tag on.
To illustrate, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of quality of life, and loss of companionship are non-economic damages. They may also be called intangible damages or general damages.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer?
Most slip and fall accident attorneys, including ours, are paid a contingency fee. This fee is only collected at the end of the case if the attorney successfully recovers compensation for the client. A contingency fee is usually 33% to 40% of the client’s overall financial recovery.
Because you don’t have to pay an attorney’s fee upfront, anyone can hire a slip and fall accident attorney, regardless of their financial circumstances. Further, the attorney only gets paid if you do.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Slip and Fall Accident in Florida?
If you’re being blamed for a slip and fall accident, that may impact your ability to recover compensation or the amount of compensation you receive. Florida has a modified comparative negligence law that allows an injured party to recover compensation if they were no more than 50% at fault in the accident. So, if you were 51% at fault or more, you are barred from recovering compensation.
If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation will be proportionally reduced according to your degree of fault. For example, if you suffered $100,000 in damages and were 25% at fault, you can only recover up to $75,000 (or 75%) of your damages.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Slip and Fall Injuries
Common injuries caused by slip and fall accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Lacerations or puncture wounds
- Knee injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
We’ll fight to help you recover compensation for all of your slip and fall injuries.
What Causes Most Slip and Fall Accidents in Palm Bay, FL?
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Uneven surfaces
- Potholes in parking lots
- Slippery floors
- Spills that haven’t been cleaned up
- Broken stairs or stair railings
- Debris
- Loose rugs or those with curled edges
Slip and fall accidents may be caused by anything that causes someone to lose traction with the ground.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Slip and Fall Accident in Florida?
The basis of most personal injury claims is negligence. To succeed in your negligence claim, you must prove the following four elements: duty of care, breach, damages, and causation.
Duty of Care
A duty of care is a legal duty one has to act with a reasonable amount of care and caution toward others and the public. In most situations, one has a duty to act the way a reasonably prudent person would under the circumstances. This duty changes depending on the relationship between the parties.
In Florida, a business owner owes its customers a duty to make reasonable efforts to keep the premises clear of dangerous conditions.
Breach
You must prove that the property owner breached or violated their duty of care. For example, if you fell because a business’s employee failed to put up a wet floor sign after mopping, that may amount to a breach of the duty of care.
Damages
You must show that you suffered injuries or losses due to the defendant’s actions or inactions.
Causation
You must prove that the defendant’s conduct caused your injuries. This requires proving that the defendant was the actual cause of your injuries and that the accident would not have happened without their conduct. You must also prove that the defendant was the proximate cause of your injuries and that your injuries were a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the defendant’s conduct.
You must prove each of these elements by a preponderance of the evidence. This means you must submit sufficient evidence to convince that it is more likely than not that your claims against the defendant are true.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Slip and Fall Accident in Florida?
In Florida, you have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline for filing your case is called the statute of limitations.
Most personal injury cases will settle before a lawsuit is filed. Nonetheless, it’s crucial that you’re aware of the deadline for filing your case. If you miss the deadline, you will not be able to file your case in court (unless a limited exception applies). This could seriously hinder your ability to seek compensation in your case.
Contact Our Palm Bay Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were recently injured in a slip and fall accident in Palm Bay, FL, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries from the negligent property owner. An experienced Palm Bay slip and fall accident attorney can help you navigate the complexities of the claim process and demand compensation for your injuries.
To schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, contact Norden Leacox Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyers at 470-801-3000 today.