Florida Personal Injury Guide

Florida Personal Injury Guide

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Melbourne Slip and Fall Lawyers

Accidental falls can have tragic outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of five falls causes a serious injury. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which may result in permanent disability or death. Fractures are another common injury resulting from falls. Hip fractures are especially serious, and 95% of the time, they are caused by falls.

People of any age can be seriously hurt by a fall, but older people are especially vulnerable to severe fall injuries. The Florida Department of Health reports that in Florida, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adults. Each year in Florida, more than 3,000 people over the age of 65 are fatally injured because of a fall.
 

You May Be Eligible for Compensation in Melbourne for Your Slip and Fall Injuries

Many falls are caused because people slip on wet or polished floors, or they trip over objects or uneven flooring or walkways. Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably free of hazards that could cause people to slip or trip and fall.

If you were seriously injured in a fall that happened in Florida on someone else’s property, and the property owner was negligent, you may be able to file a claim or a lawsuit in Melbourne seeking substantial financial compensation from the property owner for your fall-related expenses and losses.

The Melbourne slip and fall lawyers at the Layman Law Firm would be glad to provide a free consultation to find out what happened to you and advise you on whether you have a good case for seeking financial compensation from the at-fault property owner.
 

Long-Lasting Effects of a Melbourne Slip and Fall Injury

If you were seriously injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be facing many problems. You could have medical bills for doctor visits, treatments, medication, hospital stays, surgery, and/or rehabilitation. You may be losing income because your injuries prevent you from working your usual schedule, or because you can’t work at all. You may be in pain, stressed, anxious, and/or depressed. Your family may be suffering too, especially if you can’t give them all the affection and support that you were able to before you got hurt.

Florida law gives you the right to seek financial compensation for all of these expenses and losses, including those that can be expected to occur in the future. How much compensation you may be entitled to receive will depend on how seriously you were injured, how long you are expected to need treatment, how much you are impaired, and other ways the injury is expected to affect your life.
 

Who is Responsible for a Slip and Fall Injury in Melbourne and Throughout Florida?

If you fell and were seriously injured because a property owner in Melbourne or anywhere in Florida was negligent in keeping their premises safe, you may be able to hold them financially responsible for your injuries. You might receive substantial compensation for your current and future medical expenses, lost income, and lower quality of life.

However, the law on slip and fall injuries is complicated. Property owners are not always held legally responsible if someone slips and falls on their premises. Florida Statutes Section 768.0755 deals with the question of when property owners are liable (financially responsible) for slip and fall injuries involving transitory substances.

The statute states that when a slip and fall occurs on the premises of a business, in order to be held liable, the business must have either known about (or had constructive knowledge of) the dangerous condition that caused the fall, and the business should have done something about it, but didn’t.

If you can’t prove directly that the business knew about the hazard, you may be able to prove that there was “constructive knowledge” – that is, that the business could be expected to have known about the hazard because the hazard existed for a long time or because it is something that happened repeatedly.

Proving constructive knowledge can be tricky. For example, if you slipped in a puddle of salad dressing that had spilled on the floor in a grocery store, to prove constructive knowledge, you might have to show that the puddle was there long enough for the store to be expected to know about it.

Because slip and fall law in Florida is so complicated, it’s important that you consult with an experienced attorney who has in-depth knowledge of Florida slip and fall cases. The Layman Law Firm Melbourne slip and fall lawyers have the experience, knowledge, and resources to help you obtain all the compensation that Florida law provides.
 

What If You Were at Fault Too in a Slip and Fall Accident?

Sometimes, people slip or trip and fall because of a hazard on someone else’s property, and they can prove that the property owner knew about it (or should have known about it) and failed to take care of it.

That’s a great start for a claim against the property owner, but what if the property owner tries to argue that the fall was your fault?

The good news is that under Florida law, you may still be entitled to receive compensation even if both you and the property owner were negligent in ways that contributed to the accident. If you think you might have been partially at fault for your fall, or if you’re not sure who was at fault, you should not give up! The experienced Melbourne slip and fall lawyers at the Layman Law Firm would be glad to review your case and advise you on whether you have a good claim.
 

Deadline to File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Melbourne, Florida

According to Florida Statutes Section 95.11(3)(a), if you’re going to file a slip and fall lawsuit against a property owner, you have to do it within four years of the date of the accident. You shouldn’t wait that long, though. The earlier you can get started, the easier it will be to collect evidence while it is still fresh, and the more time your lawyers will have to prepare a thorough and compelling case.
 

We Can Help You in Melbourne, Florida, After Your Slip and Fall Accident

The Melbourne slip and fall lawyers at the Layman Law Firm are committed to helping injured people get all the compensation that Florida law provides. If you become our client, we will fight hard for your rights.

We know all the ins and outs of Florida slip and fall law and use our knowledge to get our clients the best outcomes possible. We have the litigation experience, skills, and resources needed to take a case as far as it needs to go.

We negotiate with the property owner’s insurance company, so that you don’t have to. We never accept a settlement that is less than you deserve.

We will be by your side every step of the way and always keep you informed. We are glad to answer your questions.

Compensation for slip and fall injuries can be substantial. Contact us today to find out if you are eligible to file a claim or a lawsuit against the property owner. Call us at 321-773-2111, or fill out the contact form on our site for a free case review.