Winter Park Slip & Fall Lawyer
A slip and fall accident typically occurs when someone slips and falls because of a hazard on someone else’s property. If they sustain injuries in the accident, they may have the right to bring a claim for damages against the property owner. Slip and fall accidents fall under the general practice area of premises liability. All business and property owners have a legal duty to keep their property reasonably safe for invited visitors. However, thousands of people are injured every year in Florida in premises liability accidents. To learn more about pursuing a premises liability claim, contact an experienced Winter Park slip & fall lawyer.
Where Slip and Falls Can Happen
A slip and fall can happen anywhere, either on public or private property. Some of the most common locations where slip and falls occur include:
- Department stores
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Shopping malls
- Office buildings
- Government buildings
- Parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Parks
- Private homes
After a fall, some people are too embarrassed to say anything, and they just leave. However, you could later find out you have serious injuries. Don’t let embarrassment keep you from protecting your right to bring a claim for damages. If you were injured while on someone else’s property, you should report the incident as soon as possible.
Common Causes of Slip and Falls
Numerous hazardous conditions can lead to a slip and fall accident. Some of the most common hazards include:
- Water or other liquid spilled on the floor
- Spilled food
- Poor lighting
- Uneven flooring
- Missing stair rail
- Potholes
- Loose flooring or carpet
- Icy sidewalks
- No stair railings
- Elevator or escalator malfunction
- Narrow stairs
If you can prove liability against the business or property owner, you could receive compensation for your damages, including reimbursement of medical bills, rehabilitation, prescriptions, and lost time from work. Depending on the severity of the slip and fall, some claimants are left with permanent damage and residual pain for the rest of their lives.
To recover damages, you need to show the property owner or business occupying it acted negligently, which is what caused your injuries. Determining liability in slip and falls can be complicated. You have to determine if the defendant knew about the hazard or should’ve known about it, and should’ve taken corrective action or put a warning up.
Imagine you walk into a grocery store and slip on spilled juice in the drinks aisle. If that spill happened seconds before you walked by, the store might not be held liable as it happened moments before you arrived. However, if the spill had been there for several hours, the store should’ve already known about it and had it cleaned up.
Recovering Damages from the Government
If the slip and fall occurred on property owned by the government, the process would be different. There are usually special rules if your injury happened on local, state, or federally owned property. Florida has enacted special laws that shield some governmental agencies from liability for any personal injuries that occur on their property. To learn more about pursuing a claim for negligence against the government, see our governmental negligence page.
Contact a Winter Park Slip and Fall Lawyer
Before pursuing a slip and fall claim, speak with our Winter Park slip and fall lawyers first. It’s essential to have someone on your side who can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Israoui Law today to schedule an initial consultation. Slip and fall claims are complicated to pursue. We will be there with you every step of the way so you can concentrate on your recovery.
