Getting injured on someone else’s property can make for a complicated legal case. After a slip and fall accident, you can suffer from terrible wounds that can create chronic pain. These injuries can interrupt your life, requiring you to take time off from work and making it difficult to participate in normal activities.
When you’re struggling with hefty medical bills, you can reach out to a Miramar Beach personal injury lawyer with Fasig | Brooks. We can investigate the property where you fell and gather evidence of hazardous conditions.
With an experienced and knowledgeable Miramar Beach slip and fall lawyer on your side, you can seek maximum compensation for your physical injuries and financial damages. For more information, call Fasig | Brooks now for a free consultation. Our attorneys have over 130 years of combined experience.
How Our Miramar Beach Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys Can Prove a Property Owner Negligent
A slip and fall accident is a situation that occurs when you get injured on someone else’s property through no fault of your own. In Florida, property owners have a duty of care to keep visitors, guests, and invitees reasonably safe while on their premises.
This means that the premises owner created a preventable situation that could have been avoided had they taken better care of their property. Here are some examples of preventable hazardous conditions our slip and fall injury lawyers have seen before.
Wet and Slippery Surfaces
Property owners should make sure that the surfaces in heavily trafficked areas are dry, uncluttered, and safe for guests. In places where heavy rain could make it difficult for visitors to pass through, they should install rubber grips, rough concrete, or ribbed surfaces to prevent people from getting injured on wet and slippery surfaces.
If there is a puddle on the floor, the property owner should set up a caution sign near the wet area or have someone clean up the mess immediately. Florida Statutes § 768.0755 notes that even if a property owner should have known about a hazardous transitory substance in their premises, an injured party can hold them liable since they had constructive knowledge of the hazard.
Our slip and fall injury lawyers in Miramar Beach, FL, can demonstrate that a property owner either knew or should have known about the slipping hazard that caused your injuries. For example, they may have failed to repair a leaky roof for weeks before it caused a puddle in an aisle.
Torn and Ripped Carpeting
When carpet becomes worn and old, it can eventually suffer tears and holes that cause visitors to trip. It is easy to get your foot caught in uneven carpeting, which can result in you falling to the ground.
When carpeting gets worn and threadbare, property owners have to replace it for the safety of their guests.
Potholes
Poorly maintained property can have potholes in parking lots, creating a dangerous condition. This can cause visitors to slip and fall, possibly twisting their ankles or knees if their feet get caught.
This can be extremely painful and can limit the victim’s mobility until they recover. Such bodily injuries could have negative effects on their work and regular life. A Miramar Beach slip and fall attorney can help you file a personal injury claim or a lawsuit to seek financial compensation.
Unsafe Staircases
Staircases that aren’t maintained can get worn down over time. The treads or risers of the steps can loosen or break while someone is climbing them. This can cause someone to topple over or trip and injure themselves badly.
Cracked and Crumbling Sidewalks
Sometimes tree roots cause sidewalks to crack, or heavy rain or snow deteriorates sidewalks over the years. These uneven sidewalks are another reason that you can trip and fall.
No Warning Signs Around Construction
When there is ongoing construction on a property, the premises owner should let visitors and passers-by know by placing warning signs and other indications that the area should be avoided. If there are no warning signs and you end up getting badly wounded because you unknowingly wandered into a dangerous area, then that is a form of neglect.
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Can You Be at Fault for a Slip and Fall Accident?
If there were signs in the area where you were injured and you weren’t paying attention to them, you may be held liable or partly liable for your injuries. Other examples of how you might be at fault are if you were trespassing. For example, you were on the premises outside of business hours.
If you were inebriated when the slip and fall occurred, an insurance company may also try to shift more of the blame onto you. The other party can argue that you put yourself in danger by being under the influence of drugs or alcohol in public.
However, you should speak to a slip and fall Miramar Beach attorney to find out whether the other party can hold you liable based on the evidence at hand. They can identify the liable party and fight for fair compensation. During a free initial consultation, we can discuss your legal options.
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What Kind of Damages Can You Claim for a Slip and Fall Accident?
The type of damages you can receive for your slip and fall accident can include any expenses that you had to pay as a result of your injuries. This can include both non-economic and economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages you receive because of your wounds include medical expenses and lost income. You may have to get:
- X-ray scans
- Surgery
- Stitches
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic therapy
- Ongoing medical treatments
All of this should be included in your total settlement. Medical devices such as crutches, casts, and braces should be included as well.
Your lost income includes any wages you missed because you were unable to work. Any past and future lost wages can be estimated by our Miramar Beach, FL, slip and fall injury attorney and included in your total settlement claim.
Non-Economic Damages
Your injuries may have caused you physical pain and suffering, grief, shame, embarrassment, depression, or anxiety. It is unfair that you are struggling with your injuries and their consequences because of someone else’s negligence. This is why your slip and fall lawyer will estimate how much your non-economic damages are worth and pursue compensation for them.
To seek non-economic damages, you often have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. Severe injuries often exhaust the coverage provided through an insurance policy.
Our Miramar Beach slip and fall injury lawyers always fight for maximum financial recovery to help you access the medical care you need now and in the future.
Wrongful Death Damages
For older adults, falls can become life-threatening. If you lost a loved one due to fatal slip and fall injuries, our Miramar Beach wrongful death lawyers can pursue justice for your family.
We can hold negligent property owners accountable and seek awards to cover your loved one’s funeral arrangements and medical bills. Fasig | Brooks offers compassionate legal care so that you can grieve with your family members in peace.
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What Are the Next Steps After a Slip and Fall Accident in Miramar Beach?
After your slip and fall accident, our Miramar Beach personal injury law firm can begin gathering evidence surrounding your case. Your first step should be to seek medical treatment. Your medical bills and medical records can establish the extent of your injuries and losses.
You can also take pictures of the hazardous condition that caused your accident. Write down all the pain and suffering you experienced to help your attorney understand how much you should receive in non-economic damages.
Our attorney will try to find additional proof to help strengthen your compensation claim. For example, they find out more information about how the accident occurred by:
- Reviewing any surveillance footage
- Talking to any eyewitnesses
- Gathering inspection and maintenance reports
- Analyzing the incident report or police report
With their help, you can seek a fair settlement from an insurer or a verdict during litigation.
Let Our Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Miramar Beach Help You and Your Family
A slip and fall injury can be severe, and when you discover another party could have prevented it, you deserve justice. While you rest and recover, our slip and fall accident team in Miramar Beach can handle the legal process.
To learn more about the process, speak to a slip and fall attorney today. Call Fasig | Brooks for a free consultation.
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