When property and business owners do not keep their premises in good repair, conditions might develop that cause a visitor to slip or trip and fall. Sometimes an owner or operator does not pay enough attention to events and conditions on the premises leading to situations that could cause falls.
If a hazardous condition on a property open to the public results in a fall that causes injuries, the property owner or business operator could be liable to the injured person. A Mount Dora slip and fall lawyer could investigate the incident and collect evidence proving that negligence led to your injuries.
Call a local personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident. Taking prompt action gives you the best chance to present a strong case for damages.
Falls are not uncommon, and thankfully, many people escape from falls with just scraped hands or knees. Sometimes, however, people suffer severe injuries from falls. Depending on the circumstances, a fall could result in:
Falls are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries in older adults. Injuries from a fall might require hospitalization, surgery, and ongoing treatment and care. Less severe injuries often produce nagging symptoms that could plague a fall victim and disrupt their life for weeks, months, or even longer.
A Mount Dora slip and fall attorney could work with an injured person to calculate the losses they suffered in the fall. Even if the person healed completely within a reasonable time, the property owner is liable for their medical expenses and lost income, and owes compensation for the injured person’s inconvenience, physical pain, disability, and other impacts of the fall.
Someone who suffered injuries in a slip and fall must prove the party in control of the property was negligent. In most cases, the responsible party is a property owner, a business operator leasing commercial space, or a tenant. Sometimes, both an owner and a lessee are liable to the injured person. A legal professional in Mount Dora could investigate the circumstances and assert a slip and fall claim against all the potentially negligent parties.
A party is negligent if they do not take reasonable steps to prevent injuries to visitors or patrons. If they know of a hazardous condition like a broken handrail on a stairway or a step where people do not expect to encounter one, they must repair the condition as quickly as possible. They also must warn visitors of the hazard until repairs are complete.
Florida Statute § 768.0755 sets forth some special rules that affect slip and fall lawsuits against businesses in the state. The law says that if a fall was due to a “transitory substance” on the floor—such as water from wet shoes, a spill in a grocery store, or a dropped dish in a restaurant—the establishment’s operator has a reasonable time to clean up the substance before an incident.
Sometimes when people fall and hurt themselves, the incident might be partially their fault. Someone who is hurrying or not paying attention to their surroundings risks a slip and fall.
The law in Florida allows people who are partially to blame for their injuries to pursue damages from other negligent parties. However, they can collect only the portion of the damages attributable to other parties’ negligence. If the plaintiff is over 50 percent to blame, they are not allowed to get financial compensation.
If a slip and fall case ends up in court, a jury will assign fault to each party and the judge will deduct a percentage of the damages equal to the claimant’s fault. Most cases settle before a lawsuit goes to a trial, but the claimant’s fault will be a factor in negotiations, which is why they should have a lawyer to advocate for them.
If you were hurt in a fall on public or private property, you might have a claim for damages against the property owner or business operator. A Mount Dora slip and fall lawyer could identify the responsible parties, collect evidence of their negligence, and negotiate with their insurance companies. Call The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense and Injury Attorneys today.