Fell On Another’s Property? Contact Plantation Slip and Fall Lawyer Nerina Smart
Slip and fall accidents account for more than a million ER visits, and about 12 percent of the total number of falls. A slip and fall injury can cause minor bumps and bruises, or can be much more serious, causing long term neck, back, spinal cord or brain injuries. Slip and fall occurrences are the primary cause of workers’ comp claims across the nation, as well as the leading cause of occupational injuries among those over the age of 55. Often slick floors in public areas are the primary cause of slip and fall injuries. If you have suffered a serious slip and fall accident due to the negligence of another person or entity, it can be extremely beneficial to contact an experienced Plantation slip and fall lawyer at The Law Offices of Nerina Smart, P.A., located in Plantation, FL.
The Law Offices of Nerina Smart, P.A., are ready to help you receive equitable compensation for your slip and fall accident. If your accident was the result of negligence, you could be entitled to receive reimbursement for your medical expenses, payment for future medical expenses, current lost wages, future lost wages, and your pain and suffering. We will fight for your rights and for your future. A slip and fall can cause you significant injury, and we can help you get the medical assistance you need, as well as the financial compensation you deserve.
Where and How Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
While a slip and fall accident can happen anywhere, at any time, some of the more common areas where slip and fall accidents occur include:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Swimming pools
- Nightclubs
- Public restrooms
- Escalators
- Sidewalks
- Stairs
- Curbs
- Malls
- Amusement parks
Grocery stores tend to be particularly hazardous because shopping carts can prevent you from seeing an upcoming spill or hazard. Spills are also common in restaurants and nightclubs, leading to an increased number of slip and fall accidents.
Narrow, poorly lit staircases are prime spots for slip and fall accidents, as well as uneven surfaces, obstacles in walk paths, items stacked to dangerous heights, a lack of warning signs in rain-soaked slippery entrances, freshly mopped floors, dimly lit areas, and differences in floor heights with no warning signs.
Overview of Slip and Fall Settlements
There is no “average” or “expected” slip and fall settlement. Your settlement will depend on many different things, including the level of negligence on the part of the property owner and the extent of your injuries. An attorney can help you to obtain reimbursement for your medical expenses, including ER visits, physician expenses, prescription drugs, X-rays, CT and MRI scans and other tests, rehabilitative services, and any other medical expenses related to the slip and fall accident. If your injuries were severe enough to keep you from returning to work, you are likely entitled to lost wages. If you are unable to return to work for a very long time, you could also be entitled to future lost wages. Finally, you may be entitled to pain and suffering which encompasses physical pain as well as mental and emotional pain.
FAQs for Slip and Fall Accidents in Plantation, FL
Who is Responsible for Your Slip and Fall Accident?
Negligent property owners who have not comprehensively addressed dangerous conditions may cause harm—sometimes irreparable harm—to other individuals. When determining whether the property owner acted in a reasonable manner, the following questions will be asked:
- Did the hazardous situation exist for such a long enough period of time that the property owner should have reasonably been aware of the situation?
- Was there a standard procedure in place for checking for property hazards, was the procedure properly followed and is there proof of this procedure?
- Was the hazardous situation caused by a legitimate reason—i.e. it was snowy and slushy outside, therefore people were constantly tracking in moisture, making the floor slippery?
- If there was a reason for the hazardous situation, was the area properly marked with hazard signs, and was there any way the hazard could have been alleviated?
- Should a barrier have been erected for an extremely hazardous situation, and was this barrier in place?
In short, if a property owner has taken care to keep their property areas safe and clean, reasonable care was most likely taken. You, with the help of your attorney, will need to find out whether other accidents have occurred in the same area, as well as determine whether the dangerous condition was in place for an extended period of time, which could mean that the injury could have been avoided.
How Long After a Slip and Fall Accident Can You Sue?
You should see an attorney as quickly as possible following your slip and fall accident. There is a statute of limitations in place—the window of time you have in which to file your slip and fall accident claim. Statutes of limitations vary significantly from state to state. In the state of Florida, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of your accident. Florida lawmakers recently changed the statute of limitations from four years to two years if the loss occurred after 3/24/23. The sooner you get an experienced attorney involved in your slip and fall claim, the faster they can work to preserve any evidence pertaining to your fall injuries.
How Plantation Slip and Fall Lawyer Nerina Smart Can Help
If you have been injured in a Plantation, Florida slip and fall accident lawyer Nerina Smart can help you through this difficult time. At The Law Offices of Nerina Smart, P.A., we are compassionate to your situation but will fight aggressively for your rights and your future. We offer highly individualized service to each and every client. Contact The Law Offices of Nerina Smart, P.A. today for a comprehensive consultation regarding your slip and fall accident.