Average Slip and Fall Settlement Amounts in Florida

Bill Allen | November 5, 2024 | Slip & Fall Accidents

Average Slip and Fall Settlement Amounts in Florida

Whether you’re on the job or taking care of personal business, the risk of a slip and fall accident is ever-present.

Millions of people slip and fall outside their homes every year, suffering all manner of injuries, from sprained ankles to traumatic brain injuries. Similarly, the expenses associated with these injuries can range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands.

When a slip and fall accident occurs because of an unreasonably unsafe condition, the property owner can be held responsible for the victim’s damages. This might include compensation for the victim’s medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. Parties typically resolve these matters through settlement agreements.

Slip & Fall Accidents and Settlement Agreements in Florida

A settlement is an agreement between the injured party and the property owner or their insurer that resolves the slip and fall claim outside of court.

Settlements can be reached at any time before a judge or jury enters a verdict and can include whatever terms the parties deem appropriate. The terms usually include the victim receiving compensation in exchange for forfeiting their right to pursue any further legal action against the property owner.

While settlements can offer victims prompt compensation, there are certain risks involved. The primary concern is that the victim may be significantly under-compensated. If they agree to a settlement that doesn’t fully repay them for their losses, they’ll have to find other ways to cover their expenses.

Calculating Settlement Amounts For Florida Slip and Fall Cases

If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident in Florida, you might be thinking about pursuing a settlement for your claim. If so, you’re likely wondering how much a reasonable amount to settle would be.

Any satisfactory settlement offer will account for two distinct types of losses:

Financial Losses

First and foremost, the financial harm (economic damages) the victim suffers will impact the settlement they receive. The more expenses and losses they sustain, the larger their award should be. 

The settlement amount must reflect the victim’s:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages, including lost future earnings
  • Occupational or other forms of therapy
  • Prescription drugs, medical devices, and other incidental costs

Numerous factors can affect the extent of these losses. Without insurance, one night in a hospital can cost $10,000 or more, and treating a broken bone can cost upwards of $8,000. The average weekly wage in Florida is about $1,200, meaning missing one week of work could cost you $1,200.

Injury victims can expect to receive compensation for most, if not all, of these expenses, provided they’re well-documented. Saving invoices, pay statements, and doctor’s records can help increase your chances of obtaining full compensation for these losses. 

Emotional, Physical, and Mental Harm

Some slips and falls can be traumatic experiences that affect the victim’s quality of life for years. For example, after fracturing your hip and spending a week in the hospital, you might fear visiting any retail store after a heavy rain. Similarly, your accident could lead to an intense and debilitating fear of stairs.

Such anxieties and stresses may not cause any direct financial losses. However, their effects can lead to a diminished quality of life that deserves acknowledgment and compensation. As such, any slip and fall settlement should account for this type of harm (non-economic damages).

Non-economic losses like mental and emotional distress can be difficult to quantify. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand how much these injuries could be worth in a settlement.

Other Common Settlement Terms

The at-fault party’s promise to pay compensation and the victim’s release of liability are the two central components of a slip and fall settlement agreement. 

Many agreements also contain other terms, such as:

  • The at-fault party’s promise to pay according to a specific schedule or timeline
  • The victim’s agreement not to sue others related to the property owner who are potentially liable for the accident
  • The victim’s agreement to allow the property owner to deny fault or negligence publicly
  • Both parties’ promise not to publicize the settlement agreement
  • Both parties’ promise not to disparage each other in public

These are standard elements of settlement agreements in civil cases. While the parties can negotiate these terms, excluding them can affect the final settlement amount. For example, a property owner may be less willing to fully compensate a victim if the owner must admit fault or the victim is free to comment on the accident publicly.

Why Calculating an Average Settlement Amount Is Challenging

Even victims hurt in similar accidents can settle their cases for different amounts. That makes it difficult to provide an average settlement amount for these cases. 

Some of the factors that can influence your settlement amount include:

  • The nature and extent of your injuries
  • The strength of the evidence showing the owner’s negligence
  • How well you’ve documented your injuries and related expenses
  • The property owner’s willingness to negotiate
  • Whether you need compensation immediately or can afford to wait
  • The property owner’s financial resources
  • Whether you share any fault for your slip and fall injuries

A minor slip and fall accident that results in a sprained ankle might only be worth a few hundred dollars in economic damages. However, if you’re older and your accident leads to a broken hip or spinal cord damage, you might receive tens of thousands of dollars from a settlement. Severe traumatic brain injuries and other catastrophic harm can yield even higher settlements.

Working with a qualified Florida personal injury lawyer can give you a more nuanced and personalized understanding of your case’s value. Your lawyer can examine your case’s specific facts and assist you in pursuing an appropriate settlement amount for your claim.

Settlements in Florida Slip and Fall Cases Are Common But Complicated

Even though many slip and fall cases are resolved through settlements, there’s no such thing as an “average” settlement amount — each takes into consideration numerous specific facts about the injured party, the circumstances of their accident, and their resulting injuries. Generally speaking, however, the greater the losses, the larger the settlement.

A skilled Florida slip and fall accident attorney can help you calculate an appropriate settlement amount and negotiate an agreement that gets you the compensation you need.

Contact Our Ocala Slip and Fall Law Firm in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Ocala slip and fall lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A. at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We have three convenient locations in North Central Florida:

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Downtown Gainesville
621 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(866) 928-6292

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Gainesville office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652