If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in Citra, Florida, you could have a claim for compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, but your ability to recover this compensation will rely on your ability to show the property owner or manager was negligent. An experienced Citra slip and fall accident lawyer can help you assemble this evidence.
Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers has a team of skilled attorneys who are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us for a free consultation to get your case started today at (877) 255-3652.
How Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Slip and Fall Accident in Citra, FL
A Citra, FL premises liability lawyer can investigate your case and gather evidence to prove the property owner knew of the danger that caused your injuries or should have known about it.
Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers has provided exemplary legal services to clients throughout the Citra area for more than 15 years. Our elite team of personal injury attorneys has over 100 years of combined legal experience. Our unwavering commitment to client satisfaction has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of compensation for deserving clients.
Some of the reasons we believe Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers is the right choice are because we:
- Are committed to client satisfaction, as evidenced by our Perfect-10 Avvo Rating
- Have an AV-Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell rating, a determination based on reviews from our peers in the legal community
- Are members of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
To pursue your claim, we will:
- Investigate the accident to determine if negligence was a factor
- Gather supporting evidence, including medical records and witness statements
- Manage all communication with insurance companies and your employer
- Negotiate a fair settlement so you can focus on your recovery
- Litigate your case if necessary to get maximum compensation
Contact us today for a free case review by a Citra slip and fall accident lawyer.
How Common Are Slips and Falls?
Falls are widespread, and many result in serious injuries and deaths. According to the National Safety Council, 46,653 people died from falls at home or work in a recent year, making it the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death.
The National Flooring Safety Institute reports that falls account for over eight million hospital emergency room visits every year, representing the leading cause of visits. Slips and falls account for over one million annual visits. Slips and falls are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims and occupational injuries.
Common Causes of Slips and Falls
Slips and falls often occur due to environmental factors, such as:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Food, drink, and other substance spills
- Uneven pavement or flooring
- Broken or missing steps or handrails
- Obstructions
- Insufficient lighting
These hazards can cause serious injuries. Under Florida’s premises liability laws, property owners could be held liable for these injuries.
Florida Premises Liability Laws
Premises liability refers to the area of law concerned with property owners’ and occupiers’ duties to keep their property in a safe condition to avoid injuring visitors. Under premises liability laws, property owners or occupiers may be liable for injuries resulting from unsafe conditions on the property.
In Florida, property owners’ duty of care is based on the legal status of the visitor, as follows:
Invitees
An invitee is a person who enters a property with the landowner’s invitation. Invitees can be public or private. A public invitee enters land open to the public, while a private invitee is on the property for a business purpose.
Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. They must keep the property safe, regularly inspect it to identify and address hazards, and warn invitees of potential dangers.
One specific Florida law holds property owners liable if a person slips and falls on a “transitory foreign substance” if they had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition and should have taken action to fix the problem.
Constructive knowledge may be inferred from circumstantial evidence such as:
- The dangerous condition existed for such a length of time that the business should have known about it by exercising ordinary care
- The condition occurred regularly and was, therefore, foreseeable.
If you were an invitee and injured, then you need to hold the negligent property owner responsible.
Licensees
A licensee is someone who has a legal right to be on the property. Licensees include social guests as well as others with the right to enter a property, such as meter readers or salespeople. The duty of care owed to licensees is lower than to invitees. Property owners are required to exercise reasonable care in maintaining the property in a safe condition and are required to warn licensees of known dangers that may not be immediately obvious.
Trespassers
A trespasser enters property without permission or legal right. Property owners must avoid causing trespassers wanton or willful injuries and must warn them about known hazardous conditions.
Property Owner Responsibilities
Regardless of the visitor’s status, property owners should take certain steps to keep all visitors safe, including:
- Posting no trespassing signs
- Providing property notice of known dangerous conditions on the property
- Keeping the property in a reasonably safe condition
- Not creating hazardous conditions on the property
An experienced premises liability lawyer can review the circumstances surrounding your case to determine if the property owner has failed to uphold their legal responsibilities and is responsible for compensating you for your injuries.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
The potential compensation you can recover depends on factors specific to your case, including the type and severity of your injury.
Other factors that can affect your case’s value include:
- The type and duration of your medical treatment
- Whether your injuries caused permanent disabilities or impairments
- The effect the injuries have on your ability to work
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- The insurance coverage available for your claim
- Who is responsible for your injuries
- Whether you contributed to the accident
At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we want to help secure the maximum compensation possible for your personal injury claim. We will work hard to gather evidence of your injuries and the property owner’s negligence to maximize your financial recovery.
What Financial Compensation Can I Recover After a Slip and Fall Accident?
If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you could recover compensation for your damages, such as:
- Past and future lost income
- Lost current and future wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer can review your case and determine the compensation you may be eligible to recover.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partially At Fault for an Accident?
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system, so whether you can recover compensation if you contributed to the accident will depend on how fault is apportioned between you and the defendant. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, you will be barred from recovering any compensation. If you are found 50% or less at fault, you can seek compensation, but it will be reduced by your degree of fault.
Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
Slips and falls can cause serious injuries. The severity of these injuries depends on many factors, including your pre-existing health conditions, age, height you fell from, the type of surface you fell on, the position of your body, and the factors contributing to the fall. Some slips and falls result in only minor injuries, such as scrapes or bruises. Others can cause life-altering injuries.
When accident victims land on their heads, they can suffer serious traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can lead to consciousness disorders, brain damage, altered personalities, and complications that drastically reduce quality of life. In many slips and falls, accident victims fall on their backs, which can lead to serious spinal cord injuries, potentially resulting in paralysis.
Many slip and fall victims suffer from broken or dislocated bones. They may require surgeries, medical devices, and extensive rehabilitation.
Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for your medical expenses and other losses caused by the accident.
What Is the Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida
Florida’s statute of limitations generally gives accident victims two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries. However, exceptions exist that may shorten or lengthen this deadline.
The best way to determine the deadline that applies to your case is to work with an experienced attorney who can review your case and determine the deadline that applies to your particular case. It’s important you take timely legal action because if the statute of limitation expires on your claim, you can forfeit your right to recover compensation through the civil court system.
Contact an Experienced Citra Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Were you injured in a slip and fall accident in Citra? Are you confused about your legal rights or need help with your insurance claim? If so, a Citra slip and fall accident lawyer can help. Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers can advise you of your rights, investigate your accident, gather evidence to prove negligence, and pursue fair compensation on your behalf. Call us today to get started with a free initial consultation.
