Broken Sidewalk Accidents in Gainesville, FL
Were you injured in a broken sidewalk accident in Gainesville, FL? It’s possible you have a claim for compensation against the party responsible for the upkeep of the sidewalk. You can pursue compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, emotional distress, and more in that claim.
Allen Law Firm, P.A., can help you every step of the way. Our Gainesville slip & fall lawyers have over a century of combined experience and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for our deserving clients. We can do the same for you starting today.
Contact or call our personal injury law firm in Gainesville today at (877) 255-3652 or by contacting us online. We offer a free, no-pressure consultation to go over your case.
How Allen Law Firm, P.A., Can Help After a Gainesville Broken Sidewalk Accident
It might seem like broken sidewalk accidents are simply unfortunate events that leave their victims with no recourse. However, that is far from the case. Whether the accident took place on public or private property, you might be able to collect compensation from whoever is in charge of maintaining the sidewalk.
An experienced Gainesville premises liability attorney can help you explore your legal options and, from there, devise a plan of action to seek compensation for all of the harm you’ve suffered. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, our personal injury law firm in Gainesville will get to work by:
- Investigating your case to collect evidence and determine all of your damages
- Handling the negotiations with the other side to arrive at a fair settlement
- If the other party won’t settle, we can file a lawsuit against them in court
- Apprising you of the status of your case at all times
If you’d like more information regarding how we can help with your claim, reach out to our law office in Gainesville, Florida, today by phone or online.
How Does Liability Work in a Broken Sidewalk Accident Case in Gainesville?
Virtually every property owner in the State of Florida must keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for accidents that occur. What exactly that entails depends on the status of the visitor at the time as well as the facts involved in the incident.
Florida premises liability law doesn’t stray too far from the norm. There are three broad categories of visitor status in the state: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
An invitee is someone who is induced or invited (either directly or impliedly) to visit a piece of property, sometimes, but not always, to the benefit of the property owner. Think of a person entering a retail shop to purchase goods or a person visiting a public park. Invitees are owed the highest duty of care, and property owners must usually inspect the property for dangerous conditions and fix them reasonably quickly.
A licensee is someone who comes upon a property without necessarily being invited. A door-to-door salesman is an excellent example. A couple visiting friends for a dinner party would also fall under this category under Florida law as “invited licensees.” Licensees are not owed as high a duty of care by the property owner, but the owner of the premises must still usually warn about dangerous conditions.
Lastly, a trespasser is someone who enters the premises without the permission of the property owner. Trespassers are generally not owed a duty of care in the State of Florida, aside from a select few exceptions. One exception is the “attractive nuisance” doctrine, whereby a child trespasser enticed by something like an open swimming pool could receive compensation if an accident occurs.
Who Could Be Held Liable for My Injuries After a Gainesville Broken Sidewalk Accident?
The party or parties liable for your broken sidewalk accident injuries in Gainesville is a fact-specific determination. Possibilities include:
- City of Gainesville
- Business owners
- Private property owners
- Government agencies
- Construction companies
The upkeep of sidewalks in Florida generally falls on the government, but other parties may be liable instead, depending on the circumstances involved in the case. The source of your compensation could differ as well. For instance, you might file a claim against a business owner or private homeowner’s insurance policies. Or, instead, you might file a personal injury lawsuit in court to collect compensation.
Our legal team will conduct a thorough internal review of your case once you hire us, and we’ll work hard to identify every liable party for your injuries as well as your best course of action. Contact Allen Law Firm, P.A., today for trusted legal advice and help.
How Much Time Is There To File My Broken Sidewalk Accident Lawsuit in Gainesville, Florida?
The standard deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in the State of Florida is either two or four years from the date of the accident, depending on when the accident took place. Florida recently adjusted its statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If your accident happened on 3/23/2023 or before, you’ll have four years; if it happened after that date, you will have two years instead. If you file your lawsuit too late, you won’t be able to pursue compensation because the court will refuse your case.
There is even more nuance to Florida’s statute of limitations than what is mentioned here, as many other exceptions could apply that give you a different amount of time to file your lawsuit. We suggest contacting our law office as soon as possible if you’re unsure whether you still have time to file a lawsuit, given your situation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Gainesville Broken Sidewalk Accident Lawyer
Instead of worrying about how you’ll be made whole again after a broken sidewalk accident in Gainesville, Florida, hire Allen Law Firm, P.A. We can handle all of the paperwork, communications, and procedures related to your claim on your behalf.
Our law firm also works on contingency, so hiring us doesn’t cost you anything upfront. We’ll only collect attorney’s fees if we obtain compensation for you. This payment system means you can hire us even if the accident has put you in a tough financial spot, and it also means we will be incentivized to maximize the value of your claim.
To learn more, call our experienced Gainesville personal injury attorneys today at (877) 241-1933.
