A Closer Look At Florida Slip And Fall Injuries
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
When most people think of the word 'accident', automobile accidents are what usually come to mind. And with good reason - auto accidents are increasingly common and also come with a huge potential for serious injury, disability, and death. But did you know that slip and fall injuries are very common as well - and also very dangerous in their own right? While ice isn't generally a problem here in Florida, there are plenty of potential causes of falls that can occur on a property, and fall-related deaths are actually almost as big a killer as motor vehicle accidents when it comes to unintentional deaths in the USA.
Even if a fall isn't fatal, it can lead to major financial burdens and physical injury that can take months or even years to recover from - broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and more are very common with a fall. As such, it's worth taking a closer look at this type of accident and whether or not you might be owed compensation for your injuries.
An Increasing Problem
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, unintentional falls were the top cause of nonfatal injuries in the US across nearly every age group in the country. And more than nine million people are injured each year by an accidental fall.
This is made even worse when older Americans are the ones involved in a slip or fall. Balance issues mean that they may be more at-risk, and their more fragile bones are more susceptible to breaking. As such, injuries can be very severe for those older victims. In short, falls are a major problem.
The Question of Compensation
It's worth understanding just why seeking compensation is important. An accident of any kind can lead to major financial costs including:
- Lost wages due to time missed from work during your recovery
- Medical costs
- Future potential lost wages and future potential medical costs
- Increased financial distress from existing bills, which are harder to pay when recovering
And if your fall was caused by the actions of someone else, it's not fair that you should have to shoulder that financial burden on your own. Getting compensation for your injuries is something that can help you improve your overall prospects for a total recovery.
Proving Fault In A Slip And Fall
Slip and fall injuries are covered under what is known as 'premises liability' in the Florida law books. This means that in order to be able to seek financial compensation for your injuries, you must be able to prove that your fall was caused by the reckless or negligent actions of a property owner or manager.
With premises liability cases, this isn't' always easy to do. This is because the factor that contributed to the accident must be shown to have been known by the property owner or manager, and they must be shown to have willfully ignored it.
For example, a spill may cause an accident to occur when the wet surface is slipped on. But if the property owner wasn't aware that the spill existed, they can't be held responsible. If, however, it's shown that they were informed of the spill and chose to ignore it, neither cleaning it or placing warning signs, they can be considered to have been negligent.
A good personal injury lawyer will be able to determine what your rights are and then help you prove that you deserve compensation. It isn't always easy to do, and as such, you'll need the help of the professionals.
If you've been injured in a slip and fall, our team is here to help. Contact us today to set up your free initial consultation and find out more about your rights.