Palm Beach Gardens Slip and Fall Lawyer

Most slip-and-fall accidents are considered premises liability cases, which involve the duties and responsibilities property owners have to ensure a safe space for visitors. Unfortunately, it is increasingly difficult to recover fair compensation for an injury on another person’s or business’s property.

To prove that a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries, the slip and fall accident victim must demonstrate that:

• A dangerous condition existed on the owner’s property
• The property owner knew about the danger, yet did not correct it
• The condition existed for a long enough period of time that a reasonable property owner should have discovered the condition and fixed it
• Your injuries were directly caused by the dangerous condition

Even if you were partially responsible for your fall, you may still be eligible for compensation. Under Florida’s comparative negligence rule, your settlement may be reduced by your share of fault, but you won’t be automatically disqualified. For example, if you notice danger directly before you but do not take any measures to avoid it, you may be held partially accountable for the accident. This can limit the amount of compensation you can recover.

Having a personal injury attorney familiar with Palm Beach Gardens can make all the difference. Our local legal team understands how to build strong claims, gather relevant evidence, and handle negotiations with insurance companies who are quick to minimize payouts.

The statute of limitations for slip and fall claims in Florida is two (2) years from the date of injury, or three (3) years if the fall occurred on government property.

Example of a Slip and Fall Accident

Slip and fall accidents in Palm Beach Gardens often happen at busy places like grocery stores, shopping centers, or restaurants. For example, a shopper might slip on an unmarked wet floor and fall, resulting in a fractured wrist and head injury. If the grocery store failed to clean the spill or put up a hazard warning, the injured person could have grounds for a personal injury claim.

The minutes and hours after a fall are critical, both for your own health and safety as well as your ability to recover compensation. In order to protect yourself and your rights, here’s what you need to do immediately after a slip and fall accident.

1. Get Medical Care Immediately: Your well-being comes first. Even if you don’t feel seriously injured, visit a doctor. Some injuries, like internal trauma or concussions, may not be obvious at first.
2. Report the Fall: Let the property owner, manager, or employee in charge know what happened. Make sure the incident is documented and ask for a copy of the report.
3. Take Photos and Notes: Capture images of where the fall occurred, including any visible hazards like spills, cracks, or broken lighting. Note the time, date, and surrounding conditions.
4. Collect Witness Details: If anyone saw the incident, ask for their contact information.
5. Be Cautious with Insurance Adjusters: Their job is to limit the property owner’s liability. Don’t give a recorded statement or accept a settlement before consulting with a lawyer.
6. Speak to a Palm Beach Gardens Slip and Fall Lawyer – An attorney can help identify who may be responsible and work to recover the full compensation you’re owed, including for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Under Florida’s premises liability laws, certain individuals and organizations are legally required to keep their property safe for visitors.

Depending on the events of your slip and fall in Palm Beach Gardens, responsibility for your accident could rest with the property owner, the person or business occupying the property, or even the following:

• Property or building managers
• Landlords
• Property management companies
• Other parties in control of the property (such as maintenance contractors)
• Manufacturers of hazardous products or materials that contributed to the accident

The compensation you may receive for slip and fall injuries depends on the nature and seriousness of your injuries, as well as how much responsibility the at-fault party bears.

Generally, compensation falls into two main categories:

Economic Damages:

These cover the direct financial costs associated with your accident. Examples include:

• Medical bills from hospital stays, tests, treatments, and rehabilitation
• Lost income or reduced earning ability
• Repair or replacement of damaged personal property (like a broken phone or tablet)

Non-Economic Damages:

These address the more subjective impacts of your injury, i.e., losses that aren’t as easily measured in dollars. This can include:

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

To help prove that the negligence of a property owner or landlord caused your injuries, we’ll conduct an in-depth and thorough investigation into the accident. Although these cases often seem simple, they are rarely as straightforward as they first appear.

To help with your claim, we may:

• Gather evidence from the accident scene, including visiting the scene in person, watching any available video footage, gathering any photos of the incident, interviewing witnesses, obtaining copies of the accident report, and reviewing the property’s operations and cleaning records.
• Review your medical records and utilize medical specialists to assess your injuries and share expert testimony on your condition.
• Work directly with the insurance company so that you can focus on your recovery.