If you slip and fall on someone else’s property in Florida, you may be entitled to financial compensation. In order to be paid, however, you first must prove that the property owner was responsible for your injury. In order to prove that a property owner caused your injury, you should hire a Florida personal injury attorney. A Florida lawyer will guide you through the legal process as you pursue your claim in court or through the property owner’s insurance company. Below is some additional information on Florida slip and fall lawsuits.
Slip and Fall Causes
Slip and fall accidents have many causes, including:
- Loose tiles
- Debris on the ground
- Broken or missing handrails
- Dim lighting
- Uneven flooring
- Liquid on the ground
- Wet floors from cleaning
- Crowded aisles
Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall cases in Florida must be filed within a certain period after an accident occurs. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If an injured party misses this deadline, the plaintiff’s case will be dismissed. In Florida, the statute of limitations for slip and fall lawsuits is four years from the date that the accident occurred. Therefore, if you’ve suffered injuries in a slip and fall injury in the last four years, you should contact a Florida personal injury attorney as soon as possible to initiate your lawsuit.
Comparative Negligence
Florida operates under a system of comparative negligence, which means that each party to a lawsuit’s behavior is considered by the court when assessing damages. This means that if a plaintiff in a slip and fall case is found to have contributed to the accident in some way, the court will reduce the amount of his or her compensation. Defendants in Florida slip and fall cases often attempt to shift at least some of the blame for the accident onto the plaintiff. The likelihood that a defendant will attempt to shift the blame makes it particularly important to hire an experienced Florida personal injury attorney following a slip and fall accident. An experienced Florida personal injury attorney will use his or her knowledge of Florida’s comparative negligence system to fight to ensure that you receive full compensation in your Florida slip and fall case.
Pensacola Personal Injury Attorneys
If you are a victim of a slip and fall accident in Pensacola, Florida, you need an experienced Florida personal injury attorney in your corner. At Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., we have over seventy years of combined experience representing slip and fall accident victims in Florida. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a slip and fall accident in Northwest Florida, Staples Ellis is here to help you obtain financial compensation. Please contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our talented Florida personal injury attorneys.
Posted in: Slip and Fall Accidents