When a property owner’s negligence results in an injury to a person on his or her property, the injured party may file a personal injury lawsuit against the owner. Property owners are required to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition to avoid harm to visitors. This applies to business owners, government entities, schools, and residential property owners. Below is an overview of what one must prove in order to be successful in a Florida slip and fall case.
Causes of Florida slip and fall accidents
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Failure to clean up spills
- Inadequate lighting
- Slick flooring surfaces
- Holes or cracks in flooring
- Objects or debris in walkways
- Uneven flooring
- Pulls or tears in carpet
- Inadequate warnings of known dangers
Negligence in Florida slip and fall cases
When determining whether a property owner’s negligence caused a slip and fall accident, the court will assess whether the owner of a property acted reasonably in addressing the hazard that caused the accident. Property owners are legally required to ensure that their property is reasonably safe and that hazards are fixed or prevented. In assessing the issue of a property owner’s negligence in a slip and fall case, the court will assess the following types of issues:
- Time: How much time did the property owner have to resolve the hazard that caused the fall?
- Reasonableness: Was the hazard created by something reasonable?
- Response: Did the owner respond appropriately to the hazard, and does the owner have a routine in place to prevent and assess such incidents?
- Prevention: Could the owner have taken reasonable measures to prevent the incident?
Common slip and fall injuries
Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries, including:
- Fractures
- Brain injuries
- Lacerations
- Dislocations
- Back injuries
- Bruises
- Sprains
- Strains
- Concussions
- Soft tissue injuries
The bottom line
Each slip and fall case is unique. Therefore, determining whether a property owner’s negligence played a role in causing your slip and fall accident requires a careful analysis of the specific facts of your case. The best way to assess whether you have a good chance of recovery in your Florida slip and fall case is to contact an experienced Florida personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Pensacola and Northwest Florida personal injury attorneys
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Pensacola, Florida, you need an experienced Florida personal injury attorney on your side. At Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., we have over seventy years of combined experience representing slip and fall accident victims in Pensacola and throughout Northwest Florida. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a slip and fall accident in Pensacola or Northwest Florida, please contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our talented Florida slip and fall accident attorneys.
Posted in: Slip and Fall Accidents