Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere to anyone. Slick or uneven flooring in restaurants, stores, hotels, and shopping malls can easily lead to devastating injuries. Fortunately, a Dunedin slip and fall lawyer may be able to help victims pursue a personal injury claim and recover compensation for their losses.
While some slip and fall injuries are quite minor, others can have catastrophic results that impact your ability to continue working and enjoying your normal activities. When negligence has led to your slip and fall, there may be legal grounds to hold property owners accountable. If you are in this situation, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney for advice.
Common Trip and Fall Incidents in Dunedin
Slips and falls can occur in various situations, including:
- Accidents on malfunctioning elevators or escalators
- Wet floors due to spills or weather
- Poor lighting
- Misplaced mats at doorways and uneven flooring
Owners and managers of properties that are open to customers must make reasonable efforts to maintain their property for the safety of others. As a result, if property owners knew, or should have known, of a hazard or danger on their land, they have an affirmative duty to either remedy the problem or adequately warn customers. If individuals suffer injuries due to the negligence of property owners, they may wish to consult a slip and fall lawyer in Dunedin for legal advice.
Gathering Evidence in Slip and Fall Cases
When individuals pursue a personal injury claim following a slip and fall accident, they must provide evidence that definitively establishes the negligence of the property owner. Absent proof that the property owner knew or should have known of the danger, victims may be unable to sustain a personal injury claim. A slip and fall attorney in Dunedin may be able to help in the following ways:
- Investigating the facts of the case and identifying potential defendants
- Document medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages related to the injuries
- Reviewing statements of involved parties and interviewing witnesses
- Providing evidence and negotiating a settlement with the insurance company
Property owners owe individuals who are on their property for business purposes the highest duty of care. As a result, they must be mindful of any hazards that exist on the property and address them in a reasonably timely manner.
For example, if a massive spill occurs in a grocery store and is still present without any warning signs four hours later, then anyone who slips, falls, and sustains injuries as a result of the spill may have a valid claim. In contrast, if a slip and fall occurs immediately after a spill, it might be far more challenging to pursue a personal injury claim, since there was little or no time for employees to take actions to remedy the situation.
Contact a Dunedin Slip and Fall Attorney for Advice
The immediate aftermath of a slip and fall accident can be stressful and confusing. While trying to deal with your injuries and obtain necessary medical care, you also may be unable to work and overwhelmed by insurance company adjusters seeking information from you. In this situation, a Dunedin slip and fall lawyer may be able to offer you the guidance and legal representation that you need.
Florida law establishes strict timeframes for injury victims to file personal injury claims following slip and fall accidents. Therefore, individuals should take steps to protect their rights and contact legal counsel as quickly as possible.