Slip & Fall Accident Lawyers

Slip & Fall Accidents

In Florida, you have the right to seek just compensation if you were injured on someone else’s property. While there are certain circumstances under which compensation may not be available (e.g., if you injured yourself while trespassing), if you have suffered a serious injury in a slip, trip, or fall accident, you owe it to yourself to speak with an attorney.

How can our slip & fall lawyers help? Under Florida law, property owners have a legal responsibility to make sure their premises are reasonably safe for their visitors and guests. In different contexts, this can mean different things. For example, while a homeowner’s obligations may be limited to warning visitors of any known safety risks (such as a cracked cement step or loose handrail), business owners have greater responsibilities. They must fix any issues that could be discovered with a reasonable inspection. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to assess the circumstances in your case, and take appropriate steps to seek maximum compensation for your injury-related losses.

What Causes Slip & Falls?

Slip & fall injuries can be very serious and leave the victim with a permanent disability. Dislocated hips, fractured bones, and tendon and ligament injuries are not just painful and require expensive medical treatment, they can also lead to permanent loss of mobility and comfort. We pursue maximum compensation for a lifetime of medical costs and damages.

We are a plaintiffs-only litigation firm. We never represent insurance companies defending themselves against premises liability injury or wrongful death claims. We have a successful record of helping people recover full and fair compensation for injuries related to such accidents as:

Building Code and Safety Violations

From homes and businesses that were not built to code – to job sites without adequate safety precautions in place – there is a variety of building code and safety violations that can lead to dangerous slip, trip, and fall accidents. If you were injured due to a building code or safety violation, we can use this to help prove your compensation claim.

Clutter, Trash, and Debris

On sidewalks, and in walkways of hospitals, nursing homes, and businesses, clutter and debris can create risks for sudden and unexpected falls. Whether you tripped over an obstacle or were unable to access a handrail, you may be entitled to financial recovery.

Dangerous Sidewalks and Parking Lots

Potholes, cracks, tree roots, unmarked curbs, inadequate signage, and numerous other issues can lead to falls on sidewalks or in parking lots. If you fell while walking to or from (or simply in front of) a store, office, residence, or other business, you may be entitled to recover your injury-related losses.

Dangerous Stairs and Handrails

Improper design (e.g., treads that are too short or risers that are too tall), crumbling concrete, cracked wood, inadequate skid protection, and various other factors can make stairs unreasonably dangerous. Loose handrails also play a role in many dangerous slip, trip, and fall accidents.

Elevators and Escalators

Elevator and escalator malfunctions can cause severe traumatic injuries. Maintenance issues (such as worn flooring material in an elevator) can cause slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents as well.

Flooring Defects and Maintenance Issues

Loose floorboards, uneven flooring services, torn carpeting, and other flooring defects and maintenance issues can cause accidents when you least expect them. As a general rule, property owners have to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition, and these types of issues will frequently support claims for financial compensation.

Rainwater

From puddles on sidewalks and parking lots to slippery floors at building exits and entrances, rainwater can present a slip hazard under a wide variety of circumstances.

Recently-Cleaned Floors

Recent cleanings can make tiles and other smooth flooring surfaces extremely slippery, and recently-cleaned floors are to blame for several slip-and-fall accidents every year.

Spills

From grocery stores to hospitals, spills can lead to severe injuries for unsuspecting customers and visitors. Businesses must clean up spills (or place adequate warning signs) promptly to prevent unnecessary falls. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for the victims’ financial and non-financial losses.

Unsafe Ladders and Scaffolding

Unsafe ladders and scaffolding are among the greatest fall risks for many types of workers. Homeowners can suffer severe injuries on unsafe ladders as well. If a ladder’s treads are loose, slippery, or otherwise defective, they can cause dangerous accidents resulting in severe traumatic injuries.

We Get Results

What Our Slip & Fall Lawyers Will Do For You

In most cases, Rue & Ziffra can negotiate a settlement offer from the insurance company, which we will present for your approval. If we can settle your case, it is over and you receive payment almost immediately. However, we are always prepared to fight a slip-and-fall case in court if it cannot be settled to the client’s satisfaction.

We want you to be able to focus on recovery and leave your accident claim to us. When you engage Rue & Ziffra and their experienced slip & fall accident lawyers, we will immediately send letters of representation to inform creditors, insurance companies, and others that we represent you and that work on a legal claim for compensation is underway. These letters advise them that we speak for you in all matters pertaining to your accident and that we anticipate money to pay bills related to your accident and injuries. This lets you send them all to us when they call to bother you.

In the meantime, we want to make sure you have medical treatment and anything else you need to recover from the accident. If you need one, we can provide a list of medical professionals we know and trust.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

After a serious injury or accident, victims and their families have many questions in mind. We encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation, so we can personally address all your questions and concerns.

Meanwhile, these are a few of the most common questions we hear from our clients.

What Are Some Examples Of Fall-Related Injuries That Can Support Claims For Financial Compensation?

If you have been injured in a fall that was someone else’s fault, you can seek financial compensation regardless of the nature of your injury (or injuries). We routinely represent clients who have suffered all types of traumatic injuries in slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents, including:

  • Back injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Arm and leg injuries
  • Paralysis (quadriplegia and paraplegia)
  • Head trauma and brain damage
  • Wrongful death
What Makes A Property Owner Liable For Related Accident?

Under Florida law, a property owner’s legal duties are dependent upon the reasons why other people may visit their property. The general rules are as follows:

  • Duties to Invitees – If you have been “invited” to someone else’s property, the property owner should protect against foreseeable dangers. This means that the property owner must conduct a reasonable inspection, and must remedy (or warn of) any dangers that either: (i) were discovered during the inspection, or (ii) should have been discovered during the inspection. When you are patronizing a business or attending a party, you are considered an invitee.
  • Duties to Licensees – If you are lawfully on someone else’s property for your purposes, you are considered a “licensee.” In Florida, property owners must warn licensees of any known dangers on their property.
  • Duties to Trespassers – Property owners owe the least duties to trespassers. If you were trespassing when you were injured, you can only seek compensation if you were injured due to the property owner’s “willful and wanton” conduct.

There are exceptions to these general rules. For example, if your child was injured while trespassing, you may still be able to seek compensation under the “attractive nuisance” doctrine. As a result, you should not make any assumptions about your rights until you speak with an experienced attorney.

Isn't It My Own Fault If I Slipped (Or Tripped) And Fell?

No, not necessarily. Florida law recognizes that there are situations in which people can fall due to factors beyond their control, and we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for individuals who have suffered fall-related injuries.

But, let’s say that your fall was partially your fault (again, you should avoid making these types of assumptions). Then what? Under Florida’s “pure comparative negligence” law, you are still entitled to seek partial compensation for your injury-related losses.

How Can I Prove That A Business Owner "Should Have Known" About The Dangerous Condition That Caused My Fall?

If you were injured in a fall and the property owner claims that they had no idea that the dangerous condition existed, our attorneys will potentially have a number of ways to prove your claim for compensation. One option that is available in many cases is to use surveillance video. If we can show that the business owner had evidence of the hazard on tape, this will provide strong support for your claim for compensation.

What Is Florida's Statute Of Limitations For Slip And Fall Claims?

For non-fatal slip, trip, and fall accidents, the general rule is that you have four years to file a claim for financial compensation. However, it is important to conduct an investigation as soon as possible; and to give yourself the best chance to secure maximum compensation, you should speak with an attorney right away.

Speak With A Premises Liability Attorney At Rue & Ziffra Law Offices

If you have been injured in a fall in Volusia, Flagler, or Seminole County you can contact us 24/7 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. To find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for your slip and fall or trip and fall accident, please call (386) 788-7700 or tell us what happened online now.

Office Locations

Port Orange

632 Dunlawton Ave.
Port Orange FL, 32127
Phone: (386) 221-2957

Deland

101 N. Woodland Blvd.- Suite 201
Deland, FL 32720
Phone: (386) 204-0086

Palm Coast

4879 Palm Coast NW - Suite 1
Palm Coast, FL 32137
Phone: (386) 433-2168

Lake Mary

1540 International Pkwy - Suite 2000
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Phone: (407) 259-4485

Winter Park

941 W Morse Blvd.
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: (407) 634-2250

Orlando

7380 W Sand Lake Rd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: (407) 329-3976
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