Premises Liability Attorneys in St. Pete and Pinellas Park
Visiting your neighbor or your favorite local restaurant can go from fun to tragic in a second. When a property owner invites others into their business, home, or yard, they must ensure their property is safe. Visitors expect a property owner to use a standard of care in maintaining their property and for fixing any hazardous conditions. Failure to fix a leaking roof or to install a handrail along steps can result in a slip and fall, resulting in serious injuries for you. If you’ve been the victim of a negligent property owner, contact Oldham and Delcamp to discuss your options.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
When a property owner fails to remove, repair, or prevent a potential danger on their premises, they are negligent. Examples of conditions that can cause someone to slip and fall, resulting in possible premises liability claims include:
- Stairs with no handrails
- Wires and cords stretched across common walkways
- Poor lighting in parking lots
- Torn carpets
- Wet floors
Slip and fall accidents due to property negligence are preventable. No one should suffer from physical, financial, or emotional stress due to the laziness or uncaring attitude of a neglectful property owner.
What to Do After Experiencing a Slip and Fall
Experiencing a fall is devastating. Once you recover from the initial shock, try to collect as much evidence as possible. Photos or videos of the scene and your injuries, along with contact information for witnesses are valuable for any future litigation. If you are physically and emotionally unable to collect the information, ask a witness to help you.
Do not accept fault for your fall and do not speak with the property owner or employees. The more you can stay calm immediately following your fall, the better for building a strong case later.
Florida Law Regarding Premises Liability
There is no excuse for property negligence. Florida law requires the injured party to prove the following:
- An establishment had actual knowledge of the dangerous conditions
- An establishment had constructive knowledge, meaning the condition exists regularly or for a length of time.
Knowing of a problem, or conditions were foreseeable, and yet doing nothing to remedy the situation is negligence. Failure to use care and to protect invitees to the property from harm is the basis of premises liability.
Types of Slip and Fall Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). TBIs are the result of a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury. A severe TBI can disrupt normal brain function and lead to problems with memory, motor function, and controlling emotions. Many patients with severe TBI require a lifetime of expensive medical and personal care.
In addition to a TBI, a serious fall may result in multiple broken bones, back injuries, and other painful medical conditions. Injuries from a slip and fall can prevent you from returning to a career you once enjoyed. While each case is different, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney
Insurance companies may offer you a low dollar amount to settle the case quickly. It is important to remember that their aggressive representatives are looking out for the company, and not you.
A personal injury attorney familiar with Florida law can provide you with the peace-of-mind you need during this stressful time. Let the highly skilled legal team of Oldham and Delcamp handle the insurance companies. If we are unable to secure a fair settlement out-of-court, we are unafraid to go to trial.
At Oldham and Delcamp, we offer free case evaluations. Due to the statute of limitations, time is of the essence so don’t delay. Call us at 888-737-4129 or contact us online today.