Posted By Salter Healy|
February 17 2020 |Slip and Fall
There are 3 things you must prove to win a slip and fall case in Florida:
Unsafe conditions
Negligent practices
Improper warning about potential hazards
If these three elements can be proven, you will likely receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries. However, it takes an experienced trial attorney to gather the necessary evidence to build a successful case. Let’s go over it step-by-step:
Unsafe Conditions
One of the things you must prove is that unsafe conditions caused your injury. For example, if you trip on your own feet while walking in a hotel lobby, there likely isn’t much cause for legal action (unfortunately, embarrassment doesn’t count as significant pain and suffering). Unsafe conditions could be defined as a wet floor, faulty material, uneven surfaces, or tripping hazards. A property owner owes a duty of care to the public. This means that the condition of the premises is expected to be safe.
Negligent Practices
A property owner breaches that duty of care when they are deliberately negligent. For example, not putting up a wet floor sign, or not maintaining their property even though they know of a faulty condition. To prove that the property owner was negligent, your attorney can obtain surveillance footage that shows that the unsafe area hasn’t been maintained.
Improper Warning About Potential Hazards
This somewhat goes hand in hand with the previous section. The absence of a wet floor or “watch your step” sign will make them liable for your injuries. However, just because the signs are posted does not mean your claim is invalid. A “watch your step” sign could be listed very small in a location you probably would never notice. A wet floor sign may not be in the exact location it should be. The property owner needs to put warning signs in a location that any reasonable person will notice. If not, they are negligent, and therefore liable for your injuries.
Contact a St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyer
We hope that this information has been helpful. If you have been seriously injured and want to know if you have a valid claim, call our office today and we can go more in-depth with you about the 3 things you must prove to win a slip and fall case. We also offer a free initial consultation. Contact our St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyers to get the help you deserve.
Watch this Video for More Information
After a slip and fall injury, you may be wondering how to maximize your potential compensation. Here is some important information: