Establishing Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case

Slipping and falling is an almost unavoidable part of life. Fortunately, many of us are able to simply get up, dust ourselves off, and experience little more than a bump or bruise. In some cases, however, a slip and fall accident results in serious injuries requiring emergency medical treatment. In fact, the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that injuries sustained in slip and fall cases are responsible for approximately 8.9 million emergency department visits each year. In many cases, people who are seriously injured in slip and fall accidents are entitled to file a legal action to recover for their injuries.

Slip and falls are often caused by the negligence of property owners or leaseholders

If you leave a banana peel on your floor and later slip and hurt yourself, you will likely not be entitled to any compensation since you were responsible for your own injuries. If, however, you slip on a banana peel left on the floor of your doctor’s office, you will likely be able to recover for any losses you incur. This is because in almost every conceivable case, leaving a banana peel on the floor of a common area visited by others would be considered negligent.

In very general terms, negligence occurs when a party fails to conduct him or herself with the degree of care that would ordinarily be exercised by a reasonable person in the same circumstances. Some examples of the kinds of negligence that often result in injury-causing slip and fall accidents include the following:

·         Wet floors ·         Inadequate lighting ·         Uneven stairs ·         Cracked pavement ·         Uneven flooring

·         Debris left in walkways ·         Exposed cords or wires ·         Accumulations of snow or ice ·         Liquid spills ·         Slippery flooring material

After a slip and fall accident that occurs in a public place, victims should try and record as much information about the way the accident occurred as possible. If you are able, take photographs of the hazardous condition that caused your accident. If you are in a commercial establishment, make sure that an official incident report is generated. Additionally, it is prudent to obtain contact information from anyone who may have witnessed the accident. By fully documenting your accident and gathering information, you are maximizing your chances of obtaining compensation at a later date. Finally, be sure to call an attorney to retain representation as soon as you can. Waiting too long may result in the statute of limitations lapsing, meaning that you can no longer file a legal action to recover.

Contact a Boca Raton slip and fall attorney today to retain legal representation

At Lavalle Brown & Ronan, we are dedicated to helping the victims of slip and falls and other preventable accidents recover for their injuries. In many instances, slip and fall victims are legally entitled to compensation for various losses, including medical bills, lost income, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Do not hesitate to call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers.

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