Orlando Slip and Fall Lawyers

Slip and fall accidents are the most common accidents but yet they are also the most difficult in which to prove liability. With injuries that can range from a simple sprained ankle to that of a spinal cord injury, it can certainly be the traumatic incident for the victim. In fact slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of serious injuries among older Americans who tend to suffer more so than younger people with stronger bones and the ability to recover.

Premises liability is the law that was designed to place liability for falls onto the building owner. The problem lies in the fact that it’s still difficult to prove liability unless one has a witness or photograph. For instance, if a customer trips and falls over something in an aisle of the store, and the store manager claims there was room for the customer to walk around the obstruction or that it had been removed, it is the victim’s responsibility to prove otherwise. Most all personal injury cases are difficult to prove, but slips and falls are more so.

Each state also has a statue of limitations for filing a claim for personal injury. If you think someone’s negligence caused you to fall, you have to make certain to file your claim within the time frame of the law. Some states require that you notify property owners within thirty to ninety days following the slip and fall incident, so it’s important you know the law that exists in the state where you experience the fall. Because each fall is unique, there are no specific laws to determine liability thus each case is evaluated on its own merits. Because of the inability to create any hard set of rules, the proof of negligence falls on the victim, and he or she must prove the property owner created an unsafe environment that caused the victim to fall.
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At the time of the fall, you want to make sure you receive medical attention and that you record any events that surrounded the fall such as slippery floors, obstructions or anything else of importance. You also want to photograph or videotape the accident site as soon as possible even if it’s just video clips with your cell phone. Anything you can do to help prove liability is to your benefit and will help solidify your case when you contact your personal injury lawyer. The more facts you can provide, the more likely you will win your case.

Because of the “grey” area that surrounds slip and fall accidents, it’s essential for a victim not to attempt to collect any compensation on his or her own. Provide your attorney with all of the facts and any evidence you collected and let him contact the building owner or store manager to discuss your case and any compensation that may be due you. Make certain you collect all of your information within a short time frame so that there is no chance of the situation being corrected before you return to photograph and videotape the area of your fall.