Slips or trips and falls are among the most common accidents that people experience. Although many of these incidents do not lead to serious injuries, some do. If you were badly hurt in a fall on someone else’s property, contact the personal injury attorneys at The Florida Firm.
A DeLand slip and fall lawyer at Colling Gilbert Wright is dedicated to protecting your rights and ensuring you receive compensation for your injuries. We are proud that when other lawyers need representation in a personal injury case, they come to us for help. They turn to us because they respect our professionalism and skill and are familiar with the impressive results we consistently achieve on behalf of our injured clients.
Common Causes of Preventable Falls
Slips, trips, and falls are not random events. In most cases, a condition on the property would have been responsible for your accident. The person who controls access to the property—usually the property owner or someone who operates a business on leased premises—may be responsible for your injury.
There are numerous hazards that can cause you to slip or trip and fall. Some of the most common include:
- Wet or over-polished floors
- Loose rugs or carpet
- Broken stair railings
- Uneven or broken flooring
- Inconsistent stair risers
- Poor lighting
- Cords, cables, and other obstructions
- Dirt or debris
All of these conditions can cause severe injuries but are easily corrected.
If you suffered a significant injury because of a preventable fall, contact our slip and fall attorneys in DeLand right away. If the property owner or business owner failed to uphold their obligations, you can file a legal claim seeking compensation.
When Is a Property Owner Negligent?
Property owners and business operators must keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. However, the extent of their obligation depends on the reason you entered the property and how the property is used. Our lawyers could investigate your slip and fall incident in DeLand to determine whether the owner failed in their duty to you.
When an owner or operator uses the premises for a business or opens it to the public, the owner or operator must protect people who enter as window shoppers, customers, and patrons from harm. The owner or operator must remediate any obvious hazards as quickly as possible, inspect the property regularly for hidden dangers and repair them, and warn visitors of dangerous conditions and restrict access when feasible. An owner or operator who fails to uphold these obligations is negligent.
The owner has less rigorous obligations when you enter the property as a social guest or for your own purposes. They must warn you of any dangers they are aware of, even if the hazard is not immediately apparent. However, they are not required to inspect the property to identify hidden dangers or repair hazardous conditions.
Your Conduct May Affect Your Damages
When you can prove that a property owner or business operator’s negligence led to your injury, they are liable for your damages. You can claim payment for medical costs, reduced income, any injury-related losses that you expect to incur in the future, and compensation for your pain and suffering. However, you may not be able to collect all of your damages if you were partially responsible for the accident that led to your injury.
Florida Statutes § 768.81 requires a judge to apportion fault among the parties, and if you are more than 50 percent responsible, you cannot collect damages. If you are not primarily responsible, the court will reduce your damages by a percentage that reflects your portion of fault.
Over the decades, our team at Colling Gilbert Wright has secured significant verdicts and settlements for our clients, even when they bear some responsibility for the accident. Our DeLand attorneys could collect and present evidence demonstrating that your conduct was not the primary cause of your fall and preserve your right to compensation.
Contact Our Attorneys If You Were Injured in a Slip and Fall in DeLand
Injury claims against property owners can be complicated. Our DeLand slip and fall lawyer could help you understand your rights, support you throughout your recovery, and work to maximize your compensation.
There is no risk because we do not charge a fee or costs until we obtain compensation for you. Contact us today to discuss the situation that led to your slip and fall.