Most slips, trips, and falls are minor accidents that you can simply brush off. Some, however, can be more serious—resulting in broken bones, chronic pain, and long-term injuries.

The situation can seem even worse if your slip and fall accident happened as a result of someone else’s negligence—for example a landlord, property owner, or building manager. 

If you are a victim of a slip and fall accident that wasn’t your fault, then you are entitled to seek compensation for your financial woes and other losses. Don’t let the at-fault party or their insurance company tell you otherwise. 

Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents can be tricky from a victim's or layperson’s standpoint. So here is everything you need to know about such a case and how a slip-and-fall attorney in Plantation can help you. 

Slip and fall accidents and injuries

A slip or trip and fall accident occur more frequently than you think. According to the CDC and NSC, over 1 million individuals visit the emergency room yearly due to slips, trips, and fall accidents. It is also the most common cause of workers’ compensation claims, lost days from work, and even death for people aged 65 to 84 years old. 

If you’re lucky, slipping from a wet floor or tripping due to uneven walk paths would only result in minor skin bruising or muscle soreness. But more often than not, such preventable accidents frequently result in serious physical and cognitive injuries, such as the following:

• Broken bones, such as hip fractures and broken arm bones
• Joint dislocations in the hip, shoulder, knee, or ankle
• Traumatic brain injury
• Soft tissue injuries include muscle pain and bruising or a torn ligament
• Spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage
• Coma
• Paralysis

Some types of injuries, like concussions or traumatic brain injuries, won’t appear immediately after the fall. It may take a few days or even weeks before severe injuries become apparent. 

So even if you experience a seemingly minor slip or fall accident, it is worth getting checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially true if there’s a liability issue at play.

Should you file a claim or lawsuit after a slip and fall accident? 

Slip and fall accidents can result in injuries that require long-term medical attention, which can physically, financially, and emotionally debilitate most victims. 

Injured individuals don’t just spend one ER visit to seek medical help. In most cases, victims often need to endure countless medical appointments, invasive procedures, therapy, and month-long time off from work.       

Fortunately, you can get compensated for these losses, especially if another party’s negligence caused the accident. For this, you will need the help of a slip and fall attorney in Plantation to prove liability based on the premises liability law. 

What is premises liability?

Premise liability law imposes a legal responsibility on property owners when someone gets hurt or injured on their home, building, land, or establishment. It states that property owners should be held liable during such accidents if:

• Property owners or occupants caused an accident due to the dangerous conditions of their property.
• Property owners or occupants failed to maintain and take care of the property.
• Property owners or occupants knew about the hazardous condition but chose to ignore or failed to correct the hazard. 

Injured victims can file a premises liability claim or lawsuit to recover financial compensation and other losses. However, the burden of proof lies on the side of the plaintiff; that’s why it’s crucial to get the help of the best slip-and-fall attorney in Plantation. 

What should you do after a slip and fall accident?

What you do after your accident can greatly affect how your claim or lawsuit will turn out. Protect your rights and build a strong case against the at-fault party’s negligence by doing these five crucial steps.

1. Seek medical care immediately

Your or your loved one’s health should be your number one priority after a slip, trip, or fall accident. Even if the injuries seem mild, make sure to seek medical attention to get your injuries treated immediately. 

A doctor’s examination or your medical record is also hard evidence that will prove your injuries and that the accident actually happened. This is why it’s important not to delay medical treatment or succeeding appointments ordered by your physician. 

2. File an official report

Make your accident or injury official by filing an incident or injury report to the management or property owner. This piece of writing is another hard piece of evidence that would establish credibility and help you file a stronger claim or lawsuit. 

Make sure to make the report as detailed as possible but only stick to the facts of the incident. You should file the statement in writing and get a copy from the property owner before you leave.  

3. Gather evidence and document everything

Document everything. Take videos and photos of the exact location and the main cause of the accident from every angle. Take photographs of the whole place, including little details that may have contributed to the accident. 

Write the accident as soon as possible so you won’t forget anything. Jot down important details, such as the address, names of the owners or occupants, phone numbers, emails, and potential witnesses. You may also get witness statements’ in writing or recording. 

Look for CCTVs from another property or establishment that may have caught the incident on tape. Request a copy or ask them to retain the footage. 

Additionally, you should take photographs of your injuries and keep the clothes you wore as evidence. Do not clean any damage or dirt from your clothes and shoes; preserve them as they are. 

4. Don’t provide statements.

Landlords, property owners, or establishment managers will probably try and contact you for various reasons. Their insurance adjusters will also attempt to contact you in the hopes of negotiating a settlement.

REMEMBER: Refrain from giving any statement to anyone, even on social media, regarding the incident. You should also stay calm and avoid placing any blame or suggesting negligence on your part. The best thing to do is speak to your trusted lawyer and let them do the talking. 

5. Meet with a lawyer

If you have been seriously injured due to another party’s negligence, an attorney can help you make the best decisions on what to do in this matter. 

Slip and fall accidents are no simple feat. It can take a toll on your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. But you can recover from these losses and get the compensation you deserve through the help of the best lawyer, like Atty. Rafael Gonzalez.

How can our lawyers for slip and fall accidents help your case?

As one of the best personal injury attorneys in Broward County for slip and fall accidents, our office can help you file a claim, establish liability, and represent your case if it goes to trial. 

But more importantly, our defense team, headed by Atty Rafael Gonzalez, will protect your rights and ensure that you get the maximum amount of settlement that would compensate for your losses. 

Atty. Gonzalez is also one of the best Plantation car accident lawyers and Plantation personal injury lawyers. So, don’t hesitate to consult us regarding your legal options during vehicular accidents and injuries.  

Schedule your free consultation with our English and Spanish-speaking team by calling us at 954-961-5100.

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.