Anyone can trip, slip and fall. And while most slip-and-fall victims often leave the scene with nothing more than dirt on their clothing and a little bit of embarrassment, some slips and falls can lead to life-altering injuries like hip dislocation and spine and brain injuries. If you recently suffered harm due to a trip or slip and fall attributable to someone else’s actions or inactions, you may be in a position to hold the negligent party accountable through a premises liability claim.
Like other legal matters, premises liability claims can be complicated. Per Florida’s comparative negligence statute, your damages will be reduced based on any role that your own negligence may have played in the slip-and-fall incident that resulted in your harm. Thus, to boost your odds of maximizing your compensation amount, it is imperative that you take a few specific steps.
Notify the property owner about your slip-and-fall
It is important that you file an incident report with the property owner as soon as you can. There are two reasons why this is crucial. Firstly, the property owner or manager will note the circumstances that led to the accident and (will, hopefully) take measures to prevent future falls. And, secondly, this report can potentially serve as evidence that you indeed slipped and fell while on their property. If there were hazards on the scene that led to your trip or slip and fall (like a wet floor, loose cables or torn carpets), be sure to have them noted in the incident report.
Seek treatment
Some slip-and-fall injuries like broken or twisted ankles may be immediately noticeable. However, others like some forms of internal injuries may take time to become apparent. Seeking immediate treatment helps to ensure that your injuries – whether immediately perceivable or not – are diagnosed and treated in time before they can escalate. It also helps to ensure that your injuries are properly documented. Basically, you will have an easier time litigating your claim if the medical report clearly attributes your injuries to the slip-and-fall in question.
Protect your interests
If you trip or slip and fall while on someone else’s property, you deserve justice, especially if you were not at fault or were only partially at fault. Learning more about Florida premises liability law can help you protect your rights and interests while pursuing a premises liability claim.