Gulfport Slip And Fall Injury Attorney
Working with experienced slip and fall injury lawyers in Gulfport, FL, ensures that your claim is filed in time and your right to fair compensation is protected.
Summary
- Gulfport slip and fall accidents, often caused by negligence, can result in severe injuries like traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones.
- Common hazards include wet floors, uneven surfaces, cracked concrete, inadequate lighting, and broken stairs.
- Florida law requires injured individuals to prove a property owner had actual or constructive knowledge of a hazardous condition.
- In a Gulfport slip and fall claim, the injured party can seek damages including economic losses like medical bills and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Located in Pinellas County, Florida, Gulfport is a charming city near St. Petersburg, South Pasadena, and Boca Ciega Bay. The city is home to 11,783 residents as of the 2020 census. However, slip and fall accidents are a common risk in this area.
If you’ve been injured, Jones Law Group is here to provide the skilled legal representation you deserve. Slip and fall accidents can be catastrophic, causing life-changing injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and more.
A major injury can occur when the victim falls from a great height or hits their head off something, such as a countertop or shelving unit. The outcome of the accident depends on where and how the accident occurred.
When a life-changing injury occurs, victims have to deal with medical bills, lost wages, new disabilities, and more. They deserve to be fairly compensated for the damages associated with their injuries.
Our Gulfport slip and fall accident attorneys at Jones Law Group will make sure that you receive the most compensation possible for your accident. To book a free consultation, call (727) 571-1333 or submit a contact form.
Florida Laws that Will Impact Your Gulfport Slip and Fall Claim
If you’ve suffered a slip and fall injury in Gulfport, understanding Florida’s legal requirements is crucial to building a strong case.
Victims Must Demonstrate the Property Owner Knew About the Hazard
Slips and falls are 100% preventable. This is why negligence is such a large part of these cases. Florida Revised Statutes 768.0755 establishes specific guidelines for proving liability in slip and fall cases involving transitory foreign substances on business premises.
To succeed, the injured party must show that the business had either actual knowledge of the hazardous condition or constructive knowledge, meaning they should have reasonably known about the danger.
Constructive knowledge can be proven through circumstantial evidence. For example, if the dangerous condition existed for an extended period, the business should have addressed it with ordinary care.
Alternatively, if the hazard occurred regularly, it could be deemed foreseeable, and the business may be held responsible for not taking preventive measures. Importantly, this statute does not alter the common-law duty of care that property owners owe to visitors.
The Time Limit to Pursue Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries
Additionally, Florida enforces a strict statute of limitations for slip and fall claims. Victims typically have up to two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline could jeopardize your right to seek compensation.
If you’ve been injured, consulting an experienced Gulfport slip and fall injury lawyer can help you protect your legal rights and pursue the justice you deserve.
Common Causes and Hazards That Lead to Slip and Fall Injuries
These accidents often occur because of someone else’s negligence. For example, forgetting to clean up a spill or not keeping their business well-maintained.
Uneven Floors
If the flooring in a business, apartment complex, or other commercial property is uneven, people may trip over the uneven spots. This is considered potentially negligent under Florida law.
Instead, the business owner should have fixed the problem before anyone had the chance to trip over it. Injured victims may be able to sue the business for their fall with the help of a Gulfport slip and fall injury lawyer.
Wet And Slippery Floors
Wet and slippery floors are especially common in restaurants and grocery stores. They’re usually cleaned up right away. However, sometimes they’re left uncleaned and without a warning sign.
If someone were to slip and injure themselves because of wet and slippery floors, the company might be liable for taking too long to clean it up.
Cracked Concrete And Potholes
Parking lots are often filled with hazards, including cracked concrete and potholes. If a business doesn’t properly maintain its parking lot, anyone could seriously injure themselves. Cracked concrete and potholes that aren’t flush with the ground are both serious hazards.
Inadequate Lighting
Inadequate lighting can cause slip-and-fall accidents in many different areas, including parking lots, walkways, and stairwells. Poor lighting, while a hazard on its own, also increases the risk of other potential hazards.
Broken Stairs or Railings
Broken stairs and railings are a huge hazard, easily causing slip and fall accidents. Railings are required in some establishments. And if they aren’t present, you may have a case for your fall down the stairs. Broken stairs or missing steps can also cause severe falls.
Types of Injuries from Slip and Falls
While these accidents can be prevented, they’re still the leading cause of emergency room visits. Specifically, falls account for over eight million visits each year. Many different injuries can occur because of a Gulfport slip and fall accident.
Depending on where and how your injury occurs, you may experience some common slip and fall-related injuries, such as:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury occurs when the head is struck or penetrated by a great force. TBIs are common in slip and fall accidents, especially if the victim strikes their head off something, such as a countertop, shelving unit, railing, or the ground.
TBI can have devastating effects on one’s life, causing permanent damage to the brain in severe cases. TBIs can also cause a vegetative state, coma, and wrongful death.
Neck and Spinal Injuries
Neck and spinal injuries are most common in fall accidents, especially if the victim falls from a large height (most common in workplaces). However, back and neck injuries may also occur if the victim slips, or falls backward.
Damage to the spine can be life-threatening and minor cases may require long-term physical therapy and treatment.
Concussion
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is very common in all types of personal injury accidents. Concussions tend to be minor, not requiring much treatment.
However, concussions can be severe if you’ve experienced multiple concussions throughout your life, causing damage to the brain that needs to be kept under close watch.
Back Injuries
Back injuries such as herniated discs and damage to the soft tissue are common in slip and fall accidents. However, these types of injuries are generally minor and won’t require long-term treatment. In the case of more severe back injuries, surgery may be required.
Broken Bones
In most cases, broken bones will only require a cast to set the bone properly so it can heal. However, when a bone is broken in many places or severely broken, surgery is required to ensure the bone is set in the proper position before placing it into a cast.
Damages You May Be Entitled to in a Gulfport Slip and Fall Case
If you’ve been injured in a Gulfport slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation for various types of damages. These damages fall into three main categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic damages cover the tangible financial losses you experience as a result of your injury. These typically include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and any future income loss if your injury affects your ability to work. Expenses like transportation to and from treatment may also be included.
Non-economic damages address the emotional and physical impact of the accident. This compensation is for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. While less tangible, these damages play a critical role in recognizing the true scope of your injury’s consequences.
Punitive damages are awarded in rare cases where the property owner’s actions demonstrate gross negligence or intentional misconduct. The goal of these damages is to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future.
How to Find the Best Slip and Fall Attorney Near Me
Jones Law Group is affiliated with Dolman Law Group, representing all residents and visitors of Florida who experience slip and fall accidents and the severe injuries that come with those accidents.
In partnership with Dolman, we have recovered millions of dollars for our slip-and-fall clients. While you may feel reluctant or embarrassed to contact a Gulfport personal injury lawyer for help with your slip-and-fall case, we encourage you to do so anyway.
Here at Jones Law Group, we’ll never judge you for your accident. Florida premises liability laws are set in place to help victims of slip and fall accidents get the compensation they deserve.
By speaking up, you’ll be able to reclaim the damages associated with your injuries. Not only that, but you’ll be able to hold the liable parties accountable as well.
Questions to Ask a Florida Slip and Fall Injury Attorney Before Hiring Them
Here are some helpful tips for finding the best Florida personal injury lawyers near you. Make sure to keep in mind the following when looking for a slip-and-fall attorney in your area:
- How much experience does the attorney have with slip-and-fall cases in Florida?
- Does the law firm have the time and resources available to take on your case?
- Do the law firm and personal injury attorney have a high rating from peers and past clients?
- Are you able to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your options?
- Does the attorney have experience in negotiation and litigation?
Learn Why Gulfport Slip and Fall Victims Hire Jones Law Group
At Jones Law Group, we know that you’ll make the right choice when it comes to your Gulfport slip and fall accident attorney. Let us make the process as easy as possible for you.
Our Gulfport personal injury lawyers offer free case evaluations to help you explore your legal options. We’ll discuss your case during a free consultation, allowing us to learn more about your case while you learn more about our firm.
For more information or to schedule a free case evaluation with a Gulfport slip and fall injury lawyer, please contact us online, or at 727-571-1333.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is liable for a Gulfport slip and fall injury?
Liability for a slip and fall injury typically falls on the property owner or manager. They are responsible for maintaining a safe environment. If they fail to address or warn about dangerous conditions, they may be held accountable for the injuries resulting from their negligence.
How do you prove negligence in a Gulfport slip and fall case?
To prove negligence, you must establish that the property owner breached their duty of care. This involves showing they knew or should have known about a hazardous condition but failed to fix it or warn visitors. Evidence of this failure is key in proving your case.
What evidence do I need to prove my slip and fall case?
Critical evidence includes photos of the dangerous condition, surveillance footage, witness statements, accident reports, and medical records documenting your injuries. This information supports your claim, and your Gulfport slip and fall injury lawyer can use it to strengthen your case.
