Madeira Beach Slip And Fall Accident Attorneys
There are many different types of slip and fall accidents, categorized based on where they occur. The frightening thing about slip and fall accidents is that they can occur pretty much anywhere. And they often result in serious, life-threatening injuries.
Slips and falls can happen in stores, businesses, private homes, apartment complexes, job sites, and more. Where the accident occurs determines who can be sued for any injury that results from it.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall accident in the state of Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other damages. For more information on slip and fall accidents, how they affect victims, and how liability is determined, keep reading.
Florida Slip and Fall Accident Statistics
Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents are fairly common, accounting for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits each year and representing the leading cause of visits at 21.3%.
Slips and falls are also the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims as well as the leading cause of injury in people over the age of 55. Approximately 1.8 million people over the age of 65 were treated in an emergency room for a fall accident in one year’s time. These types of accidents are more common among the elderly as the risk of being injured by falling increases with every decade of life.
However, slips and falls are also common on dangerous work sites. 85% of workers’ compensation claims are a result of slipping on slick floors. Slips and falls also tend to keep people out of work. Approximately 22% of accidents result in more than 31 days away from work.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
There are many different causes of slip and fall accidents. And they vary depending on where the accident occurs. For example, accidents that occur in supermarkets are caused by different hazards than accidents that are caused on construction sites. Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Wet floors caused by spills or failure to poor weather conditions, such as the tracking in of rain after a storm
- Loose floorings like torn up rugs, mats, or floorboards
- Recently waxed or polished floors
- No barriers used to close off damaged or wet floors
- Not using non-skid floor treatment when required
- Potholes in business parking lots
- Broken or missing stairs
- Uneven staircases
- Warn or warped steps
- Missing handrails
- Messy floors
- Cords running across walkways
- Poor lighting that makes it difficult to see potential hazards
- Poor lighting that makes it hard to see at all
Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can cause various different types of injuries. These may range from minor to severe or life-threatening.
In the case of a severe injury, victims often incur large amounts of debt and may even experience a drastic change to their quality of life.
Even minor injuries may result in a large amount of medical debt. But they often have a quicker healing time and don’t result in a huge change to one’s quality of life.
Common types of injuries that can occur as a result of a slip and fall accident include:
Head Injuries
Head injuries are commonly associated with slip and fall accidents and can occur when someone hits their head on something (such as a countertop or the floor). This strike to the head can cause damage that results in anything from a concussion to a brain hemorrhage.
Most traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) require emergency medical treatment or hospitalization.
Hip Fractures
Hip fractures are especially common in older adults. According to the CDC, approximately 95% of broken or fractured hips occur because of falls.
Not all of these falls are a result of personal injury accidents. However, some of them can be attributed to nursing home abuse or negligence.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
When someone slips or falls in a personal injury incident, the impact to the body can be great.
If someone falls backward, landing on their back and spine, they are likely going to experience injury to that area.
Spinal cord injuries can result in:
- paralysis
- disability
- other sensory or neurological impairments
Spinal cord injuries are also often expensive, leaving victims with financial health problems.
How to Determine Premises Liability
To win a premises liability or slip and fall case, you’ll need to be able to prove that the property owner was negligent and therefore caused your accident and subsequent injuries to occur. Depending on how your injuries occurred, this can mean something different. If you were injured in your apartment complex, you’ll need to be able to prove that the landlord didn’t repair the hazard and had (or should have had) reasonable knowledge that the hazard existed.
If the accident occurred in a supermarket, business, or parking lot, you’ll need to be able to prove that the owner of the business or property knew or should have known that the hazard was present. Basically, if the hazard was present long enough for the property owner to reasonably know about it, they could be liable for any injury that occurs as a result of the hazard.
Contact a Madeira Beach Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall accident in Madeira Beach, contact our talented team of personal injury attorneys as soon as possible. Our attorneys will help you get the most compensation possible for your damages. We’ll also deal with the property owners and their insurance companies on your behalf. So you can focus on relaxing and recovering from your injuries.
For more information or to schedule a free case evaluation, contact us online, by using our chat box option, or by calling us at 727-571-1333.
