Recovering After A Slip-and-Fall Accident

While the COVID-19 pandemic is still going on, and most people are trying to stay indoors where possible, people still have to go out for work and normal errands. The same potential pitfalls and risks are in place as they would be in “normal” times; nowhere is this more apparent than in the risk of slip-and-fall accidents, especially in Florida winters, which can be dark and rainy at the best of times. If you slip and fall on another person’s premises, you have options, but it is a good idea to consult an attorney so that you are well aware of them.

Falls Can Be Dangerous

Whether in a store, a bar or restaurant, or in someone else’s home, slip-and-fall accidents are relatively common, and because of this, they are often seen as insignificant. In reality, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that as many as one in four people over the age of 65 fall every year, with as many as 3 million emergency room visits resulting. Approximately one of every five falls causes a serious injury, such as a broken bone or a concussion.

There are several reasons why one might fall, with the majority of them being environmental. The most common scenario that gets talked about in media is that of someone slipping on a ‘foreign substance’ on the floor of a business, but many more possible reasons exist, such as poor lighting or unsound flooring. Whichever reason precipitated your fall, if it was caused by the negligence of the landowner or business owner whose premises you were on, you may have cause to file suit against them for the injuries you have suffered.

Which Type Of Visitor Am I?

If you have been injured due to a slip-and-fall accident on someone else’s property, you may be able to file suit against them, based on a theory of negligence referred to as premises liability. Premises liability is a legal theory that holds that a landlord or business owner (whoever has control over the premises) owes a certain duty of care toward the people that visit, and that a breach of that duty opens them up to liability. Florida law distinguishes three different categories of visitor: invitee, licensee, and trespasser.

An invitee is owed the highest duty of care, where a landowner must try to make their property safe, and warn about any dangers that they were not able to correct. A licensee is merely owed a warning about potential hazards, and a trespasser is only owed the landlord’s duty to refrain from intentionally injuring them. Florida does have statutory law in the case of people who slip on a “transitory foreign substance” in a business establishment, requiring them to establish that the business had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard, but each case is different.

Contact An Orlando Slip-and-Fall Accident Attorney

No one ever expects to be injured, but if it happens to you, it is crucial that you know your options. The Orlando slip-and-fall attorneys at the Hornsby Law Group are well versed in these types of cases. Our attorneys can offer dedicated and knowledgeable representation in what can be a difficult time in your life. Call us today to set up a free consultation.

Resource:

cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html

https://www.hornsbylawgroup.com/major-contributing-cause-in-workplace-accidents/