Slip and fall accidents and other premises liability incidents can result in severe injuries, leaving victims stuck with significant medical expenses and losing income while they heal.
Generally speaking, businesses and other property owners are responsible for keeping their premises safe for customers, employees, and other visitors. If you find yourself in this situation, a West Palm Beach slip and fall accident lawyer is here to help you recover compensation.
If you believe you were injured because an owner negligently failed to keep their premises safe, get help from GOLDLAW. Our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers have recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients, and we want to help you, too.
Why Choose GOLDLAW for Help With Your Claim?
Slip and fall accidents can leave an injured person dealing with painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about the future.
At GOLDLAW, we understand how challenging these situations can be, which is why we fight aggressively to help injured persons pursue the compensation they deserve through personal injury claims and premises liability cases under Florida law.
Here’s why clients continue to trust GOLDLAW after slip and fall accidents:
- More than $1 billion recovered: Our personal injury lawyers have recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients throughout South Florida. We know how to build strong personal injury claims by proving negligence, establishing a property owner’s duty of care, and holding responsible parties accountable under Florida law.
- More than 200 years of combined legal experience: Our team brings more than 200 years of combined experience handling premises liability and other injury cases. We understand the legal strategies insurance companies use against an injured person and know how to pursue the strongest outcome.
- Since 2002: GOLDLAW has represented injured persons across South Florida in a wide range of personal injury claims for more than two decades. We have experience investigating dangerous property conditions, proving violations of a property owner’s duty of care, and protecting our clients’ rights from start to finish.
- Thousands of clients helped: We have helped thousands of injured clients recover compensation after serious accidents. Whether your case involves a slip and fall, negligent security, or another premises liability matter, our personal injury lawyers are committed to providing compassionate guidance.
At GOLDLAW, we also handle slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis, which means You Will Never Get a Bill. We only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you. Give us a call and talk to a West Palm Beach slip and fall accident lawyer for free today.
How a West Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Your Case
A skilled slip and fall accident lawyer will be an incredible asset when it comes to recovering compensation from an at-fault party. These claims can be challenging, particularly when insurance carriers and attorneys for the other party get involved.
When you have your own slip and fall lawyer, you will have an advocate ready to completely investigate the incident, handle all negotiations with other parties, and even prepare your claim for trial. We will dig into the property owner’s history of incidents as well as their safety and training records.
Ultimately, the goal is to recover compensation either through an insurance settlement or as a result of a personal injury jury verdict. An attorney will do everything they can to help their client recover maximum compensation from the insurance carriers, but they will not hesitate to bring the case to the courtroom.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries in West Palm Beach
In our experience, slip and fall injuries are often caused by the following:
- Spills of drink or food that have not been cleaned up promptly
- A lack of warning signs about wet or unsafe floors
- Inadequate lighting in pedestrian walkway areas
- Condensation from appliances, leading to wet floors
- Obstacles such as electrical cords left in pedestrian pathways
- Loose flooring materials or gravel that becomes a slipping hazard
- No handrails on stairways or ramps
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of the causes of slip and fall injuries in and around West Palm Beach. If you have any questions about your particular claim and whether or not a personal injury lawsuit applies, we encourage you to reach out to a member of our team for a completely free consultation today.
Determining Liability for a Slip and Fall Claim
Determining liability after a slip and fall claim can be challenging and primarily revolves around evidence collection. Some of the evidence used for a slip and fall claim can be gathered at the scene of the incident.
What Types of Evidence Can Be Used?
It is not uncommon for individuals to use their phones or other types of recording devices to take photographs and video surveillance of the entire slip and fall area. This can include photographs and surveillance footage of injuries, causes of the fall, the surrounding area, weather conditions, and more.
Statements from eyewitnesses to the slip and fall incident can also prove to be invaluable, particularly if the names and contact information of the eyewitnesses are written down before these individuals have a chance to leave the scene.
In the days and weeks that follow a slip and fall incident, an attorney may work together with additional types of evidence. This can include medical records showing the types of injuries that occurred, property owner training and safety manuals, additional surveillance footage from nearby cameras, and records of previous injuries that occurred on the property.
How Much Compensation is Available for These Claims?
There is no set amount of compensation paid to a slip and fall victim if their claim is successful.
There are several factors that can influence the compensation amounts, including the severity of the injuries, how long it takes an individual to recover, and whether or not there was any shared fault for the incident.
At GOLDLAW, our goal is to recover both economic and non-economic damages on behalf of slip and fall victims in West Palm Beach.
Economic Damages
Economic damages revolve around various calculable expenses slip and fall victims will likely incur as a result of the incident.
These expenses can be calculated by gathering receipts, invoices, estimates, and bills that come in the days, weeks, and months that follow the incident. Some of the most common economic damages associated with these injuries include:
- Emergency medical bills
- All ongoing medical costs
- Lost wages if a victim cannot work
- Various household out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage expenses
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are not as easily calculable as the economic expenses just mentioned. These types of losses revolve around more immeasurable damages, including the physical pain and suffering a person endures, along with their emotional and psychological trauma.
Non-economic damages also seek to compensate individuals for their loss of enjoyment of life caused by the injuries and any disability.
What If I Lost a Loved One in a Fatal Fall?
Losing a loved one in a fatal slip and fall accident is a heartbreaking experience, especially when the tragedy could have been prevented. During this difficult time, families may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against the negligent property owner or other responsible party under Florida law.
While no legal action can replace the person you lost, a wrongful death claim may help ease the financial burden caused by medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and the emotional impact of your loss.
At GOLDLAW, our personal injury lawyers understand how overwhelming this process can feel, and we are committed to treating your family with compassion, respect, and care while fighting for the accountability and justice your loved one deserves.
Severe Injuries That Can Lead to Fatal Complications
Some slip and fall accidents can cause catastrophic injuries that lead to life-threatening complications or wrongful death. Common severe injuries associated with fatal fall accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Hip fractures
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Paralysis
- Skull fractures
- Severe head trauma
Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Incident Occurs
Slip and fall accident victims in West Palm Beach must take certain steps in order to ensure their well-being and maintain the integrity of their claim:
- Medical care: The number one priority after a slip and fall injury occurs is medical treatment for the victim. Even if the injuries do not seem severe right away, the signs and symptoms of some slip and fall injuries may not appear until hours after the initial incident occurs.
- Report the incident: The incident should be reported to the property owner or manager as soon as possible. In many cases, property owners have specific reporting requirements, which may include filling out an accident report.
- Gather evidence: It may be possible to gather video or photo evidence at the scene of a slip and fall incident. This can include using a phone to take photographs of possible causes of the slip and fall, as well as any injuries and the surrounding area.
- Call an attorney: A slip and fall accident lawyer in West Palm Beach can get involved quickly and begin their investigation into the incident. A West Palm Beach personal injury attorney will take over all communication with other parties so the injury victim can focus on recovering from their injuries.
- Stay off socials: We encourage all slip and fall accident victims to stay off social media, particularly when discussing their injuries from the incident. Anything put online could be noticed by other parties involved.
- Continue medical treatment: Slip and fall accident victims should continue all medical treatment recommended by their physician. If a victim discontinues care before a doctor recommends doing so, the insurance carrier could use this as justification to deny the claim or limit how much they pay.
This is not a complete list of every step a slip and fall accident victim will need to take. We encourage victims to work closely with their attorney and follow their attorney’s instructions.
Florida’s Statute of Limitations: How Long Do You Have to File Your Claim?
Slip and fall accident victims in West Palm Beach must file their claims as promptly as possible. Under Florida personal injury law, which recently changed, individuals have two years from the date an injury occurs to file a civil lawsuit against the alleged negligent party.
The time frame used to be four years, but that has been reduced to two. We encourage injury victims to work with their attorney to ensure their claim gets filed on time. In addition to time frames for personal injury lawsuits, it is imperative to understand that insurance carriers will have their own deadlines.
There are often insurance carriers involved in slip and fall claims, and they need to know about the incident relatively soon after the injuries occur. Your attorney can help you notify the insurance carriers involved in order to avoid any claim delay or denials.
Speak to a West Palm Beach Slip and Fall Accident Attorney for Free Today
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a slip & fall accident caused by the negligence of a property owner in the West Palm Beach area, our team is ready to step in and help.
A GOLDLAW West Palm Beach slip and fall accident lawyer has the resources and experience necessary to handle every aspect of your claim, and we want to get to work for you today. Reach out for a free consultation today, then visit our FAQ page to learn more.
