What Steps Should I Take After a Slip and Fall in Florida?

For many people, a slip and fall will result in nothing more than a bruised ego. However, there are a number of instances in which victims of a slip and fall will sustain serious injuries. In fact, slips and falls are among the most commonly reported accidents. As such, familiarizing yourself with the steps you should take if you are hurt due to unsafe premises is critical. The following blog explores how you should proceed following an injury and how an Indian River County slip & fall lawyer to help you in the fight for the best possible outcome.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall?

Following a slip and fall in Florida, the most important step you should take is to alert the appropriate personnel to your injury and the dangerous condition. If you slip and fall in a retail store, you should alert the manager or owner, who will then complete an incident report. It is critical to obtain a copy of this report, or at the very least, take a clear photograph of the document. It is also critical that you direct the manager or owner to preserve any surveillance video of the premises from that day. This applies even if there are no cameras that would show the fall itself.

Once the necessary party has been alerted, you should seek medical attention for the injuries you’ve suffered, even if you feel okay. Many injuries, like concussions or soft tissue damage, may not be clear right away, and timely treatment can make the difference in identifying latent injuries. In addition, although many people defer treatment for financial reasons or due to shock or failure to seek treatment immediately after the accident can be held against you to reduce the value of your claim.

If you are physically able to do so, you should also gather as much evidence as possible at the scene. This includes taking photos and videos of hazardous conditions, like wet floors, cords strewn on the floor, or unanchored carpeting. Capturing evidence can help support your claims that the property owner was negligent in failing to remedy or warn of the hazard.

How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?

In general, property owners in Florida are responsible for ensuring that their premises are safe. However, liability will depend on your status on the property.

Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, who are those on the property for the benefit of the owner, like a customer in a store or a repairman fixing something in a private residence. As such, property owners are responsible not only to ensure their property is reasonably safe but also to inspect for hazards and remedy them as soon as possible.

Licensees, on the other hand, are owed a less strict duty of care. Property owners are responsible for ensuring that those on their property, like social guests, are adequately warned of any hazardous conditions, especially those that are not reasonably foreseeable. As a general matter, property owners or private homes are not responsible for routinely inspecting their property for licensees.

Navigating a slip and fall can be incredibly difficult, as the burden of proof that the property owner was negligent falls to the injured victim, even though they often have the least information about what really happened. As such, it is in your best interest to discuss your legal options with an experienced personal injury attorney with Ullian Trial Law. We understand how complex the legal process can be, which is why we will do everything in our power to help you recover the compensation you deserve for the damages you’ve suffered. Connect with us today to learn more.