Some of the most common premises liability cases involve slip and fall accidents, which often injure people. Often, slip and fall accidents result from a property owner’s negligence, putting people at risk on their property due to unsafe conditions.
At Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Law Firm, our team of slip and fall accident attorneys has experience with these and many other types of premises liability cases. We can work to prove that a property owner’s negligence caused an accident, whether the accident resulted from the defendant creating a hazard or the defendant failed to mitigate an existing one.
Negligence in slip and fall accidents is often difficult to prove, which is why we work to provide the best available representation for these victims and help them seek the compensation they deserve.
What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents in New Port Richey?
Slip and fall accidents in New Port Richey may result from many potential causes.
Some of the potential hazards contributing to slip and fall accidents may include:
- Uneven footpaths
- Wet or greasy flooring
- Poorly lit walkways
- Broken steps
- Unsecured carpets or rugs
- Floor surface changes
- Broken railings
- Cords stretching across footpaths
- Raised, cracked, or uneven sidewalks or pavement
- Changes in elevation, such as small step-downs
- Wet or slippery parking lots
- Abrupt edges on driveways and sidewalks
- Stair treads that are either uneven or too narrow
- Other hazards such as unmarked holes
These hazards can develop everywhere, including residential, commercial, governmental, and industrial locations, along with public spaces.
Where Slip and Fall Accidents Are Most Likely to Occur in New Port Richey
Many locations in New Port Richey may present slip and fall risks if they are poorly maintained. Walkways and footpaths could experience wear and tear that the city or property owners fail to repair, with busy hubs like Gulf View Square mall and parks such as Sims Park and Grand Boulevard Park all serving as potential sites for slip and fall accidents. Regardless of the location, property owners in New Port Richey and other cities need to ensure walkways and other spaces are consistently clear of hazards that might cause slip and falls or other accidents.
The Types of Injuries Resulting from Slip and Fall Accidents
All property owners must ensure their properties are consistently safe for occupants, requiring them to take certain steps to prevent and remove hazards. If owners neglect to address these hazards and an accident and injuries develop when someone slips and falls on the property, they may be responsible for a variety of injuries.
Some of the potential injuries that may result from slip and fall accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Damage to soft tissue
- Wrist sprains
- Cuts and abrasions
- Neck sprains
- Mid and low back sprains
- Hand fractures
- Leg fractures
- Injuries requiring surgery
If any of these injuries develop because of a property owner’s negligence, victims and their families may be able to file a claim or lawsuit against the property owner to seek compensation.
When to Contact a New Port Richey Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
In Florida, slip and fall accidents qualify as premises liability cases, which means that property owners and entities may be liable for injuries if their negligence caused them. If you or a loved one sustains injuries because of negligent parties, you may be eligible to recover compensation for various damages. However, providing negligence in slip and fall cases is often challenging. It is important to consult with a New Port Richey slip and fall accident lawyer with experience in handling these cases. Contact Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Law Firm today to get started.
Depending on the nature of your case and injuries sustained, you may be able to recover compensation for a variety of damages resulting from a slip and fall accident, including:
- Medical bills for initial treatment
- The cost of ongoing care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Permanent disability
- Psychological anguish
- Loss of consortium and other losses
Many victims of slip and fall accidents in New Port Richey may not be aware of all the damages they can recover. In addition, they may not have enough familiarity and experience with slip and fall cases and the law to ensure success with their case. Instead, it is in victims’ best interest to consult with a reliable slip and fall lawyer to discuss their case and determine what kind of compensation they can seek.
An experienced attorney will have the expertise needed to help handle the claims process and help secure a successful outcome. Most importantly, the right attorney will help prove that negligence was the direct cause of slip and fall accidents, which is often difficult to achieve in these cases. Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Law Firm is here to help.
Slip and Fall Accident FAQs
If you are unfamiliar with slip and fall accidents and what these cases entail, you likely have certain questions about them. The following are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you better understand slip and fall cases.
What should I do following a slip and fall accident?
In the event of a slip and fall accident in New Port Richey, victims may slip, trip, and fall on another individual or entity’s property. Immediately following these accidents, it is important to report the accident to the property owner or manager as soon as possible. Additionally, you should seek professional medical treatment, regardless of how minor injuries seem. Like other accidents, you may not experience pain due to a rush of adrenaline resulting from a slip and fall, but these accidents can result in serious injuries that worsen over time if left untreated.
Keep in mind that some injuries resulting from slip and falls may not develop until days or weeks after the accident, such as brain injuries or internal organ damage. The sooner you seek medical attention after a slip and fall, the sooner you can not only begin the recovery process but also generate medical records that support your claim.
In addition, take photographs of the scene of the accident and the hazard, if possible. If your injuries are not severe enough to warrant immediate treatment, you can record video or take photos of the scene while there or return to the scene later.
Once you have received treatment and gathered initial evidence, consider consulting with a New Port Richey slip and fall attorney to discuss a potential case. An attorney can determine if you have a viable claim and disclose the available options regarding compensation. They will also be able to provide representation and help you navigate the claims process if they decide to take on your case.
What type of case is a slip and fall?
Slip and fall accidents are a type of premises liability case. These cases refer to the legal liability of property owners, management, and staff, along with residential homeowners, to maintain safe environments for all visitors. In addition to keeping their property consistently safe, property owners must carry a certain amount of liability insurance to compensate individuals who sustain injuries on their properties. If a property owner or another party’s negligence caused an accident and injuries to occur on any type of property, injury victims or their families might be able to file a premises liability claim to seek full compensation for injuries and other related damages.
Who covers medical bills for slips and falls?
Following a slip and fall accident, victims may require treatment for their injuries, including short- and long-term care. If this is the case, property owners, management, or homeowners will need to cover these costs through liability insurance that protects injury victims in the event of accidents on their property. After filing a premises liability claim, the property owner’s insurance carrier will be responsible for covering medical bills resulting from the accident.
It is important to remember that some insurance carriers may deny or delay a claim or seek a lower settlement amount than victims deserve. If any of these issues arise, a New Port Richey slip and fall attorney can help dispute them and work to prove negligence along with the extent of injuries. In the process, victims can pursue the full compensation they deserve in their cases.
What happens if a slip and fall occurs at work?
If slip and fall accidents take place on the job, victims may be able to file a workers’ comp claim that covers medical bills and lost wages resulting from the accident while the employee is unable to work. However, employees are typically unable to sue their employers if they experience a slip and fall accident at work. On the other hand, if a third party’s negligence contributed to a work-related slip and fall accident, victims may be able to file a premises liability lawsuit against that entity or individual. Cases involving both workers’ comp claims and separate lawsuits are often complex, making it important to work with an attorney to handle these cases. Call the Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Law Firm today.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall accident claim in New Port Richey?
The length of time you have to file a slip and fall or other premises liability claim depends on the state where the accident took place. Each state has a certain statute of limitations that dictates how long people have to file a claim. The statute of limitations can range from two to as many as four years. In Florida, injury victims have four years to file a slip and fall claim, along with other types of premises liability and personal injury claims.
In other words, based on the statute of limitations, you have four years from the time of the accident to initiate the claims process. After this point, you are likely unable to pursue compensation from negligent parties. While four years may seem like ample time to file, it is essential to get started as soon as possible to begin seeking compensation. Waiting too long can prolong the claims process and delay compensation, which can be detrimental if you have to cover ongoing treatment and other expenses.
Although there are certain exceptions for statutes of limitations that may allow for more than four years, do not assume that these exceptions apply to your case. Instead, begin gathering evidence, seek treatment, and consult an attorney soon after the accident to get started on your case. The right attorney will help obtain all medical records and other evidence to support a claim and provide guidance throughout the claims process. They can also provide representation in court if a case goes to trial. In the process, they can help accelerate the process and work to secure the best achievable outcome.
How much does a slip and fall lawyer cost in New Port Richey?
Like other attorneys in Florida, slip and fall accident attorneys typically work on a contingency basis, which means they would not charge their clients any money for attorney’s fees until they have settled. A contingency fee is a portion taken from the final settlement payment that goes toward legal fees, along with certain expenses that lawyers spend toward the beginning of the case to help build a claim.
Consult Our New Port Richey Slip and Fall Attorneys
Like other premises liability cases, slip and fall cases are frequently complex. It is also often difficult to prove that negligence resulted in these types of accidents and resulting injuries.
If you want to recover compensation if you were injured on someone else’s property, speak with a New Port Richey slip and fall lawyer. The right attorney will determine if you have a viable claim and build a successful case if they decide to represent you.
The attorneys at the Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Law Firm have decades of experience in premises liability cases, including slip and fall accidents. Our attorneys can review your case to determine what types of compensation you may be able to pursue. To schedule a free case evaluation, call our offices at (727) 849-5353 or write to us online today.