Pensacola Slip & Fall Lawyer

Slip and fall accidents can arise from various hazards. It could be caused by a wet spot on the floor in a commercial building. Injuries can occur at outdoor events or picnics due to uneven ground. The results can be medical bills, rehabilitation, missed work, and an uncertain road to recovery. The property owner might be held responsible for the injuries. The key will be whether the property owner exercised reasonable care in the circumstances that led to the accident. 

In cases like these, our Pensacola slip and fall lawyer can help pursue the compensation you deserve.

Contact Crawford Law at (850) 220-2098 or reach out online to set up a consultation.

Reasonable Care in Slip & Fall Cases

Florida courts do not hold property owners responsible for preventing all accidents on their property. Rather, they are expected to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of individuals. 

For instance, if a person slips and falls in a store, the cause of the fall needs to be determined. Was it a spill that was not cleaned up in a timely manner? If the spill occurred early in the day, and the fall happened much later, the business might be held responsible for not cleaning the area promptly. 

However, if an employee was on their way to clean the spill when the fall occurred, the plaintiff might have a harder case. The same principle applies to other slip and fall cases. Were guests at a private picnic warned of uneven or potentially hazardous areas?

In all of these cases, the court must determine if the property owner could have reasonably foreseen the potential danger and if they took adequate steps to address it.

Our Pensacola slip and fall attorney will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident to be sure that reasonable care was taken. If it was not, be assured that we’ll fight hard for a fair settlement. 

Damages in Slip & Fall Cases

Once it is established that a property owner has violated their duty of care, resulting in the plaintiff's injury, the focus shifts to achieving an equitable settlement. 

There are three components of any damages award:

• Economic damages: These include direct and measurable costs, such as medical bills, lost income, and rehabilitation expenses. 
• Pain and suffering: These damages are challenging to quantify, but their impact is very real. Long-lasting injuries can impact one's enjoyment of life and cause emotional trauma. The courts can attempt to provide compensation for pain and suffering by taking into account witness testimony from the injured person's life.
• Punitive damages: These damages are usually awarded to send a message that the defendant's negligence is unacceptable. Under Florida law, punitive damages can be as much as three times the rest of the settlement award, up to $500,000. 

Good Communication in Slip & Fall Cases

Prompt and clear communication is crucial in the immediate aftermath of a slip and fall. The victim should inform the property owner right away, seek medical care, and contact our Pensacola slip and fall lawyer. 

However, it is unwise to tell the property owner that one is feeling fine since injuries can take time to manifest. Any statements indicating good health can potentially harm a personal injury case. Moreover, social media posts claiming recovery after a fall can also negatively affect the case. 

The best course of action is to keep communication simple and only relay necessary information to the property owner, seek medical attention, and contact an attorney.

Call Crawford Law at (850) 220-2098 or contact us online today.