Losing your footing when you are not expecting to can lead to surprisingly serious injuries, especially if you end up falling onto an unforgiving surface or down from an elevated one. When you believe your slipping or tripping accident happened because someone else did not take proper care of their property, you may be able to hold them legally liable for the injuries your accident has caused you.
As any experienced personal injury attorney could tell you, though, getting a favorable result from this type of claim is usually much easier said than done, even if it seems obvious to you that someone else is liable for your injuries. Having help from a Lake County slip and fall lawyer who will personally fight to get you paid fairly for your damages can be particularly invaluable in a situation like this.
Recovering for Short-Term and Long-Term Losses
While some slips and falls result only in bruises, scrapes, or other minor injuries that will heal on their own without needing professional medical care, other accidents of this nature can lead to broken bones, ligament tears, and even catastrophic injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or internal organs. In these scenarios, it can be vital to proactively pursue civil compensation not just for losses that have already occurred by the time the legal process begins but also for losses that will not fully manifest for years or even decades to come.
This can mean identifying, estimating a fair value for, and demanding restitution for things like:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and psychological trauma
- Lost overall quality/enjoyment of life
- Long-term medical bills, including costs related to disability maintenance for things like wheelchairs and in-home care
- Lost work income, benefits, and long-term earning capacity
A Lake County slip and fall attorney may also be able to help recover for personal property damage caused by an accidental fall that resulted in a serious injury—for example, the costs of replacing a damaged smartphone.
How Comparative Fault Could Affect Civil Recovery
Landowners in Florida are not automatically liable for every slipping or tripping accident on their land, but they are broadly expected to take reasonable steps to keep their property free of hazards that are not “open and obvious” and which could potentially cause a lawful visitor to fall and get hurt. At the same time, though, visitors to private property are expected to act responsibly by walking at a reasonable speed, watching where they are going, and wearing appropriate footwear.
Someone who failed to do one of these things and ended up slipping and falling may be found partially at fault for causing their own injuries and assigned a percentage of “comparative fault” for the accident as a whole. Then, per Florida Statutes § 768.81, a court could reduce the total compensation available to them in proportion to their share of total fault—something a trip and fall lawyer in Lake County could help fight to prevent if necessary.
Get in Touch with a Lake County Slip and Fall Attorney Today
An accidental slip or trip and fall can do a lot more than damage your ego under the right—or perhaps wrong—circumstances. In fact, this type of accident is one of the most common causes of serious personal injuries across the state of Florida each year.
Fortunately, custom-tailored support from a tenacious Lake County slip and fall lawyer could help tip the odds of a favorable case resolution back in your favor. Call Largey Law Firm today to discuss your options.
