Practice Areas : Slip and Fall Injuries
Many people are injured each year in slip and fall accidents, especially here in Florida where we have a substantial population of elderly people. But anyone can slip and fall, old and young alike; whether it be on a wet floor in a grocery store or on an unlit, dark stairway in a restaurant.
Slip and fall calamities can range anywhere from slight bruises to major injuries to the limbs, hips, back, neck or head. Often these injuries occur on hard concrete floors that are commonly found in institutions and large businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, and malls.
If a person slips and falls at someone’s home, such as on their porch or sidewalk, their homeowner’s insurance will usually pay for the medical bills. This is generally covered by the medical payments portion of the policy, and does not require a showing of negligence. However, if one is to recover for pain and suffering as well, there must be proof of negligence. This is true whether the injury occurred at a private home or a public business.
Generally, to prove negligence the injured party must show that the condition of the premises which caused the fall must have been known to the owner of the premises or should have been known had due care been used. It is no surprise to find that slip and fall cases in supermarkets often rest on whether the banana peel was clean or dirty, or whether the puddle of water was clear or had tracks running through it from shopping carts. In the latter cases, dirty banana peels that have been walked on or water that has had carts driven through it may indicate the owner had time to discover and eliminate the hazard.
If you are hurt in a slip and fall accident it is best to seek the advice of an attorney. Hopefully, this has answered a few of your general questions. We at Staack, Simms & Hernandez thank you for visiting our website. Please phone, write or e-mail if we can be of any further service to you.
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