Were you recently injured in a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident? Did your accident happen while you were on another person’s property? If so, you may be entitled to an award of monetary damages.

Contact the Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. to learn about the benefits of filing a personal injury lawsuit. The money you recover can be instrumental in paying for costly medical bills and compensating you for the emotional trauma of your accident. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.

Who Do Slip and Fall Accidents Affect?

The Elderly

According to the CDC, the elderly are at the greatest risk of suffering an injury in a slip and fall accident. In fact, slips and falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury among adults over the age of 65. Studies show that 1 out of every 5 elderly slip and fall accidents will result in a serious injury, such as a hip fracture or head injury. Falls are the second-leading cause of injury-related death for individuals between the ages of 65 and 84, and the leading cause of injury-related death for individuals over the age of 85.

Workers

Slip and fall accidents are incredibly common in the workplace. In fact, slip and fall accidents account for 15 percent of all workplace-related injuries. A survey of workers’ compensation claims showed that fall-related injuries are a leading cause of lost time at work. Older employees, especially those over the age of 55, are much more likely to be injured in a workplace slip and fall accident.

Pedestrians

Fort Lauderdale’s roads are not always the safest place for pedestrians. In fact, an average of 12 pedestrians are killed in Fort Lauderdale every year, and another 200 suffer injuries. Dangerous sidewalks, plagued with hazards and tripping conditions, often contribute to pedestrian injury.

Tourists

Fort Lauderdale is one of the most popular places to visit in Southeast Florida. Millions of tourists flock to the city every year to enjoy year-round 75-degree weather, beautiful beaches, and all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer. Tourist attractions, especially those most-heavily traveled, can often pose a threat to the safety of guests. Spills and litter, if left unattended, can both result in devastating slip and fall accidents.

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?

Slips and falls can happen anywhere. However, slip and fall accidents are often frequently reported at:

Restaurants
Bars
Night clubs
Beachside resorts
Shopping malls
Grocery stores
Outlet malls
Museums
Sporting events
Convention centers
Public sidewalks
Parking lots
Apartment buildings
Airports
Hotels, and
Government buildings.

Have you recently been injured in a slip and fall accident in Fort Lauderdale? Call the premises liability attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. for immediate legal assistance.

What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents?

More than 1 million people will be hospitalized for a slip and fall-related injury this year. What causes so many slip and fall accidents to happen? The most commonly reported causes of slip and fall accidents include:

Slippery or wet floors
Uneven, broken, or cracked surfaces
Unsecured rugs and carpets
Poor lighting
Electrical cords
Broken railings
Narrow stair treads
Broken stairs, and
Debris and garbage.

In reality, anything that makes you slip or trip can cause a fall. If you’ve been injured in a fall on someone else’s property you may be entitled to compensation. Call Lavent Law, P.A. to learn more.

Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries

Statistics show that 20 to 30 percent of all slip and fall accident victims will suffer a moderate-to-serious injury. Some of the most frequently reported slip and fall accident injuries include:

Broken bones
Hip fractures
Bruising
Head injury
Brain injury
Spinal cord damage
Paralysis, and
Wrongful death.

Slips and falls can cause life-threatening internal injuries. It is important to seek medical attention after you suffer a fall, even if you don’t believe that you’ve been seriously injured. A doctor will be able to ensure that all of your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated.

Who is Responsible For My Slip and Fall?

In Florida, property owners have an obligation to make sure that guests on their property are safe from any dangerous conditions. The degree of care the property owner must demonstrate really depends on your relationship to them.

Public Property: Owners of public property, or any property open to the public, have an obligation to regularly inspect for slip and fall hazards. If any hazards are identified, the owner must warn guests of danger and take steps to fix the situation immediately.

Private Property: If you are invited over to a friend’s house, don’t expect them to search high and low for potential dangers in their home. Private property owners have no obligation to inspect their premises for hazards. However, if a private property owner knows about a sip and fall hazard, they have a duty to warn any guests of that danger.

The bottom line is that if you are injured in a slip and fall accident as a guest on someone else’s property, the owner may be liable for damages. You must, however, have been lawfully on that person’s property at the time of your accident. A property owner in Fort Lauderdale is generally not liable for slip and fall accidents involving trespassers.

Damages Available to Slip and Fall Accident Victims

Slip and fall accidents can result in potentially life-threatening injuries. The older the victim, the more catastrophic the injury will likely be. These injuries often require a lot of medical treatment and extensive rehabilitation. Older victims are often unable to live independently after a fall and require around-the-clock nursing care. As a result, slip and fall accidents can be incredibly expensive.

Fortunately, Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident victims may be able to recover monetary damages from a negligent property owner, including those for:

Hospitalization
Rehabilitation
Travel and lodging necessary for medical care
Prescription medication
Surgery
Nursing care
Medical assistive devices (e.g., wheelchairs)
Lost wages
Disability
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Anxiety, and
Loss of enjoyment of life.

If you’ve been injured in a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident call the attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. for help. We will thoroughly review your case, consult with experts to assess the value of your injuries, and pursue compensation on your behalf. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t have to worry about legal fees until we win your case.

When Can I File a Slip and Fall Injury Case?

It’s important to act quickly after your slip and fall. Florida law limits the amount of time you have to file a claim for damages. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including those involving a slip and fall, is 4 years from the date of your accident.

While there are limited exceptions to this rule, you will likely be unable to recover the money you deserve if you do not file your claim on time. Call the Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers today to get started.

Call Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Boris Lavent

Have you been injured in a slip and fall in Fort Lauderdale? Contact the personal injury attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. for help. We know that an unexpected injury can be stressful and will aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf.

Call us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more. We will review your case, explain the legal options available to you, and answer any questions you have.