Florida Slip and Fall Injury Claim Myths

November 1, 2021 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
Florida Slip and Fall Injury Claim Myths

Misconceptions Regarding Florida Slip and Fall Cases

Slip and fall accidents are unfortunately common occurrences that cause many people every year to suffer severe injuries. These slip and fall accidents can occur across a number of settings but the result is usually the same. Victims of slip and fall accidents suffer significant damages such as extensive medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, as well as pain and suffering. The slip and fall accidents that cause these damages can sometimes be caused by the negligence of one or several liable parties. These parties can be held responsible for this negligence with a slip and fall claim. In order to maximize the value of a possible settlement received through a slip and fall accident claim, it is important to be aware of the many myths that surround this form of civil tort. 

Florida Slip and Fall Accident Claims

Those that have been injured in a slip and fall accident that was caused by a liable party's negligence can seek compensation for damages they suffered via a slip and fall accident claim. These claims can facilitate the negotiation of a fair settlement between a claimant and the party liable for their injuries. A claimant must be able to prove that the liable party in question was negligent and that their negligence contributed to the slip and fall accident occurring. They must also be able to prove the extent of their injuries and the damages that they have caused.  Doing this can take extensive resources, investigation, and negotiation abilities that many claimants recovering from a slip and fall accident injury may not have. Don't attempt to handle a slip and fall accident claim on your own. Consider speaking to the experienced attorneys of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA about what they can do for you when it comes to your slip and fall claim. To schedule a free consultation with Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA's slip and fall accident attorneys either call our Clearwater office at 727-451-6900 or contact us online.

Myth #1: You Can Only Recieve Compensation For Physical Slip and Fall Injuries

When people think of slip and fall injuries they think of the more common physical injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and broken bones. Contrary to popular belief, there are actually injuries that go beyond the physical and can be part of the compensation that you receive through a slip and fall claim settlement.  Emotional and psychological injuries can potentially be sustained through a slip and fall accident. While these injuries may lack the same tangibility as something like a broken pelvis, they still can cause a great deal of damage that disrupts a slip and fall accident victim's life. Some of the more common examples of these kinds of injuries include post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), depression, and anxiety. These injuries to a person's mental health can affect their work, their relationships, and their general quality of life which means that a claimant can seek compensation for the damages they caused should they be able to verify their injuries through diagnosis by an expert. 

Myth #2: You Cannot File a Claim if You are Partially at Fault for an Accident

Many that find themselves involved in a slip and fall accident may have contributed a certain amount of negligence to the accident occurring. Despite contributing negligence to a slip and fall accident, a victim may be able to still seek compensation for the injuries they suffered. Thanks to comparative negligence, a slip and fall accident victim is not immediately barred from filing a slip and fall accident claim if they were also negligent.  However, there is a caveat. While comparative negligence allows a slip and fall accident victim to file a claim despite contributing negligence, their settlement may decrease in value. Comparative negligence takes the level of negligence that is contributed by each party involved in an accident and converts it into percentages. These percentages are taken into consideration when calculating a fair settlement. For example, if a person slips and falls in an uncleaned spill at a store but they were running through, then they might be considered partially negligent and comparative negligence might consider them 20% negligent while the store would be 80% negligent. If that person filed a claim then that 20% negligence they contributed would be deducted from a settlement they might get. 

Myth#3: If You Slip and Fall on Public Property Then You Can't File a Claim

In cases where you slip and fall because of some negligent hazard in a store or some other example of private property then it is fairly simple to determine the liable party. In cases where someone slips and falls on private property then many people mistakenly believe that there is no opportunity to file a claim. Luckily, this is not true. Many public spaces may actually be owned by a private party or they are simply owned by the government. In both of these cases, a person injured by a slip and fall accident may potentially be able to file a claim.  

Call a Clearwater Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Today

Slip and fall accidents can bring about serious injuries that are worthy of monetary compensation. Not only may you be compensated for your medical bills, but you may also be eligible to recover compensation for all of your pain, suffering, aggravation, and loss of enjoyment of life due to your injuries. The Florida slip and fall injury lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA will begin the process by filing an insurance claim for coverage. A qualified and experienced personal injury attorney will have the resources and the desire to take a case as far as necessary to recover the full, true value of a slip-and-fall case. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA is a personal injury law firm that has successfully recovered substantial awards for countless victims of negligence. We have the resources required to cover the cost of litigation, no matter how long it takes, to ensure the client recovers the maximum award possible. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a Clearwater slip and fall injury lawyer, please call us at 727-451-6900 or contact us online. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, Florida 33765 727-451-6900

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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