West Palm Beach Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

“Slip and fall” accidents are those situations in which a person is injured by slipping, or tripping, and falling due to a dangerous condition on the premises. Such falls can happen inside or outside and may be caused by various conditions such as bad flooring, standing water, poor lighting or, in the case of outdoor accidents, weather or hidden hazards.

Slip and fall accidents are covered by personal injury negligence law, and revolve around the concept of premises liability. Property owners have a responsibility, a “duty of care,” to ensure that their property is safe. This duty includes, first and foremost, structural defects and building code issues. Depending on the state in question, the property owner may also have a duty to reduce problem areas caused by weather. Relevant structural defects can include loose floor mats, rugs, or tiles; water on the floor; poorly lit stairs or steps; cracks or holes in sidewalks or parking lots. Specific to weather, hazards may include standing water and icy spots. All of the owners responsibilities are take with the understanding that anyone on a property has a duty as well: to exercise reasonable care. This means that plaintiffs may potentially share responsiblity for a slip and fall accident.

If you experience a slip and fall accident, attempt to determine the cause of your fall, and whether or not it could have been anticipated and prevented. Be sure you get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Note the conditions in the area – was the lighting poor? was there some substance that made you slip? If you slipped because of something on the floor, try to obtain a sample. Try to obtain pictures of the area. finally, report any accident to the manager or owner and insist that they make a record of it.

Remember tha in civil law, it is your responsibility to prove that a hazard existed and that it was the cause of your accident.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo at (561-659-6366) or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.