A slip and fall often leads to minor scrapes and bruises. In some cases, however, a slip and fall accident can have far greater repercussions, including internal bleeding. If you or a loved one suffered internal bleeding after a fall on the property of others, you may have a right to seek compensation from the responsible parties. Contact a Clearwater internal bleeding slip and fall injury lawyer to learn more about your legal rights in this situation.
Property owners have a legal duty to keep their properties safe for others who come onto the property legally. When they fail to remedy or warn of dangerous conditions on the property, and a slip and fall or other injury occurs, the property owners could be liable for the resulting injuries. If you want an evaluation of the circumstances that led to your injuries and legal advice about your options, call 1-800-747-3733 to reach the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine and talk with us during a free consultation.
Internal Bleeding from Falls
Although anyone can suffer severe injuries from a fall, including internal bleeding caused by the blunt force trauma of a fall, older adults are particularly susceptible to these injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in four Americans over age 65 fall each year. As a result, falls are the leading cause of death and injury for this demographic. The older the person who falls, the greater the risk of death.
Most people are familiar with the possibility of motor vehicle accidents or falls from great heights, creating the possibility of internal bleeding from blunt force trauma. However, even simple slip and fall accidents, depending on the circumstances, can lead to sufficient blunt force trauma that causes internal bleeding. This is particularly the case in older adults who slip and fall. Victims of these injuries can face serious complications, some of which may be fatal.
Liability for Slip and Fall Accidents
The most common source of liability from a slip and fall accident occurs when business owners have failed to maintain their properties to avoid injuries to invitees or customers. These property owners owe the highest duty of care to their customers as opposed to trespassers or social guests. Property owners generally have a duty to keep their property free from dangerous conditions that could be hazardous for customers entering their businesses.
Under Florida Statutes §768.0755, business owners must have actual or constructive knowledge of any transitory foreign substances that might be hazardous to customers for them to be liable for resulting slip and fall injuries. Evidence of actual knowledge might include the fact that another customer or employee had reported the spill or that an employee had viewed the spill. Constructive knowledge, however, can be more challenging to prove. In this situation, you must prove that:
- The dangerous condition existed for a long enough period that the business should have known about it in the ordinary care of the property; or
- The condition occurred with regularity and was foreseeable.
If evidence shows that the owners of the business reasonably should have known of the spill, then they could be liable for the resulting injuries if someone slips and falls.
For instance, suppose that a cleaning product spills or leaks onto the floor of a grocery store and has been there for less than five minutes when a customer slips on the substance, falls, and suffers a severe injury, including internal bleeding. If the business owner did not know about the spill and the spill had only been in existence for five minutes, then the business owner may not be liable for the resulting injuries.
A Clearwater internal bleeding slip and fall injury lawyer can assess your situation and determine whether a business could be liable for your injuries. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 to speak with us about your slip and fall injury during a free consultation.
Compensation in Slip and Fall Cases
Medical bills are a major component of the available damages in any slip and fall case. Since internal bleeding resulting from a slip and fall could easily require hospitalization, surgical procedures, and extended treatment, this type of injury’s medical costs can be high. Compensation could cover all these costs, including any rehabilitation and home health care that may be necessary while you recover from your injuries.
You also may be able to recover other damages in a slip and fall case. These damages could include a loss of income if you cannot work for some time and future income if your injuries prevent you from returning to work. Other possible forms of compensation include physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent impairments or disabilities.
Wrongful Death Cases from Slip and Fall Accidents
Internal bleeding indicates a severe injury from a fall that may be fatal, which would eliminate the possibility of a slip and fall personal injury lawsuit. Florida Statutes §768.21 allows survivors of a deceased person to pursue legal action for wrongful death if an accident based on others’ negligence led to death.
Severe injuries to organs that result in internal bleeding may be fatal, especially to older adults who fall. If a fatal slip and fall occurs due to the negligence of the property owners in maintaining their property, the property owners could be responsible for the resulting death.
Compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit could include final medical bills and funeral and burial expenses. These damages also may include the lost support and services for each surviving family member, including financial support that the decedent would have earned during their lifetime. Survivors also may be able to recover awards for lost protection and companionship and mental pain and suffering due to the trauma of the person’s death.
Get Legal Advice Today
When you or a loved one suffers from internal bleeding due to a slip and fall accident, you may have legal recourse. The financial effects of a severe injury can be devastating, and you should not have to bear those costs alone. Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 to learn more about your legal rights in these circumstances and how a Clearwater internal bleeding slip and fall injury lawyer could help you.
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