Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

A slip-and-fall accident can leave you with serious injuries, excessive medical bills, and the inability to work. If your slip and fall occurred due to a hazard that the property’s owner or management knew about and failed to correct, you may be able to pursue legal action against that person or business. You must first prove legal liability and negligence to prove your case and obtain compensation for your injuries.

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere—from grocery stores to office buildings—and the injuries they cause can have long-lasting effects. These accidents are often the result of unsafe property conditions, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting. If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident in Fort Lauderdale, you may be facing costly medical bills, lost wages, and significant pain. At Anidjar & Levine, we understand how frustrating it can be to deal with the aftermath of a slip and fall injury. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale slip and fall injury lawyers are dedicated to helping you hold negligent property owners accountable and secure the compensation you deserve.

Property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors. When they fail to do so, the results can be devastating. At Anidjar & Levine, we will thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, and work to prove that the property owner’s negligence caused your injury. With our legal team, you can focus on your recovery while we fight for your rights and financial recovery.

Do not go through this process alone. A slip-and-fall lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can help. Call the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine today: 800-747-3733.

What are some of the most common Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accidents? Who is liable?

Some of the most common scenarios that lead to slip and fall accidents are:

• Uneven walking surfaces, such as a broken sidewalk
• Unmarked obstacles, such as a step, curb, or extension cord
• Wet, slippery surfaces, such as a spill or water leak
• Improperly maintained property, such as potholes in a parking lot
• Steps or stairs without handrails

Although these are some of the most common situations that can lead to slips and falls, almost any hazardous condition can cause an accident of this nature. Victims may suffer broken bones, dislocated joints, traumatic brain injury, or neck, back, or spinal cord injury.

Your liable party is whoever was in charge of maintaining the property. In most cases, this will be the property owner or manager.

When is the property owner liable?

Under Florida premises liability law, property owners must maintain their property in a way that is reasonably safe and free of hazards or danger for those who visit. This means that, if the property owner or manager knows — or should have known — about a potentially unsafe situation, they must take quick action to correct it.

If the owner or manager is unable to correct the problem reasonably quickly, he must do something to bring it to the attention to any visitors who might injure themselves. For example, he could rope the area off or place prominent signage so you can avoid the danger. If he failed to meet these standards, and someone gets hurt as a result, he may be liable for those injuries.

It is important to note that the property owner is only liable if the injured party was an invitee (e.g., customer, contractor working on the property) or licensee (e.g., social guest, someone who came in to use the restroom).

When might a property owner not be liable?

A property owner has no duty of care to a trespasser. This means that if the property owner did not protect a trespasser from a known hazard, he will likely not be liable. This does not mean that a property owner can intentionally cause injury to a trespasser however.

The property owner might also not be liable if you caused your injury. If you were running, engaging in horseplay, or texting as you walked, the court could find that you were at least partially responsible for the incident. Likewise, if you ignored warning signs or you entered an area that was clearly denoted as off-limits, the property owner might be able to deflect liability.

How do I prove the Fort Lauderdale property owner was negligent?

Once you have determined that the property owner is your liable party, you must establish he was negligent. The four elements of negligence that you and your attorney must demonstrate in a slip and fall accident are:

• Duty of care: The property owner had a duty to you to maintain the premises free of dangers or hazards that could cause harm.
• Breach of duty: The owner breached his duty of care and allowed a potentially hazardous condition to exist on the premises.
• Causation: That hazard or condition was the cause of your slip and fall and, subsequently, the cause of your injuries.
• Damages: You sustained measurable damages (e.g., medical bills, lost wages, etc.).

The biggest challenge in proving negligence in a slip and fall case is demonstrating that the property owner knew or should have known about the condition.

The standard for whether the owner should have known, the reasonable person standard, looks at whether most owners (or managers, if applicable) would have known about the problem and taken steps to correct it.

What should I do if I am hurt in a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall?

If you slip and fall in public, you should seek immediate medical attention. Injuries sustained in this way may not be obvious immediately. Alert the property owner or manager about the incident and request his name and contact information.

Talk to any witnesses that may have been present, make note of their names and contact information and ask if they have any photos or videos of the incident.

As soon as possible, contact a slip and fall lawyer in Fort Lauderdale to assist you in requesting compensation for your injuries. Because businesses and insurance companies believe that many slip-and-fall claims are false or exaggerated, they will often try to discourage you by refusing to negotiate a settlement. Having a lawyer to assist you can help demonstrate the sincerity of your claim.

Your attorney will also be better equipped to obtain to important evidence for your case, such as video surveillance footage, employee statements, maintenance records, or existing company safety policies.

A Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyer will also have access to expert witnesses who can evaluate the scene of your accident to determine if other factors — inadequate lighting, poor signage, etc. — may have contributed to the hazard.

How do I find a slip-and-fall lawyer in Fort Lauderdale?

Choosing the right Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can make a difference in the outcome of your case. A local lawyer that handles slip and fall cases can help explain your rights under the law and provide guidance and support to help you through this difficult time.

In Fort Lauderdale, the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine offers complimentary consultations and case reviews. Contact us today to speak with one of our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident lawyers: 800-747-3733.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

Slip and fall accidents can occur for various reasons, many of which are linked to the negligence of property owners or managers. Identifying the cause of your accident is critical in building a strong claim for compensation.

Wet or Slippery Floors

One of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents is wet or slippery floors. Spills, cleaning solutions, or rainwater tracked into a building can create dangerous conditions for visitors. If a property owner fails to promptly clean up or mark a wet area, they may be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result. This is particularly common in grocery stores, restaurants, or other high-traffic areas.

Uneven Surfaces and Broken Flooring

Uneven surfaces, such as cracked sidewalks, potholes, or broken flooring, are also frequent causes of slip and fall accidents. These hazards can cause a person to lose their balance and fall, resulting in serious injuries. Property owners are responsible for maintaining their premises and ensuring that walking areas are safe and free of hazards.

Inadequate Lighting

Poor lighting can make it difficult for people to see hazards such as stairs, obstacles, or uneven surfaces, increasing the likelihood of a slip and fall accident. Property owners must ensure that their premises are well-lit to prevent accidents, particularly in parking lots, stairwells, and walkways. If inadequate lighting contributed to your accident, the property owner may be held liable.

Common Injuries in Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can cause a range of injuries, from minor bruises to serious conditions that require extensive medical treatment. Understanding the common injuries associated with these accidents can help you seek the compensation needed for recovery.

Fractures and Broken Bones

Fractures and broken bones are among the most common injuries in slip and fall accidents. Victims may suffer broken wrists, arms, or legs from trying to catch themselves during a fall. Hip fractures are especially common in older adults and can result in long-term mobility issues or even permanent disability. These injuries often require surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term medical care.

Head Injuries

Falls can result in serious head injuries, including concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These injuries occur when a person hits their head on the ground, floor, or other hard surface during a fall. Head injuries can have long-lasting effects, such as memory loss, cognitive impairment, and changes in behavior, making immediate medical attention crucial.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Slip and fall accidents can also cause spinal cord injuries, which can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, or even paralysis in severe cases. Damage to the spinal cord often requires long-term medical care, physical therapy, and ongoing rehabilitation. Victims of spinal cord injuries may face significant financial burdens due to medical bills and loss of income.

Proving Negligence in Slip and Fall Cases in Fort Lauderdale

In order to recover compensation in a slip and fall case, it is essential to prove that the property owner was negligent and that their negligence directly caused your injury. This requires thorough investigation and the collection of key evidence.

Establishing Duty of Care

Property owners in Fort Lauderdale are legally required to maintain safe premises for visitors. This is known as a duty of care. If a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to ensure their property is free of hazards, they may be considered negligent. Examples of reasonable steps include cleaning spills promptly, repairing broken floors, and ensuring proper lighting.

Proving the Property Owner’s Negligence

To prove negligence in a slip and fall case, you must show that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition and failed to address it. Evidence that can support your claim includes:

• Surveillance footage: If your fall was captured on camera, it can be used to show the hazardous condition and how it caused your fall.
• Witness testimony: Statements from witnesses who saw the fall or were aware of the dangerous condition can strengthen your case.
• Maintenance records: Records showing whether the property owner regularly maintained their premises or had knowledge of prior incidents can be crucial in proving negligence.

Comparative Negligence in Florida

Florida follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning that if you are found to be partially at fault for your slip and fall accident, your compensation may be reduced. For example, if you were texting while walking and didn’t notice a wet floor sign, you could be assigned a percentage of fault, reducing your overall compensation. An experienced attorney can help minimize the impact of comparative negligence on your claim.

Pursuing Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries in Fort Lauderdale

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to various types of compensation to cover your financial losses and pain and suffering. Understanding the types of compensation available can help ensure that you recover what you are owed.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are often the most significant financial burden following a slip and fall accident. Compensation for medical costs can include hospital bills, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and any future medical care that may be required as a result of your injury. It is important to document all medical expenses to ensure that you receive full compensation.

Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity

If your injury prevents you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. This includes the time you have already missed from work as well as any future lost earnings if your injury prevents you from returning to your job or forces you to take a lower-paying position. In cases of permanent disability, you may also recover compensation for loss of earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering

In addition to economic damages, victims of slip and fall accidents may be entitled to compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. This compensation covers the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and the long-term effects of the injury on your quality of life. A skilled attorney can help determine the value of pain and suffering in your case.

Broward County Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

A slip and fall lawyer in Broward County, FL is here to help you after a slip and fall injury. You worry about getting better. We take care of everything else. Slips and falls are not always accidents. They often occur because the property owner or occupier acted negligently. We can review your case for free and help you understand your right to pursue compensation.

If you suffered injuries in a fall in a store, restaurant, public park, or on private property in Broward County, we want to discuss your accident and injuries with you today. Call us at 1-800-747-3733 for your complimentary consultation and let us go to work on your case. We do not get paid unless you do.

We Can Pursue Compensation in Your Broward County Slip and Fall Case

Florida property owners have an obligation to keep their property free from hazards and ensure the safety of guests and visitors. This applies to almost any property where someone else might visit, including:

• Private homes
• Other private properties
• Community spaces
• Public parks
• Stores
• Restaurants
• Other businesses

Our injury attorneys know how difficult it can be to build a successful slip and fall case, but we have also handled enough of these cases to know how to build a strong argument that proves negligence and liability. We can seek compensation on your behalf no matter what type of hazard caused your fall to occur. Common reasons for slips and falls include:

• Spills or tracked-in liquids
• Sand or water on ramps, stairs, or floors
• Poor lighting, especially on uneven floors or stairs
• Missing or broken handrails
• Trip hazards in the walkway
• Unmarked step ups and step downs
• Torn carpet or broken tiles
• Potholes in the parking lot
• Cracks in sidewalks or concrete floors
• Missing tiles
• Uneven or poorly maintained stairs
• Lack of traction strips when needed

Today, let us review your Broward County, FL, slip and fall case. We can help you understand your rights and legal options after suffering injuries in this type of incident. A slip-and-fall lawyer in Broward County, FL will identify the liable party and build a solid case against them. Call us today at 1-800-747-3733.

Proving Liability and Recovering Damages for Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall accidents are the most frequent causes of premises liability injuries. Fort Lauderdale’s wet climate increases the risks of slippery conditions. While some slips initially seem minor, they can cause severe harm like traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal damage, or aggravation of preexisting conditions. Victims often face challenges proving negligence. An experienced attorney is key.

A thorough investigation establishes liability in slips and falls. Attorneys review building codes and maintenance standards to show which party was responsible for mitigating the hazardous conditions. Severe injuries support higher settlements, so medical evidence proving fractures, concussions, or disc injuries helps maximize recovery.

Building inspections can identify problems like inadequate lighting, missing handrails, poor drainage, lack of warning signs, worn flooring, and unaddressed spills that property owners knew or should have known about. Statements from witnesses who observed the dangerous condition before the fall are compelling evidence.

Premises owners blame victims, claiming they were not paying attention or wore improper footwear. But an attorney can refute these arguments by presenting weather reports, testing shoe grips, and calculating force of impact to prove conditions were objectively hazardous for anyone.

Aggressive litigation presses property owners, managers, and insurers to accept liability and fairly compensate victims’ medical costs, lost income from missed work, and pain and suffering. Attorneys fight to overcome defenseBlaming victims never alleviates owners’ duty to provide safe premises. Experienced counsel levels the playing field and secures maximum recovery for Fort Lauderdale slip and fall victims.

The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Provides the Responsive Legal Care You Deserve

At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our attorneys strive to always go the extra mile to ensure our clients get the support and guidance they need during the personal injury claims process. We will handle all aspects of your legal case, letting you focus on your physical healing.

We will always pursue the highest amount of compensation possible for you, based on the facts we uncover about your case. This means we must conduct a thorough investigation into your fall and the circumstances surrounding it. We need to prove:

• The cause of your fall
• Negligence and liability
• The severity of your injuries
• The total of your fall-related expenses and losses

To do this, we will identify, collect, and analyze all available evidence in your case. Evidence may include:

• A police report or reports filed by other first responders
• Eyewitness testimony
• Video of the fall, if available
• Photographs or other evidence showing the hazard
• Other evidence to prove negligence
• Testimony about your injuries, prognosis, and care needs from medical experts
• Documentation of your medical bills, receipts, and other proof of your losses

You can expect our attorneys to work tirelessly to try to recover compensation on your behalf. We will try to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company to avoid going to trial, but we will never back down from taking legal action if necessary to recover the payout you deserve. We have gone to trial for countless clients and have the litigation experience necessary to successfully argue slip and fall cases in court.

Recoverable Damages in a Broward County, FL Slip and Fall Claim or Lawsuit

Our team has extensive experience handling personal injury cases similar to yours. Because of this, we can often spot expenses and losses you may overlook when trying to calculate your damages. When we investigate your case, we will work to identify as many accident-related losses as possible to ensure we seek just compensation on your behalf.

Common damages in a slip and fall case include:

• Medical care and related expenses
• Ongoing and future care costs
• Lost wages and benefits
• Diminished earning capacity;
• Property damage including broken glasses, phones, and more
• Other out-of-pocket accident-related expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

Wrongful Death After a Broward County, FL Slip and Fall

While rare, slip and fall accidents can sometimes lead to severe and even fatal injuries. If your family member passed away as a result of the injuries they suffered in a Florida slip and fall, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through a wrongful death claim. Call 1-800-747-3733 for a complimentary consultation with a member of our team.

Talk to a Slip & Fall Lawyer in Broward County, FL About Your Case Today

At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our team knows how difficult it can be to overcome the physical and financial stress of suffering a serious personal injury in a slip and fall incident. We can help you seek a payout to cover your medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related expenses. While compensation will not make your pain go away, it can help reduce your financial stress so you can focus on healing.

Reach out to one of our slip and fall lawyers in Broward County, FL as possible after your fall. Florida law gives us only a limited time to take legal action and hold the negligent property owner liable in court.

Call us today at 1-800-747-3733 for your no-cost, no-obligation case review and consultation.