Carpeting is a popular way to child-proof or soften a room, quieting echoes and providing numerous other benefits. But when carpeting fibers wear out and break, they tend to curl up, which can act as a hard barrier if a person approaches from the wrong direction. Such problems can be a direct cause of a slip and fall: an unfortunate, potentially grievous cause of bodily harm.
Per Florida Statute § 768.0755, property and business owners have a duty of care to make their premises safe for visitors. If you were injured in a slip or fall after tripping on torn or ripped carpet in a public area or while visiting a store, business, or other public space, a Jacksonville carpeting that is ripped or torn lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine may be able to assist fully with your case with no cost up-front to you. Call our Jacksonville slip and fall injury lawyers today to get started.
How the Legal System Helps Injured People
When someone is hurt by the fault of another, the legal system attempts to remedy the harm as much as possible. There is a complex system to determine award amounts, and a lawyer may be able to help. Courts consider factors such as:
- Hospital invoices
- Ambulance costs
- Missed wages
- Lowered earning potential
- Pain and suffering
Courts have different ways they may approach calculating the “pain and suffering” damages, but that amount is typically correlated with a person’s medical expenses. Overall this is a complex matter, and a Jacksonville carpeting that is ripped or torn lawyer with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine may be able to assist you and handle your case. To find out more, call our Jacksonville Beach personal injury lawyers today.
Torn or Ripped Carpeting: Slip and Fall Risk
To the inexperienced eye, torn carpeting may appear as just an unprofessional nuisance. But this is a common mistake; it is more than just a cosmetic problem to deal with a layer of broken carpeting.
Torn or ripped carpeting also presents an outsized risk for the most vulnerable among us, including:
- Elderly people
- People who are blind
- People using a walker
- Children
Why People May Choose to Act Quickly
After an accident resulting in personal injury due to damaged carpeting, there are a number of reasons why a person may choose to act sooner rather than later by hiring a lawyer.
The maximum amount of time a person can take to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida is four years. Florida Statute § 95.11 holds that if a person waits longer than four years for any reason, they likely cannot sue relating to that injury.
But there are other reasons people choose to act quickly after being tripped by torn carpeting. Taking photos of the torn carpeting may bolster a case, but if the company later fixes the carpeting before photos are taken, then this opportunity will be missed.
Such evidence adds credibility, backing up their story. Lawsuits are judged on a preponderance basis, so courts typically favor the side with the greater amount of convincing evidence. Because such evidence may not last as long as four years, a party usually is better off with more evidence in court than less.
There may still be more evidence in the field waiting to be discovered, and the legal team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine may be able to help you collect this evidence. This is the main driver as to why people choose to act quickly and call us early in their process.
How to Start the Legal Process
If you still have questions about carpeting that is ripped or torn, or any other legal questions, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine wants to help. Give us a call today for a free consultation and learn how a Jacksonville carpeting that is ripped or torn lawyer may be able to help you in your time of need.
We Can Help.
