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FETTERMAN & ASSOCIATES
Personal Injury Attorneys
Palm Beach - West Palm Beach - Florida
SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS
In general terms, “slip and fall” accidents refer to situations
where 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 a building,
and be caused by such conditions as bad flooring, wet floors, poorly lighted
steps, or, in the case of outdoor accidents, weather-related or hidden hazards.
A puddle outside a door or a crack or pothole can be the cause of a slip
and fall in a parking lot, for instance.
All slip and fall accidents are covered by negligence law and deal with the
concept of premises liability. Property owners have a “duty of care”
to see that their property is safe. This includes insuring that the building
has no structural defects that could cause an accident, both inside and out.
In some states the property owner may also have a duty to reduce problem areas
caused by weather. Structural defects can include: loose floor mats, rugs, or
tiles; water on the floor; badly lit stairs or steps; cracks or holes in sidewalks
or parking lots. Weather-related hazards may include standing water and icy
spots. A plaintiff or claimant also has a duty to exercise reasonable care,
so if any action of yours contributed to the accident, you may share in the
negligence.
If you experience a slip and fall accident, you should try to determine what
made you fall and if it could have been anticipated and prevented. If anyone
saw you fall, be sure you get the names and addresses of all witnesses. Try
to note the conditions in the area – was the lighting poor, was there
some substance that made you slip. If you did slip because of something on the
floor, try to obtain a sample. Also, try to get pictures of the area. Report
any such accident to the manager or owner and insist that they make a record
of it.
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 has suffered an injury due to a slip and fall accident, call Fetterman & Associates at (561) 845-2510 or (800) 330-HELP (4357) or submit an online questionnairequestionnaire.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
so please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to
possible compensation.
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