Slip and Fall Attorney in Tavares

We should not have to worry about getting hurt when going about our daily errands or eating out in a restaurant. However, not all business and property owners maintain their premises adequately, potentially exposing customers and visitors to slipping and tripping hazards.

If you or a loved one suffered a fall and injury on another’s property, such as a grocery store, hotel, shopping mall, or on other premises in Tavares, you may be entitled to compensation. You could receive damages such as healthcare costs, wage losses, pain and suffering, and more. However, handling a slip and fall claim alone can be challenging and stressful. With America’s largest personal injury firm on your side, you can concentrate fully on your recovery, and we do what we do best: fight hard for what you deserve.

Morgan & Morgan’s Tavares slip and fall lawyers are waiting to hear from you. Contact us today to find out more with a free case review.

Do You Have a Slip and Fall Claim in Tavares?

Falls are a common occurrence and can happen anywhere. However, you could file a compensation claim if your slip and fall occurred due to the negligence of another, such as a business owner or landlord. Specifically, you could have a legal case if all of the following apply to your case:

• You slipped or tripped due to a hazard such as a broken or wet floor
• The fall happened on another’s premises
• The property or business owner knew or should have known of the hazard
• The responsible property owner failed to fix or warn of the dangerous condition
• The fall directly caused your injuries and expenses

What Counts as a Hazardous Condition?

To have a slip and fall case, you must prove that your fall did not occur due to inattention or wearing inappropriate footwear but that you tripped or slipped due to a dangerous condition on the premises. Hazards can include, among others:

• Dips or holes in floors
• Wet and slippery surfaces
• A recently waxed or mopped room
• Fraying or bulging carpeting
• Lack of adequate lighting in hallways and staircases
• Missing or broken stairs
• Defective elevators
• Clutter on floors
• Drink and food spillages
• Cracks in sidewalks and parking lots

Property and business owners must maintain their premises, keeping visitors and customers safe. Failing to do so may mean they have to pay for injured visitors’ damages.  

Where Do Slips and Falls Usually Occur in Tavares?

Falls can occur practically anywhere in Tavares, such as on the sidewalk, at work, in stores, and in government offices. Some of the most common premises where slips and falls happen include:  

Restaurants and Bars

Busy fast food joints, restaurants, and bars can be full of slipping and tripping hazards, such as food and drink spills on floors, wet restroom floors, and cramped walkways. Employees must clean up or remove fall hazards as soon as possible. Failing to do so could mean that a Tavares restaurant is liable if a guest suffers an injury in a slip and fall on the premises.  

Grocery Stores

Tavares grocery stores, such as Publix, Winn-Dixie, and Target, can be chaotic, especially during the holidays and prime shopping times. Crowds of rushing shoppers, spilled items, and wet store and restroom floors can present considerable slipping and tripping hazards for customers.

When a trip to the grocery store ends at the ER or the hospital, contact a Tavares slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible to determine your legal rights and options, as you may be entitled to compensation.  

Workplaces

Some workplaces, such as construction sites and warehousing, carry a higher risk of workers experiencing slip and fall accidents. However, slips and falls can also occur in offices and other workplaces. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), falls are one of the main causes of all workplace injuries.

Employees injured in a workplace fall in Tavares typically qualify for workers’ compensation benefits such as wage replacement payments and healthcare costs. However, some workers may have a legal case and could file a lawsuit to recover additional compensation. A Morgan & Morgan slip and fall attorney can help you understand your legal options and the next best steps.

Parking Garages and Parking Lots

Parking lots and garages can be hazardous if not maintained adequately. Dark walkways and staircases, missing handrails, defective elevators, and floor cracks can cause severe falls and injuries. If you or a loved one get hurt in a parking lot or parking garage in Tavares, we could help you get compensation.

Slip and Fall Claims Are Not Always Clear-Cut

Knowing whether you have a slip and fall claim can be tricky, especially if you are unsure what caused your fall. In some cases, individuals may have contributed to their fall. However, that does not necessarily mean that a property owner is in the clear. Consider consulting with a Morgan & Morgan Tavares slip and fall lawyer to learn about your legal rights and determine whether you have a compensation claim.

Filing a Lawsuit for a Slip and Fall in Tavares

While you could potentially file a lawsuit on your own, the process can be complex and full of pitfalls for self-represented victims. Filing a slip and fall lawsuit in Tavares typically begins with drafting a complaint letter stating the details of the accident and asserting the responsible party’s negligence and liability for the victim’s damages. The plaintiff, the person bringing the lawsuit, then submits the complaint and summons to the applicable court.

Once the plaintiff files the case, the defendant has a certain amount of time to file an answer to the complaint. They may admit negligence or completely deny responsibility. At this stage, negotiations will begin in earnest between the two parties, which could result in an out-of-court settlement. If the parties cannot agree on a settlement, the case may go to trial.

Having an experienced and dedicated attorney by your side from the beginning to the end of the legal process can be crucial. An attorney can protect your rights, negotiate aggressively with the other side, and fight for what you deserve at trial, if necessary.

Your Next Best Steps After a Slip and Fall in Tavares

The first minutes and hours after a slip and fall can be crucial for protecting your rights and your health. Do not make the mistake of rushing away from the accident scene without filing a report and noting down the contact details of employees and witnesses that saw your fall. Getting medical assistance as soon as possible can also be critical. In detail, your best next steps after a fall in Tavares include:

1. File an Accident Report

Immediately report your fall to the property owner or store manager and ask to fill in an accident report. In some cases, property owners do not respond appropriately and refuse to let you have a report. If this happens, you can draft a document yourself, ensuring to include all details of the fall, such as:

• The date and time of the accident
• Where your fall occurred
• Which hazardous condition caused you to slip or trip (wet floors, broken stairs, etc.)

2. Gather Evidence of Your Slip and Fall

Take cellphone pictures of the area of your fall and any dangerous floor conditions that may have caused you to slip or trip. If there are witnesses, ask them for their names and contact details. Every shred of evidence you can collect at the accident site can later help you to recover compensation and prove the liability of the property owner.

3. Seek Medical Help

After a slip and fall, seek medical treatment promptly. Failing to do so could sink your compensation claim, even if you develop a fall-related injury or condition later. If medical problems show up weeks after the accident, seeking compensation will be challenging without medical evidence dating from around the time of the fall.  

Remember to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Skipping doctor’s appointments and medical treatments can hurt your claim, as the defendant may argue that you exaggerated your injuries.

4. Contact a Tavares Slip and Fall Lawyer

If you or a relative get hurt on another’s property, do not delay getting professional legal advice to understand your rights and options for recovering damages. Timely action can be critical as the time to file personal injury claims in Florida is generally limited.

Morgan & Morgan’s experienced personal injury attorneys can help you understand your legal rights, investigate your accident, and build a case against the responsible property owner. We aim to pursue maximum potential compensation from the at-fault party or their insurance company so you can get your life back on track after getting hurt.