Slip and fall accidents occur when someone slips and falls on another’s property. Most slip and fall accidents happen due to water or ice that was left on the floor, or poorly maintained floors or stairs in an older building. If you’ve recently been injured due to slip and fall, it’s important to understand your rights, which are protected by premises liability laws. Keep reading to learn more about slip and fall cases, how the law protects you in these situations, and what steps to take next if you have been injured in this way.
The Different Types of Slip & Fall Injuries
There are three types of slip and fall injuries. They are traumatic brain injury, rotator cuff injury, and ankle sprain. These can be caused by twisting the ankle or tearing ligaments in the knee from a twist on the spine. Slip and fall accidents can also cause more serious injuries such as a concussion, broken bones, or even paralysis. The severity of an injury will depend on what surface the victim is walking on at the time of their fall, how far they fell before impact with another surface or object, and how fast they were moving when they slipped or tripped.
The Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include wet floors, ice or snow, uneven surfaces, poor lighting or missing handrails. Any of these could lead to an accident and potential injuries. Slip-and-fall accidents are the leading cause of injury for people over 65 years old. These accidents can have a lifelong impact on the victim’s physical health, their quality of life, and their financial stability.
How to Prove That the Property Owner Was at Fault
When it comes to proving liability for a slip and fall accident, the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the property owner was negligent. There are three ways you can prove this. First, you can show that there were hazardous conditions on the property that made it unreasonably dangerous. Second, you can prove that someone on the property knew about a condition but did not take care of it in a reasonable time frame. Third, you can show that there was no warning sign or other indication of potential danger.
The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Slip & Fall Claim
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be wondering how much time you have to file your claim. The answer is two years from the date of injury. For instance, if John slipped on a spilled soda at work on January 1, 2018 and was injured, he would have until January 1, 2020 to file his claim. If he had an accident at work on December 31st and filed his claim the day after (January 1), the statute of limitations would still expire on January 1 of the following year (January 1, 2020). The statute of limitations is important because it sets a deadline for filing your claims. If you miss this deadline, then the courts will not hear your case.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive for My Injuries?
It is important for you to know that there are laws in place which govern the amount of compensation you can receive for your injuries. These laws are called limits on damages and they have been put in place by the legislature. These limits will determine how much compensation you will be able to receive for your injuries, but it does not mean that there is no way for you to recover more than what these limits offer. It just means that if you want to recover more than what the law says, then a premises liability attorney in Jacksonville will need to prove this in court.