Florida Slip & Fall Lawyer
The sudden shock of losing your balance and striking a hard surface leaves you no time to prevent the impact, and falling in a poorly lit parking lot or tripping over a cord can result in a life-altering injury. A slip and fall accident happens fast, but can result in potentially lifelong injuries for you or your loved one.
If you’ve experienced serious injuries on someone else’s property, contact the Florida slip and fall attorneys at Meldon Law as soon as possible.
What Sets Meldon Law Apart from Other Injury Law Firms?
We have the knowledge, skill, and experience you want for your case. Since our firm opened in 1971, our staff have dedicated their careers to helping Floridians. We have spent that time fighting for our injured neighbors and recovering millions. In fact, our founder, Jeffrey Meldon is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. You won’t get that level of success with just any firm.
However, we aren’t just focused on success; we’re focused on community. We have created several programs over the years to help our neighbors in need and make the world a better place.
We also do everything we can to educate Floridians about the injury claims system. We have written books, consumer guides, and blogs and host a weekly talk radio show called Law Talk Live.
Types of Slip and Fall Injuries We Handle in Florida
A serious fall can result in sudden and devastating injuries. Many injuries associated with a fall require a long recovery, resulting in an extensive list of medical expenses. The full impact of a fall down steps or onto a wet floor can result in one or more of the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. A severe TBI patient may need to relearn basic skills, while others require around-the-clock care, making a skilled living facility necessary. This type of care is costly, costing thousands per year.
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) – The spinal cord serves an essential function in communicating messages to and from the brain. When damaged, messages regarding movement and sensation become disrupted, resulting in limited mobility and paralysis. The costs associated with a spinal cord injury can easily reach millions of dollars throughout a patient’s lifetime.
- Broken bones– A slip and fall accident often results in one or more broken bones. A severe break of an arm or leg can limit your mobility and make daily tasks almost impossible without assistance. Future surgeries and extensive physical therapy can make the recovery process long and difficult.
- Neck and back injuries– Neck and back injuries are a real possibility during a fall. Breaking your back and spraining your neck are serious injuries that can prevent you from ever fully recovering, returning to the career you had before your accident, or engaging in the activities that you enjoyed before your accident.
- Internal injuries– Internal injuries are especially dangerous due to few or no warning signs. Only a medical professional using proper testing can diagnose injuries such as internal bleeding or organ damage. These types of injuries are why it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately following a fall—even if you initially feel fine.
A serious injury leaves you in no position to handle your case alone. Navigating state law and negotiating with insurance companies is best left to a legal professional. Your financial future is too important to leave to chance. If you or a loved one is seriously injured in a slip and fall due to a property owner’s negligence, contact Meldon Law as soon as possible.
Damages We Can Help You Recover
Slip and fall injuries can cost you thousands of dollars almost immediately. You shouldn’t need to pay those costs if another party caused your injury. Our team will fight to recover the following on your behalf:
- Current and future medical bills, such as hospitalization, treatment, prescription medications, surgeries, ongoing care, in-home care, and co-pays
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Miscellaneous accident-related expenses, such as hiring a gardener or nanny or renovating your home or vehicle to accommodate a disability
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
Slips and falls can also be fatal. If you lost a loved one after a fall, our team offers you our most sincere condolences. We can help you seek justice and the compensation you need to cover your new expenses and losses. Your recoverable compensation could include:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Medical bills for the treatment your loved one received before they passed
- Loss of support and services
- Loss of spousal companionship and protection
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of parental companionship, guidance, and instruction
Call the Meldon Law team to learn more about what we can recover for you.
How Negligence Can Cause a Florida Slip and Fall Accident
No one expects a visit to the mall to turn tragic due to a wet spot on a floor or a malfunctioning escalator. Instead, what mall patrons expect is that property owners will ensure that their property is safe. Unfortunately, many businesses and property owners fail to fix hazards, whether due to expense, laziness, or overall property neglect.
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Wet floors
- Stairs with no handrails
- Cords across floors
- Inadequate indoor or outdoor lighting
- Torn carpet
What We Must Prove to Hold the Property Owner Liable
Unfortunately, we can’t recover compensation just because you fell on someone else’s property. We need to demonstrate the following:
- A hazardous condition on the premises injured you.
- The property owner knew or should have known that there was a hazard on the property. They did not remedy the hazard or warn visitors.
- You suffered damages due to the hazard.
- The property owner owed you a duty of care. To establish this, we need to show that you were on the property legally at the time.
How to Protect Yourself After a Slip and Fall
Experiencing a slip and fall can leave you feeling dazed and confused. If possible, take pictures and collect the contact information of witnesses. Should your injuries prevent you from doing so, ask a witness to help you. Having the awareness to gather this information is crucial for a successful claim.
Do not speak with the property owner, no matter how friendly they appear at the time. Seek immediate medical attention, then secure the services of our Meldon Law personal injury attorneys familiar with Florida law as soon as possible.
Our Florida Slip and Fall Attorneys Will Fight the Insurance Companies on Your Behalf
Insurance companies like to settle cases quickly. Company representatives often present an initial settlement offer soon after an accident. While these initial offers may seem like large sums, they are typically not enough to cover future medical needs or future lost wages.
By making these initial low-ball offers, the insurance company protects its best interest by offering as little money as possible.
They might also attempt to get you to say something that jeopardizes your claim. To protect your best interests, don’t speak with any insurance companies. Instead, contact the Florida slip and fall attorneys at Meldon Law to schedule a free case evaluation. Should we decide to move forward with your claim, we’ll handle all communication and negotiation with the insurance company. We won’t settle until we secure fair compensation for you.
We Handle Every Aspect of Your Case With No Upfront Fees
You don’t need another expense at this time. With our firm, you won’t have one. We take premises liability cases on a contingency-fee basis. You don’t pay a retainer or any other upfront costs for our help. You only pay us when we recover compensation for you, so you can be sure that our team will take on your case like it was our own.
There’s no financial risk for you when you work with us.
Get Help from Our Injury Attorneys Today
When it comes to personal injury cases, time is not on your side. State law limits the amount of time allowed to pursue a personal injury claim. Due to the scope of work involved in interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence, it is essential to consult with an attorney immediately. The sooner we get to work for you, the closer you’ll be to receiving compensation. Call us today. The initial consultation is free.
