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You should never suffer harm or damages due to someone else’s negligence–such as poorly maintained stairs or sidewalks. Property owners and managers are legally obligated to maintain safe conditions on their premises. Further, if you are hurt, you are entitled to financial compensation resulting from your slip and fall.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a property owner’s negligence, call a Boca Raton slip and fall lawyer at Kogan & DiSalvo today. There are benefits to having a skilled personal injury attorney. It begins with a free consultation to learn about your legal rights, looming deadlines, and the possibility of financial recovery for your losses.
As noted above, property owners, lessees, and property managers are legally responsible for their premises. Under Florida law, they are required to maintain safe conditions or give adequate warning to residents/patrons/customers of unsafe or potentially harmful situations.
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
The injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents may not be apparent immediately following your accident. For example, a spinal injury from falling and hitting your head may initially present no symptoms. However, several days or weeks of internal bleeding and inflammation can result in a preventable yet permanent disability. For this reason, it is very important that you seek immediate medical care. In addition, do not accept an offer of settlement from an insurance company without first consulting with a slip and fall attorney in Boca Raton.
Examples of injuries caused by slip/trip and fall accidents are:
Negligence is judged by analyzing duty, breach, causation, and injury:
If a defendant is found to be negligent, then the court will move on to an analysis of damages. These are the losses, such as physical injuries, emotional trauma, or damaged property, that the plaintiff suffered due to the accident.
In a slip and fall, liability revolves around who was responsible for maintaining the property. It can be a grocery store, a public sidewalk, a park, or an apartment building. For example, you slipped on the way out of a flower shop. If you were still in the building, the shop owner would likely be liable. However, the shop wouldn’t be responsible if you continued walking for another twenty feet and fell on public property. In this instance, the claim would likely be against the government entity tasked with sidewalk maintenance.
Damages in slip and fall cases will be economic, non-economic, and exemplary. Economic damages are tangible, verifiable losses, such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages are intangible losses such as pain and suffering. Finally, exemplary damages are awarded to punish the defendant–and used to deter future similar bad acts or gross negligence.
Economic damages can include:
Non-Economic damages can include:
Punitive or exemplary damages are only awarded when the defendant’s egregious actions involved intentional misconduct or gross negligence. When awarded, they are typically for significant sums capped at $500,000 or three times the amount of compensatory (economic and non-economic) damages.
Should a death result from a slip and fall, the family may have the option of pursuing a wrongful death case. It will offer compensation for a lifetime of lost wages, companionship, and other services, such as child care that the decedent would have provided had they not died.
Finally, Florida is a modified comparative fault jurisdiction. This means that your total compensation from a slip and fall will be reduced by the amount of your fault for the accident, up to 50%. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are prohibited from recovering anything. Thus, if a court finds that you are 30% responsible, you will be able to recover 70% compensation. Conversely, if a court finds that you are 70% responsible, you will be barred from any compensation.
Slip and falls can happen anywhere; however, some of the most common locations include:
A slip and fall accident can happen under an extensive set of circumstances. The consequences can range from mild surprise with some slight bruising to a traumatic experience accompanied by life-altering injuries. However, regardless of the circumstances of the slip and fall, the following are a few things to do in the aftermath:
In slip and fall cases, the two most essential issues to prove negligence is a breach of duty and causation. Breach of duty falls on the property owner, business renting the property, or the government. For example, if you slipped on a spilled drink in a food court—much will depend on how long the spill was allowed to remain–thus creating a hazard.
Demonstrating a breach of duty involves proving that the party responsible for maintaining the premises did not exercise reasonable caution. Again, using the example above—if the pool of spilled soda remained for several hours, then management would be in breach of their duty. Evidence can include testimony from witnesses or photos or videos of the scene. Once a breach is established, the court will then analyze causation.
Causation consists of two types: the actual cause of an accident, known as the “but for” cause, and the proximate cause. The test for actual cause in a slip and fall is “but for the defendant’s conduct (allowing a hazardous condition on their premises) would you have been injured?” If the answer is no, they are liable. To establish negligence, a defendant’s actions must be both the actual and proximate cause of an injury. Proximate cause, also known as “legal cause” or “direct cause,” requires proof that the defendant was a substantial factor in bringing about the result (your injuries).
Further, proving damages can be nuanced. Some economic damages are relatively straightforward, such as the medical bills or the value of property damaged in the fall. These can be established by the billing from a medical facility or the cost of replacing a laptop damaged when you fell on it. Future medical and rehabilitative treatment bills can require more evidence–the opposing side may claim they are unnecessary. However, testimony from a medical expert or peer-reviewed medical journals may substantiate the necessity of such treatment.
Non-economic damages require more argument and supporting evidence because they are not as easily quantifiable. For example, an accomplished athlete fell and sustained a spinal injury. This means that even though they spent their life training, they can no longer engage in their passion. It leads to a drastic loss of enjoyment in their lives. An attorney can argue that the ensuing depression represents pain and suffering; thus, they should be eligible for non-economic damages.
Finally, punitive damages require reasonably demonstrating through evidence that the defendant acted with intentional misconduct or gross negligence. As per Florida law, intentional misconduct is action by a party with actual knowledge of the wrongfulness of their conduct, and the high probability of injury or damage to another party would result. Florida’s definition of gross negligence is conduct so reckless or wanting in care that it constitutes a conscious disregard or indifference to the life, safety, or rights of those exposed to it.
Most causes of action for slip and fall injuries will be negligence. In Florida, the statute of limitations for negligence is two years from the date of the accident. Therefore, if a lawsuit is filed more than two years after, it will likely be dismissed by the court. This will also affect any insurance claims, as losing the ability to file a lawsuit will result in having little to no leverage over an insurance company to force a settlement. However, it is always best to speak with an attorney if you are unsure about this deadline since there are exceptions.
Though filing a lawsuit or insurance claim years after the injury is possible, it is highly recommended to begin your claim as soon as possible. This is because photos and videos can be lost, and witnesses may move or no longer remember what they saw. Further, other evidence may disappear or become otherwise unavailable. Additionally, diligently pursuing your claims within a reasonable timeframe will show both the opposing party and court that you are taking the exercise of your rights seriously.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, a skilled injury lawyer will protect your rights and interests, ensuring you receive the maximum compensation from the negligent party who is responsible for your injuries and losses. Regardless of where the accident occurred, the Boca Raton slip and fall attorneys at Kogan & DiSalvo will help you. The attorneys at our law firm will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries, pain, and suffering, lost wages, or even the wrongful death of a loved one due to a slip/trip and fall accident.
Total reviews: 1022 |
Average rating: 4.9
I was injured while shopping at the largest corporate stores in the US. Numerous attorneys at Kogan and DiSalvo helped settle my case with a positive outcome. They set a new standard for case review of unusual elements involving the injuries I sustain ed. After continual delays by the defendants,Tiffani held fast and resolved the issues through mediation. Kogan and DiSalvo came highly recommended by friends in the business. I would also like to recommend this group for your litigation needs.
We were very impressed with the way Rachel and her team handled my mother’s case. They were not only very detailed and professional, but were always available to answer questions and concerns.
I had the pleasure of having Amanda as my paralegal over my case and she made my experience a lot smoother. She was attentive and compassionate when speaking with me and explained the legal jargon seamlessly. Now that my case has finally wrapped up I can say that I would recommend Kogan & DiSalvo to anyone in need of personal injury representation. Yes they are a giant of a legal team but with a great team that feels personal to you.
If you’re reading this, in search of representation, I wish you the best and hope you choose a team that will passionately represent you.
From the moment I googled injury lawyers, the first name that appeared was Kogan & DiSalvo. I’ve seeing them painted in the back of the cross many times instantly felt a sense of relief that all that right away. Boy am I glad I trusted my instincts. From the initial phone call that I made at the time of my injury I was guided over the phone what to do. It was almost like having a family and solo me through a rather traumatic situation. My attorney Ted DiSalvo has been amazing, however I did most of my correspondence with Amanda Hudson (she was like a big sister) guiding me and reassuring me an answering every question that I had throughout this long process.
Kogan and DiSalvo they treated me like family from day one. If you are ever in a position that you need a great injury firm that pays closer attention to you then your own family; Kogan & DiSalvo is who you need to call. They will make sure that you do not get shorchanged . They will get you the money that you deserve.
Lastly I know I sound like a broken record but Amanda Hudson was amazing “you rock Amanda” You made this a truly great experience..
My neighbor used Kogan & DiSalvo twice and had such a positive experience that after I was involved in a car accident she told me that I really should call them, so I did. After I filled out the form online someone called me within 3 minutes. She was very kind, compassionate and very sympathetic to my situation. From the beginning she let me know that she needed to speak with the attorney and find out some more info before she could say if they could even help me. The honesty from her was very appreciated. Although I’m not finished with my case I am very very happy with how things are going and even more so with the treatment I recieve from everyone I have dealt with. I am treated like a person, not a number, which is unfortunately very rare. They honestly do care and do truly want to help. I would highly recommend them to anyone who needs a personal injury attorney.
Kogan & disalvo are literally the best lawyers to ever work with ! They cared tremendously and always kept me in the loop with me and my daughter’s case. They fought hard to get us a great compensation in just under 9 months . I would recommend them to anyone thanks again yall rock!
Great firm great attorneys very punctual very kind and very helpful. Always willing to help 24/7 willing to answer any doubts or questions.
I am truly appreciative for what this firm has done for me. All I can say is from the bottom of my heart, thank you all and God bless. 🙏
Really nice and friendly people to work with
Samantha was extremely helpful and attentive to my case! Thank you so much for all your hard work and effort!
Samantha was amazing to work with, detailed me throughout every step of the process and was extremely helpful and extremely friendly throughout my entire case, I recommend her and this firm
Thank you (Paul!!)and the rest of the team By far the best experience ive had with a law firm they genuinely care about their client (Like family)and their well-being and they’re all about doing what’s best for the client they gave me their word and stood behind it with their actions in helping me settle my case.I would HIGHLY recommend Kogan&DiSalvo personal injury lawfirm To anyone lookin for top notch quality service, thank you guys so much i really appreciate the hard work you guys put in for me!
Very great and didn’t forget about us thank you so much
Client: Charles Seitter ; Stephanie , Samantha and Paul. Your goto personal injury attorneys and company.
Everyone was very professional and nice
Unfortunately I was involved in an accident, for which I didn’t see the need for an attorney. But I am happy I took the advice to get the help of the team at Kogan & Disalvo. They made sure my medical bills are paid.
Thank you
My wife and I were hit in the rear by an 18 wheeler, that was loaded with bricks. Fortunately we were able to walk away, but I sustained damage to my back and neck. I can’t thank this law firm enough for the advice they gave me. It took quite a while to finally settle the case. Tiffany did a great job preparing me for my disposition, and I was very pleased the way she handled the eventual arbitration.
Thank you Tiffany, and the entire staff for their professionalism. I have no hesitation in recommending them to others in need of legal advice.
I highly recommend hiring Kogan & DiSalvo! They worked very efficiently and diligently to settle my case. There were a few setbacks and delays but Amanda Hudson conquered them without hesitation! If I ever need an injury lawyer I will only trust Kogan & DiSalvo!
Brian Andino was an outstanding lawyer who, along with his hard-working team, handled my personal injury case with professionalism and care. I was injured in a parking lot that was not maintained properly, and Brian, supported by his diligent staff, helped me navigate a complicated legal process with ease. His team was always responsive, organized, and ensured that I stayed informed at every stage of the case.
Brian’s expertise was evident in the way he built a strong case, and his team’s attention to detail made a significant difference. Together, they fought hard to secure a fair settlement for my injuries, holding the negligent parties accountable. I always felt like Brian and his team genuinely cared about my recovery and well-being.
I highly recommend Brian Andino and his dedicated team to anyone in need of skilled, compassionate, and thorough legal representation.
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