Falls are one of the most common ways people sustain severe injuries in Destin, FL. However, people injured in slip-and-fall accidents often don’t realize that they may have a legal case against a negligent business or property owner. A personal injury claim allows slip-and-fall accident victims to hold these negligent parties accountable and recover fair compensation for their injuries. A Destin slip-and-fall accident lawyer from The Bruner Law Firm can provide the legal guidance you need to claim compensation for your losses.

Our Destin personal injury lawyers have over 30 years of experience representing injured people in personal injury cases and have recovered millions for our clients. Our Destin slip-and-fall accident attorneys will handle all the legal work in your case, giving you more time to focus on healing. Call (850) 243-2222 or complete our contact form for a free consultation with a slip-and-fall lawyer in Destin.

How Our Destin Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawyers Can Help You

At The Bruner Law Firm, our Destin slip-and-fall attorneys are dedicated to making the legal process as smooth as possible for you. As a personal injury law firm, we understand that dealing with your injuries is already overwhelming, so we take care of your case’s legal aspects. From gathering crucial evidence to negotiating with insurance companies, we handle everything so you can focus on healing.

Our team can conduct a thorough investigation to build a strong case, including collecting all the necessary documentation and witness statements. We can also consult experts to strengthen your claim. By handling all the insurance communication and legal paperwork for you, we can reduce your stress and prevent you from making mistakes that could hurt your case. If necessary, we’ll represent you in court, using our accumulated knowledge and experience to present your case in a compelling way to a judge or jury.

Our services go beyond legal representation, however. We can also provide emotional support and guidance as you work through the recovery process. Trust The Bruner Law Firm to protect your rights and guide you through this challenging moment.

Potential Compensation in a Destin Slip-and-Fall Claim

Your compensation in a Florida slip-and-fall claim, which falls under personal injury claims, depends on your injuries, whether you played a role in causing the accident, your legal team, and other factors. Working with a knowledgeable Destin slip and fall accident attorney gives you a better chance of recovering compensation for all your eligible losses, including money for:

• Your current and future medical expenses
• Your lost income and wages
• Your pain and suffering
• Your diminished quality of life
• Any reduction in your future earning potential due to your injuries

Common Slip-and-Fall Accident Injuries

Slip-and-fall accidents in Destin frequently cause devastating injuries, such as:

• Fractures: Broken bones often occur in slip-and-fall accidents, particularly their wrists, arms, and hips. These injuries frequently happen when people try to catch themselves during the fall or land awkwardly.
• Sprains and Strains: Ligament and muscle injuries often happen when people twist or turn awkwardly during a fall. The ankles, knees, and wrists are particularly vulnerable to sprains and strains.
• Head Injuries: Falls can cause concussions or traumatic brain injuries if someone’s head hits the ground or a hard surface.
• Back and Spine Injuries: Slipping and falling can lead to herniated discs or other spinal injuries. These can cause long-term pain and mobility issues that impact victims’ daily lives for months or years afterward.
• Cuts and Bruises: While less severe than other injuries, cuts and bruises are common in slip-and-fall accidents. They occur when people hit the ground or strike sharp objects during the fall.

In some tragic cases, slip-and-fall accidents can result in wrongful death, where an individual dies due to injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.

Slip-and-Fall Accident FAQs

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about filing a personal injury lawsuit for slip-and-fall accident cases in Florida:

How do I know if I have a valid slip-and-fall case?

If you don’t know whether you have a valid personal injury and/or premises liability case, examine a few critical factors. First, you need to show that the property’s owner, manager, or another party acted negligently. This means proving the liable party either failed to maintain the property safely or didn’t warn you about potential hazards.

Next, you must demonstrate that the hazardous condition directly caused your fall and injuries. For instance, if you slipped on a wet floor that the property owner or manager did not properly mark with a warning sign, this failure to warn could indicate negligence.

It’s also important to show that you weren’t acting carelessly at the time of the accident. If you were distracted or not paying attention, it might affect your case. Gathering evidence like photos of the scene, witness statements, and medical records will help support your claim. It’s also a wise move to consult an attorney, as they can provide more insight into your situation.

How long do I have to file a slip-and-fall claim in Florida?

Under Florida law, the usual deadline to file a slip-and-fall lawsuit is two years from the date you sustained your injuries. Should you miss this deadline, the courts will most likely dismiss your case, leaving you without the means to recover compensation for your injuries.

There are some situations where you might have more time to file a lawsuit. For example, you may have additional time if you did not immediately discover your injuries. You might also have more time to file a lawsuit if the liable party left the state (any time they spend out of state doesn’t count toward the two-year time limit).

It’s in your interest to talk to a lawyer about a slip-and-fall claim as soon as possible. These cases can take time to build, and vital evidence can disappear or deteriorate within a few days or weeks. Contacting an Destin slip-and-fall accident attorney about your case immediately after an accident gives you a stronger chance of recovering fair compensation for your losses.

What evidence is crucial for proving a slip-and-fall case?

By collecting robust evidence of the property owner’s negligence, you and your legal team can build a compelling case to hold them accountable and secure fair compensation for your losses. Some common types of evidence used in these cases include:

• Photographs and Videos: These visuals can provide clear proof of the unsafe conditions on the premises and show how the property owner neglected their legal obligation to you.
• Witness Statements: Eyewitnesses can provide testimony about the circumstances of your fall and confirm the presence of hazards on the grounds.
• Incident Reports: If the slip-and-fall happened in a public place, report the incident to the property owner or manager and request a copy of the incident report. Incident reports can detail what happened and record the property owner’s response.
• Medical Records: Keep detailed records of your medical treatment and injuries. These records link your injuries directly to the slip-and-fall accident, helping to prove that the hazardous condition caused your harm.
• Maintenance Records: Documents showing a lack of regular upkeep or previous complaints about similar hazards can support your negligence claim.
• Expert Testimony: Experts in fields like safety, medicine, or engineering can provide insights clarifying how hazards on the premises caused your fall and injuries.

What are the common causes of slip-and-fall accidents in Destin, Florida?

One reason slip-and-falls are so common in Destin and throughout Florida is that there are so many kinds of hazards and negligence that can cause these incidents. Some common causes of slip-and-falls include:

• Wet or Slippery Floors: Spills, leaks, or recently mopped floors can create slippery surfaces. Without proper signage or prompt cleaning, these hazards can lead to falls.
• Uneven Surfaces: Cracked sidewalks, potholes, or uneven flooring can cause tripping and falling.
• Poor Lighting: Dim or non-functional lighting can make it hard to see potential hazards.
• Cluttered Walkways: Objects left in walkways, such as boxes or debris, can obstruct paths and cause trips and falls.
• Loose Rugs or Carpets: Rugs or carpets that are not secured properly can slip or bunch up, creating tripping hazards.
• Weather Conditions: Rain, ice, or snow can make outdoor surfaces treacherous. Property owners should address these conditions by salting or shoveling to keep walkways safe.

Can I still file a slip-and-fall claim if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Florida’s comparative negligence law says you can recover compensation after an accident as long as your share of fault is 50 percent or less. If a court or insurance company finds that you bear some responsibility for an accident, your compensation is reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if you seek $50,000 in compensation after a slip-and-fall and a court determines that you bear 10 percent of the fault for the accident, you’d lose 10 percent of your compensation ($5,000 in this hypothetical situation).

A Destin slip-and-fall claims attorney can work to maximize your compensation if you are partly liable for an accident. A slip-and-fall accident lawyer in Destin can gather evidence to minimize your degree of fault and fully assess your eligible losses, helping you recover as much money as possible. Your slip-and-fall accident attorney in Destin can also help you fight back against any arguments from the liable party that attempt to blame you for the accident.

Contact Our Destin Personal Injury Attorneys Now for a Free Consultation

Our Destin slip-and-fall accident lawyers understand your struggle and can help you seek justice through the legal system. Get a free consultation with The Bruner Law Firm today by calling (850) 243-2222 or visiting our contact page for a free case evaluation. Our team of lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve with the decades of experience we have handling premises liability cases.