Justice Demands Diligence

A Lawyer Representing Victims Of Property Owner Negligence

At The Mitchell Law Firm, P.A., I regularly counsel clients who have been harmed due to dangerous conditions on another person’s property. These are known as premises liability cases, and one of the most common scenarios involves slip-and-fall accidents.

Injuries From A Slip And Fall Can Be Severe

Under normal circumstances in your own home, slipping and falling is more likely to hurt your pride than cause physical injuries. But slip-and-fall accidents in grocery stores, on wet sidewalks or other unfamiliar places can and do lead to serious injuries. Victims could easily suffer injuries that include:

  • Broken bones
  • Cuts and bruises
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Strains and sprains
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Paralysis (partial or total, temporary or permanent)

These types of accidents are especially likely to happen on commercial property (like stores and restaurants), which often have polished concrete or tile floors. This means they are especially slippery when wet and do nothing to cushion a person’s fall.

What Makes A Slip And Fall A Case Of Negligence?

Two of the most common slip-and-fall scenarios involve freshly mopped floors and liquid spills that do not get cleaned up. In the case of the former, the property owners know that a mopped floor is a hazard. As such, they need to put up signs warning people to walk carefully or avoid the wet floors. When they fail to put up signage and someone gets hurt, they can be held liable for negligence.

In the case of a spill, liability often depends on how long the spill was on the floor and whether property owners had time to learn of it and correct the problem. If someone breaks a bottle of juice at the grocery store and the other person immediately slips and falls, it is unlikely that the store could be held liable. If the spill has been on the floor for two hours and no action is taken to clean it up or warn customers, that’s a much stronger argument for liability.

In short, the clearest case for negligence happens when the property owner knows about a hazard (or should know), has time to mitigate it or warns others but fails to act.

Be sure to take photographs of the area where you fell as well as the object that caused you to fall. If any store employees helped you that day, be sure to remember their name and record the names of any other witnesses. This information is often crucial to the outcome of a case.

Other Types Of Premises Liability

Slip and falls are just one type of premises liability claim. If you’ve been injured due to dangerous conditions on another person’s property, I can help you determine if you have an actionable claim. Examples include:

  • Elevator and escalator accidents
  • Dog bites
  • Injuries caused by inadequate maintenance (electric shocks, burns, etc.)
  • Tripping hazards
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Inadequate security leading to assaults or other violent crimes

Learn About Your Rights And Options In A Free Consultation

Not sure you have a case? The Mitchell Law Firm offers free initial consultations to prospective clients. To schedule yours, contact my office in Indialantic, Florida, by calling 321-473-6951 or by filling out my online contact form.