If you’ve slipped and fallen in Lakeland, FL, you could be entitled to compensation. The negligent property owner may owe you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced Lakeland slip & fall accident lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you get the money you deserve.
We’ve been standing up for accident victims in Lakeland and across Florida since 2001. In that time, we’ve recovered millions in compensation for clients when they needed it the most.
Our attorneys have the proven experience you need in your corner. Don’t take our word for it. Contact or call our law offices today at (863) 251-6196 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Slip & Fall in Lakeland
Slip and fall accidents usually catch victims off guard. One minute you’re going about your daily life, and the next, you’re grappling with a painful injury. Under Florida premises liability laws, you’re entitled to compensation if someone else’s negligence caused the fall.
You could be entitled to damages if you’re hurt on private or public property. However, these cases can be extremely fact-intensive. The insurance company will almost always try to blame you for getting hurt.
Don’t fall for their tricks. Our experienced Lakeland personal injury lawyers can put you in the best position to get the fair compensation you deserve.
When you hire Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers will:
- Stand up to the insurance company when they blame you for getting hurt
- Investigate and gather evidence to back up your claim
- Track your damages and calculate the value of your claim
- Work with leading experts to strengthen your claim, if necessary
- Handle all paperwork, communications, and negotiations
- Take your case to trial to get what’s fair.
The quality of legal services matters in these cases. Our Lakeland personal injury attorneys have over 115 years of combined experience representing clients in slip & fall cases. We know how the legal system works–and we know every strategy the insurance company will use to undervalue your claim.
We’re ready to sit down and start negotiating to recover fair compensation for your injuries. When you’re ready to get started, give our law office a call to schedule a free case review.
What Causes Most Slip & Fall Accidents in Lakeland, Florida?
We might not have to deal with much snow and ice in Lakeland, but that doesn’t mean we’re immune from trip and fall accidents. The CDC estimates that over 3 million older Americans are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries every year.
While there are a number of reasons a fall can happen, many occur because property owners fail to fix unsafe conditions on their property.
Some of the leading causes of slip and fall accidents in Lakeland include:
- Broken or crumbling pavement
- Accumulated puddles on slick floors
- Missing handrails
- Uneven stair treads
- Loose cables and wires
- Loose carpeting or floor mats
- Poor lighting
- Potholes and broken pavement
- A buildup of clutter
- Lack of supportive bars and equipment in restrooms
- Lack of protective safety equipment on worksites
If you were hurt on someone else’s property, you may have a valid personal injury lawsuit. Call our law firm today to get the legal advice you deserve.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Slip & Fall Accident Injuries
Trip and fall accident victims are often left with painful injuries. These injuries can range from a sprained ankle to broken bones.
We’ll help you get fair compensation for all of your injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hip injuries
- Wrist injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Abuse in nursing homes
- Wrongful death
Victims of serious slip and fall accidents might even require surgery–especially if the victim is over the age of 65. Some slip and fall injuries are catastrophic or fatal.
What is My Lakeland Slip & Fall Accident Case Worth?
It can be difficult to determine what a personal injury case is worth without knowing all the facts. However, there are some general guidelines that insurance companies and judges use in valuing an injury claim.
Some questions to ask include:
- Did you suffer a serious injury?
- Will you be permanently disabled?
- Have you lost wages and income? Will you return to work in the same capacity?
- What impact did the injury have on your lifestyle, family, and daily routine?
- What is the cost of your medical treatment?
Don’t trust a lawyer who gives you a firm dollar value right away. Putting a dollar value on an injury takes time–and, in many cases, input from doctors, experts, and specialists.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Slip & Fall Accident Victims?
Accident victims are entitled to economic damages and non-economic damages caused by their injury. Economic damages compensate you for your out-of-pocket expenses.
Common examples of economic damages in Florida include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
Non-economic damages provide compensation for the more subjective, personal damages caused by a serious injury.
If you were hurt, our lawyers in Lakeland will fight to recover compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
Insurance companies in Florida are notorious for making lowball settlement offers. Don’t let the insurance company pressure you to settle too quickly. Speaking with a personal injury attorney in Lakeland, Florida, is the key to getting the full range of compensation you deserve.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Slip & Fall Accident in Florida?
Florida is a pure comparative negligence state. You can share blame for your slip and fall and still recover compensation. However, the court, jury, or insurance company will reduce your damages to account for your percentage of fault.
For example, suppose you have $90,000 in damages after you slip and fall at a grocery store. Suppose the store is 90% at fault for the fall for failing to clean up a spill on the floor. Suppose the jury finds you 10% at fault for looking at your phone while walking down the aisle. In this case, you will recover $81,000 of your damages (90%).
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help if you’re being blamed for an accident. At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how to find evidence to establish liability. Call our legal team today so that we can help you fight back.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Slip and Fall Accident in Florida?
Proving general negligence requires establishing the following four elements:
- A legal duty of care
- A failure to satisfy that duty of care, or breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
The first step to proving negligence in a slip and fall case is establishing the property owner’s duty of care. If an owner doesn’t live up to that duty and someone is hurt, the property owner is considered negligent.
Property owners are responsible for keeping their property safe for others who are lawfully present on the property. However, not all property owners have to satisfy the same standard. The parameters of the duty depend on why you were on the property.
Licensees and Invitees
Licensees are people who are invited onto someone else’s property for social purposes. Property owners have a duty to warn licensees about any non-obvious dangers–and can be held liable if they fail to offer an adequate warning.
Florida law imposes a heightened duty of care on business owners. When you’re in a business establishment, like a grocery store or restaurant, you’re classified as an invitee.
Business owners are required to keep invitees safe by:
- Providing adequate warning about any non-obvious dangers
- Fixing hazardous conditions in a reasonable amount of time
- Inspecting the property to locate any hidden dangers
If a business owner knew about a dangerous situation and did nothing, you may be entitled to damages if you were hurt. Business owners can also be held responsible if they didn’t know about a dangerous condition–but reasonably should have known about it.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Slip & Fall Accident in Florida?
The Florida statute of limitations gives slip and fall accident victims four years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrongful death cases have a two-year deadline. The clock will typically start ticking on the date of the accident.
The statute of limitations in a personal injury case is important. If you don’t take action by the deadline, you’ll lose your right to compensation.
Remember, it takes time to build a successful personal injury claim. If you suspect the statute of limitations in your case is about to expire, call our offices in Lakeland right away to take action.
Contact a Lakeland Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Were you injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property? Don’t let the negligent property owner off the hook. An experienced Lakeland slip & fall accident lawyer can help you maximize your compensation award.
Call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about the legal services performed by our team today. As always, your consultation is 100% free of charge.
Our personal injury law firm in Lakeland, FL, also provides: