Gainesville Slip & Fall Lawyer

Slip & Fall Accidents in Alachua County

Under Florida’s premises liability laws, both private and public property owners have a responsibility to maintain their premises and ensure they are reasonably free of hazards. This includes repairing, removing, or warning others about dangerous conditions that could cause them to slip, trip, and/or fall. Unfortunately, property owners do not always uphold this duty of care, leading to serious slip and fall accidents in which innocent individuals can be gravely injured.

At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., we represent clients from throughout Alachua County who have been injured due to property owners’ negligence. If you slipped and fell because a property owner failed to take reasonable steps to clean up a spill, failed to put out wet floor warning signs, or otherwise failed to adequately maintain their property, reach out to our Gainesville slip and fall lawyers right away. We can help you understand your rights, including your potential right to financial compensation.

Contact us online or by phone at (855) 933-3881 today to request a free consultation and case evaluation with a caring, understanding member of our team.

Common Slip & Fall Injuries

Slip and fall injury claims can be very challenging to prove for many reasons. One reason is the common misconception that slip and fall accidents are not that serious. As a result, juries may be unwilling to accept that a victim’s serious or even catastrophic injuries are the result of such an accident. It’s important that you work with an attorney who knows how to effectively advocate for you, both in and out of the courtroom.

In reality, slip and fall accidents can—and do—lead to devastating injuries. These include:

• Broken bones/fractures
• Head injuries
• Brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Torn ligaments and other soft tissue damage
• Internal bleeding
• Knee, ankle, and shoulder injuries

Often, after a fall, people jump up quickly and attempt to brush off the accident. It is extremely important that you do not downplay your injuries, however, as this could be used later to dispute your personal injury claim.

In the immediate aftermath of the accident, you may not realize the full extent of your injuries, you may be in shock or even embarrassed, or you may simply not feel hurt. Remember, only a medical professional can accurately evaluate and diagnose your injuries; it is critical that you see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident.

When Is a Property Owner Responsible for Slip & Fall Injuries?

In most cases, property owners can be held liable for a slip and fall accident when the victim can prove that the property owner was negligent. There are several ways to establish property owner negligence, but the most common involves proving that a property owner knew about (or reasonably should have known about) a dangerous condition on the property yet did nothing to remove or repair it or warn others about it.

To file a slip and fall claim against a negligent property owner, you will likely also need to prove the following:

• You were lawfully on the property (not trespassing) when the accident occurred
• You were not being negligent/could not have taken reasonable steps to avoid being injured
• You were injured and suffered measurable damages, whether economic or non-economic (or both)
• The dangerous condition was the proximate cause of your injuries

For example, say you were shopping in a retail store where a store associate had recently mopped up a spill but failed to put out a “wet floor” sign. As a result, you slipped and fell on the wet floor, fracturing your tailbone and severely twisting your ankle in the process. After going to the doctor, you learned that you also suffered a concussion when you hit your head on the floor.

In this instance, you would have a claim against the store owner (or manager), as their employee acted negligently by not putting out a warning sign informing shoppers that the floor was wet. You could potentially hold the property owner or manager liable for your medical bills and missed wages from time taken off work, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering, inconvenience, and more.

How Our Attorneys Can Help

After a serious slip and fall accident, your focus should be on getting the proper medical attention and care you need—not on your personal injury claim. At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., our Gainesville slip and fall lawyers can handle every detail of your claim so that you can put your efforts toward your physical recovery.

We work with a team of 6 in-house investigators and over 100 support staff members. Armed with these resources, we conduct exhaustive investigations to determine how the accident happened, the severity of your injuries, and who is liable. From there, we can aggressively advocate for the maximum compensation you are owed for both your current and future damages.

Throughout the process, we are committed to providing you with the personal attention, compassionate support, and experienced guidance you deserve. We are available 24/7 to take your call, and you will always be connected with a real, live person when you reach out to us.

Injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident? Get in touch with us today at (855) 933-3881 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney!