Experienced Slip And Fall Accident Lawyers In Bradenton & Sarasota
Representing clients throughout Florida and Virginia
Slip and fall incidents may sound minor, but they are a serious cause of injury and death in the U.S. According to the CDC, more than 40,000 people die from slips and falls each year. If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident, make sure you receive medical attention immediately. Right after, you’ll want to speak to an experienced slip and fall attorney, like ours at Gallagher & Hagopian.
An experienced accident lawyer can give you expert advice on the best actions to take (and avoid) right after a slip and fall accident. Some common tips include:
Your attorney may also want you to take photos or videos of the area in which the slip and fall incident occurred. This can be used as evidence later on in the settlement or trial process.
You should always consult with an experienced attorney after a slip and fall. At Gallagher & Hagopian, our knowledgeable team has decades of expertise fighting for the rights of accident victims and recovering fair compensation for their injuries. If you’re involved in a slip and fall incident, contact our law firm today and schedule a free initial consultation to learn more about how our attorneys can help you.
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) says that fall incidents lead to more than 8 million hospital visits each year in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 3 million of those treated for slip and fall injuries are elderly. Of those 3 million, more than 800,000 require more serious hospitalization. with over 800,000 ending up hospitalized as a result of their injuries.
Major types of slip and fall incidents include:
While there are a wide variety of injuries a victim may experience due to a slip and fall incident, some of the most common include:
Unfortunately, Florida, with a significant population and a large community of elderly people, experiences a large amount of slip and fall incidents. According to some reports, around 10% of injury-causing slip and fall incidents happen in Florida, leading to about 3,000 deaths per year. Sadly, if an elderly person has fallen, they are twice as likely to experience a second fall in the near future.
Sadly, slip and fall incidents involving elderly people may also be part of the larger epidemic of elder abuse. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), nearly 10% of all Americans 65+ experience some form of abuse. In many cases, this abuse is perpetrated at the very places intended to care for older adults, such as hospitals, assisted living centers, nursing homes, or memory care centers.
While some elder abuse is purely psychological or emotional, other forms of abuse can become physical. An abusive aide could push or shove an elderly person in a moment of anger, or could even punch, kick, or sexually assault them, leading to a serious slip and fall.
More often, however, elderly people at these facilities end up severely neglected, and the conditions of the facility may end up conducive to slip and falls. Common facility negligence situations include:
Unlike a private property owner, who is held to a looser liability standard, and simply responsible for keeping a safe environment, eldercare facilities are held to the more stringent standard of “strict liability.” This means that they owe what’s called a “duty of care” to their residents, meaning that they are responsible not only for potential accidents, but for their residents or patients’ overall well-being.
If you’ve experienced a slip and fall injury at work, your employer’s insurance company is likely to approach with a workers comp settlement. Like other types of settlements, avoid taking it (or signing any related paperwork). Workers comp generally provides victims the minimal potential settlement amount and is typically only designed to pay for immediate injuries, not long-term care.
It’s important to realize that workplace slip and fall liability cases are different from general premises liability cases. Some legal interpretations would consider a workplace accident victim an “invitee” of their employer, even if they are conducting work-related duties off the employer’s property. In fact, employers can be held liable for injuries related to “unavoidable work conditions” (such as operating machinery or lifting heavy objects), not just simple negligence.
If you’ve slipped and fallen at work and sustained injuries, your attorney may be able to get you compensation related to:
Roughly 2.5 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries each year nationwide, according to the Brain Trauma Foundation. And of those cases, about 50,000 are fatal and more than 80,000 result
Slips and falls can occur anywhere, from the workplace to busy retail hubs, like the Mall at UTC and St. Armands Circle, and at high-traffic events, such as the Manatee
Slip and fall accidents happen every day – and they can lead to injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to broken bones, brain injury, or even death. Depending on the
