Slip & Fall Lawyers in Jacksonville, FL
Representing Victims of Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents
Slipping, tripping or falling may seem like a simple accident, but it could be the inevitable consequence of a neglectful business, manager or property manager. In order to find someone was “negligent” and liable for damages in a slip and fall case, a property owner or the person in charge of managing the property or the area where the incident occurred must have failed to act take reasonable steps or measures to prevent an accident from occurring.
Simply put, a successful personal injury lawsuit involving a slip and fall must demonstrate that the management knew about a hazardous condition, or should have known, and failed to take action to correct the problem. Sometimes negligence can be tough to prove which is why Coker Law has a dedicated team of slip and fall lawyers, investigators, researchers to put the evidence together and present a solid case.
Slip and Fall Cases Include:
- Flooring Problems: including an owner's failure to provide adequate signs for wet spots, failure to provide proper barriers to closed-off areas, using excessive or uneven floor waxing, and allowing torn, uneven, or bulging carpet areas to go un-repaired.
- Stairs: that have not been properly maintained. Edges can become rounded, the stairs' non-stick surface (which is required in most states) can wear out, and a handrail can be broken or missing.
All of these dangerous conditions are typically due to owner negligence and result in injury and liability. You can read more about how wet floors created a hazardous situation which resulted in a Jury Verdict of $1.475 Million for the Negligence of Stadium Management in a Slip and Fall Accident.Â
Bad lighting can also create a dangerous situation resulting in injuries. You can read more about why a jury awarded $233,000 to a client for Dangers in a Dark Movie Theater.Â
Common Areas for Slips and Falls:
- Hotels
- Shopping centers
- Restaurants, bars and nightclubs
- Retail stores
- Industrial sites
- Government buildings
- Apartment buildings
Private Property Liability
Slip and fall cases can be brought following any injury, even those in private residences. If you have been injured at someone's home, you may be hesitant to file a personal injury claim. It is important to note that the home owner will typically not be paying your claim out of pocket. You will typically be compensated by his or her homeowner's insurance company.
In some cases, fault can be found when owners fail to properly clean up or prevent leaks, spills and other slippery substances from coating the floor. In other cases, bad design elements, like poorly planned staircases, low lighting or weak railings, can be to blame, making a fall inevitable for someone.
Filing a case will require showing that a reasonable property owner or manager should have taken action to correct the problem. This may require collecting evidence, conducting eyewitnesses interviews, consulting expert witnesses and comprehensive evaluation of the situation. Our slip and fall lawyers and investigators can apply detailed knowledge of federal, state and local building codes to help with your case.
Dangerous Outdoor Conditions
Dangerous outdoor conditions that might give cause for bringing an injury lawsuit after a slip or fall:Â
- Inadequate Outdoor Lighting: The property owner is liable if they knew or should have known about the dangerous situation and failed to remedy the problem in a reasonable amount of time.
- Sidewalks: Most sidewalks are owned/maintained by the city or county. However, if a public sidewalk is used exclusively by the property owner's clientele, the owner is liable for any dangerous conditions.
- Parking Lots: Parking lot owners are legally responsible for maintaining the safety of their lots, including protrusions in the surface that contributes to an injury.
- Falls: If a customer falls on spilled merchandise, slipped on wet surfaces, tripped over uneven pavement or turned-up rugs the property owner may be liable.
- Falling Objects: When merchandise falls from a store shelf, a hotel room television falls from a shelf or construction supplies fall onto passersby, the property owner may be liable.
If You're The Victim of a Slip and Fall, What Should You Do?
Coker Law slip and fall lawyers can help you recover financial compensation for the full amount of your losses including medical and rehabilitation expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages or income.Â
If you have been injured in an incident, or in a criminal act that took place on private or public property, contact our office to discuss your injuries and situation and we will evaluate whether you have a case and what type of claim would be appropriate to make on your behalf. To speak with a Coker Law attorney or for more information call (904) 299-0808 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.