Did You Slip and Fall at a Florida Business?
The classic example of a personal injury claim is a slip-and-fall accident. Imagine that a retail employee mopped the floor but didn’t put out signs cautioning customers that the area is slippery. (You know the ones. They’re yellow and say “Caution.”) If a customer slips and falls and bangs her head on the wet floor, she could sue the store for damages.
Examples of Slip-and-Fall Incidents
Business owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a safe condition for customers. Failing to clean up spilled substances is a violation of that duty. Here are a few examples of customers who claimed they were injured because of a slippery substance:
In August 2018, Nicole Lopez filed a lawsuit against Sears in Pinellas County. She claims that she slipped on a liquid substance in the retail store and fell, suffering significant injuries. Lopez says the company was negligent because the store didn’t place barricades around the slippery floor. The lawsuit claims that the unsafe condition caused her bodily injury, pain and suffering, physical impairment and disfigurement, and mental anguish, among other damages.
A 50-year-old Palm Beach County resident sued Wal-Mart in February 2018 after an alleged slip-and-fall incident years prior. According to the lawsuit, Patricia Moore slipped on ranch dressing in one of the aisles. Walmart claims her injuries pre-existed the accident, but Moore argues otherwise. She is seeking more than $15,000 in damages and a jury trial.
In October 2017, Disney settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she slipped and fell climbing onto the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at the popular Florida theme park. The lawsuit claimed there was water on the floor of the boat, and that Disney should have done a better job inspecting the boats. Disney countered that it’s a water ride and that water was not a “hidden danger.” The woman twisted her ankle and bruised the left side of her body, allegedly suffering substantial damages. The terms of the settlement agreement are unclear.
Filing a Lawsuit for a Slip-and-Fall Injury
Seek medical attention immediately if you’re injured in a slip-and-fall accident. This will be crucial evidence if you file a personal injury lawsuit. Then contact an experienced attorney to discuss your potential claim.
The deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida is four years from the date of the injury. It’s also important to know that Florida is a comparative fault state, which means that damages are awarded according to the parties’ percentage of fault. In other words, plaintiffs can be partially at fault for their own injuries and receive less compensation as a result.
Contact Us Today
Contact a West Palm Beach personal injury attorney at The Pendas Law Firm today for a free consultation if you are injured in a slip-and-fall accident. We will help recover the compensation that you deserve, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona Beach and Bradenton areas.
Resources:
flarecord.com/stories/511555637-invitee-sues-sears-for-negligence
orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-pirates-caribbean-lawsuit-20171031-story.html
wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/woman-sues-walmart-after-saying-she-slipped-on-ranch-dressing-at-a-west-palm-beach-store
