A slip and fall is among the most dangerous types of accidents, since it typically occurs so suddenly. You’re simply walking on some sort of hard surface when, without warning, your feet come completely out from under you. Since you don’t have time to react, there’s a very good chance your head and back will suffer a great deal of impact. Many people involved in these kinds of accidents are hurt so badly they suffer a traumatic brain injury, which could lead to permanent debilitation. 

Whether you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall, you may be able to obtain compensation under Florida law. If your accident occurred due to someone else’s negligence, then you have the right to take legal action.  

The law firm of Osborne & Francis has a long history of delivering positive results on behalf of our clients. Give us a call at (561) 293-2600 or contact our Boca Raton or Orlando office online to see how we can help you.

The following is a look at the types of damages that typically result from slip and fall accidents, and how our firm may be of assistance in helping you obtain compensation from those responsible.

Economic Damages

A slip and fall accident is a type of premises liability case. If the owner of the property on which you were hurt was negligent, then you may be able to sue them to obtain compensation for the “damages,” or monetary losses, you’ve incurred due to your injury.

It’s very important, of course, that you have an attorney represent you in this kind of case, since it can quickly become very complex. The defendant in your case, for example, may argue that you were partially to blame for the accident. They may claim that the hazard that caused your fall was “open and obvious,” meaning that you should have known it was dangerous, and that you should have taken the steps needed to avoid the situation.

Economic damages are tangible, and relatively easy to calculate. Some examples are listed below. 

Current and Future Medical Bills

A slip and fall accident usually results in a serious injury that can require a great deal of treatment. Medical bills can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars, and possibly even more. 

Some people, however, make the mistake of accepting an insurance company settlement too early. They don’t take into account the possibility that they’ll need further medical treatment down the road. If they take that offer, they’ll be responsible for paying for whatever additional surgeries or other treatment they’ll need.

An Osborne & Francis attorney can keep you from making that mistake. We’ll also have a very good idea of not only the bills you have, but other bills that you could very well face in the future.

Our attorneys will take the action needed to make sure you obtain every penny you deserve.

Permanent Injury or Disability

Your injury may be so bad that it will force you to make substantial changes to your home. You may, for example, need to add a lift so that you can get upstairs, or you might need a wheelchair ramp. You could possibly need some modifications to your vehicle as well.

A personal injury attorney will take all of this into account when demanding compensation from the negligent party’s insurance company.

Lost Wages

Any sort of severe injury from a slip and fall will probably make it impossible for you to work. Eventually, you’re going to run out of sick time and vacation days – and then the paychecks will stop coming altogether. Filing a personal injury lawsuit could help you recoup all of that money you’re losing. 

Loss of Earning Capacity

Even if you recover to the point where you can resume work, it might not be in the same position. Your injury may force you to take a job at a lower salary than what you previously made – this could be the case for the rest of your working life. This is another area where a lawsuit could help ensure you are completely covered from a financial standpoint.  

Non-Economic Damages

There are other types of damages that are more subjective, that don’t lend themselves to a fast, easy calculation. These are often referred to as “non-economic” damages, some examples of which are covered in the following sections.

Even though some damages don't have a monetary value, that doesn't mean they don't impact injury victims, who have the right to remedy their losses through a personal injury claim.

It will be very important that you hire an attorney who is skilled enough to not only determine your non-economic damages, but to also help obtain those damages on your behalf.

Pain and Suffering

A severe injury doesn’t just have a physical impact – it can also have a profound mental and emotional impact as well. You may be so traumatized by your accident that you don’t even want to leave your home, much less go into a grocery store again, should that be the place where you were hurt.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

If you’ve been permanently injured, the unfortunate truth is that you more than likely won’t be able to do many of the activities that once brought you joy. You might, for example, not be able to play your favorite sport, or just be able to bike or walk around your neighborhood. 

Punitive Damages

Perhaps the owner of the property where you were hurt was repeatedly warned they needed to repair a hazard. They might have even been fined time and time again, yet continued to refuse to fix the problem. If you were injured, there’s a chance you could be awarded punitive damages as a result. They’re not only meant to punish a defendant, they’re also meant to discourage others from behaving in the same way. Punitive damages are typically much higher as a result. However, they are rarely awarded. Victims will typically only receive them when negligence is particularly egregious.

Osborne and Francis Can Help You Recover Damages After Your Slip And Fall Accident

The attorneys with Osborne & Francis are ready to help if you’ve suffered a serious injury in a slip and fall accident caused by someone else’s carelessness. You can give us a call at (561) 293-2600 to schedule a free consultation, or you can contact our Orlando or Boca Raton office online.