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Clearwater Slip and Fall Lawyer
Slip and Fall Accident Claims in Clearwater
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common types of accidents occurring
in Clearwater and elsewhere throughout Florida. In most cases, a slip
and fall or trip and fall accident will leave the accident victim with
nothing worse than minor bruises and embarrassment. Not everyone who suffers
a slip and fall, however, will be so fortunate. Falls are reported as
being one of the most dangerous types of accidents in the workplace and
in the home, and they have the potential to cause life-changing catastrophic
injuries. For example, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration
reports that falls were the leading cause of accidental death on construction
sites nationwide in 2011. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, falls are the cause of 22% of new cases of traumatic brain
injury every year and 35.2% of spinal cord injuries.
Clearwater Personal Injury Attorneys for Slip and Fall Cases
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident in Clearwater,
come to Cope, Zebro & Crawford, P.L. for help. Our Clearwater personal
injury attorneys have more than 45 years of combined experience, and we
have a track record that includes more than 50 jury trials. When you hire
our firm, you will be working with a team that includes a former defense
attorney, a background that gives us a unique insight into how insurance
companies approach cases similar to yours. Some slip and fall accidents
are the result of mistakes on the part of the injured party, but if your
accident was caused by another person's negligent actions or failure
to act, we want to help you pursue the financial compensation you deserve.
Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Claims in Clearwater
Personal injury and wrongful death claims involving slip and fall accidents
are filed under the legal principle of "premises liability."
Premises liability is a legal concept which holds that a property owner,
or other party responsible for a property, can be assigned liability for
accidents occurring on the premises, under certain circumstances. If the
proprietor knew of the conditions which caused the accident, or should
have known, yet failed to take reasonable safety precautions to remove
the hazard, the accident victim may have grounds to sue for monetary damages.
It is necessary to prove that the property owner was in some way negligent
in failing to prevent the fall and the subsequent injuries.
Proving a Slip and Fall Case
In some cases, proving liability for a slip and fall is a relatively straightforward
proposition. For example, the accident may have occurred when a grocery
store customer slipped and fell in an uncleaned spill on the floor of
a grocery store. If the store management was aware of the spill, or should
have been aware of it, but did not send an employee to clean the floor
or at least set out a Wet Floor sign, the injured shopper should have
grounds for an injury claim.
In other cases, it is necessary to perform an exhaustive investigation
of the case to assemble the evidence necessary to prove the claim. This
may involve retaining the services of engineers and accident recreation
specialists who can provide expert testimony concerning factor such as
the slip-resistance of the walking surface and other conditions that may
have caused or contributed to the accident.
Contact us today if you have been hurt, we have the skill and resources that you need on
your side in the fight to recover fair compensation from the insurance company.