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.