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Pensacola Slip & Fall Attorney

slip and fall

Did you slip and fall on someone else’s property? If so, you could pursue a legal claim to recover compensation for the expenses and losses you suffered because of their unsafe premises. These include medical bills, the income you lost while unable to work, and the pain and suffering you’ve experienced.

Unfortunately, insurance companies and businesses rarely make it easy for slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall victims to obtain the full financial recovery they need. That’s why you should turn to a Pensacola slip-and-fall accident lawyer from Cardoso Law, PLLC, for help getting the money and accountability you deserve.

Our slip-and-fall accident law firm has a reputation for protecting the rights of injured Floridians like you. Our primary purpose is to achieve the best possible outcome for every client we represent. And we have repeatedly succeeded in that purpose, securing millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.

If you fell and got hurt on someone else’s property, let us help you demand the money you need to restore your life. Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC, today to speak with a slip-and-fall accident lawyer in Pensacola, FL. We don’t charge for initial consultations; we work on contingency, which means you only pay us when our Pensacola personal injury lawyer recovers money on your behalf.

What to Do if You’ve Been Hurt in a Fall on Someone Else’s Property

If you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you can take the following actions to protect your rights and lay the groundwork for a strong premises liability claim:

  • Notify the Business or Property Owner About the Accident ­– Ask them to preserve any surveillance camera footage of your fall and provide you with a copy of any accident or incident report.
  • Take Photos of the Accident Scene ­– Make sure to include whatever you believe may have caused your fall, the presence of any warning signs or other safety equipment, and weather conditions (if relevant).
  • See a Doctor as Soon as Possible After the Accident – A physician can examine you for any injuries you may have suffered and furnish you with a treatment plan.
  • Follow Your Medical Provider’s Instructions – Do this to improve your prognosis and demonstrate that you are taking your health seriously following the accident.
  • Note What You Wore at the Time of the Accident – Preserve or take photos of the clothing and footwear you wore when the slip-and-fall happened.
  • Keep Copies of Bills, Invoices, and Receipts for Expenses You Incur – In addition, hold onto copies of your pay stubs or income records if you miss work following the accident.
  • Watch What You Say to Any Insurance Adjuster – If an insurance representative contacts you about the incident and asks you to provide a recorded statement, politely decline.
  • Talk to a Pensacola Slip-and-fall Attorney with Cardoso Law, PLLC – We will start preparing and pursuing your compensation claim.

Who Might Be Liable in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

Depending on the circumstances, any of the following parties could be liable for the injuries you sustained in a slip-and-fall accident:

  • The property owner
  • A business owner that leases their property
  • A commercial or residential tenant who leases the property
  • A property management company
  • Third-party maintenance companies
slip and fall accident victim

Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Most slip-and-fall accidents in Pensacola happen because of the following:

  • Recently mopped or waxed floors.
  • Water tracked in from the rain or a swimming pool.
  • Mud, wet leaves, or moss/algae buildup
  • Leaking water pipes or refrigerators/freezers
  • Spilled food or liquids
  • Loose floorboard, tiles, carpets, or rugs
  • Changes between flooring surfaces, such as from carpeting to tile, can cause a person to lose their footing due to the difference in friction
  • Trash or debris on the ground
  • Uneven flooring surfaces
  • Cords or wires running across walkways
  • Potholes or cracks in pavement
  • Poor lighting, which may prevent people from seeing slipping hazards before stepping on them

Familiar Places Where Slip and Falls Occur

Slip-and-fall accidents frequently occur in public places such as:

  • Grocery stores and supermarkets, where customers may slip on spilled products or leaks from refrigerated/frozen displays
  • Parking lots, where people can slip on hazards such as wet or oily pavement, moss, or decaying leaves
  • Sidewalks, which can become slippery from fallen leaves or moss/algae buildup
  • Stairs, especially those with broken steps or broken/missing handrails
  • Escalators and elevators and moving sidewalks, where people may slip or trip when embarking or disembarking
  • Restaurants, bars, and clubs, where patrons may slip on spilled food or drinks
  • Shopping malls, which often have spilled food and drink or recently mopped/waxed floors that patrons may slip on
  • Construction areas, where visitors may slip on rough, unfinished surfaces

Types of Compensation for a Slip-and-Fall Injury in Pensacola

compensation

A slip-and-fall injury claim can bring you financial compensation for expenses and losses due to an accident on someone else’s property. These losses could include the following:

  • Medical and rehabilitation expenses for hospital care, surgeries, pain medication, doctor’s appointments, and physical/occupational therapy
  • Expenses for long-term care needed for permanent disabilities
  • Lost wages or income from missed work while recovering from a slip-and-fall accident
  • Loss of future earning capacity if you become permanently unable to work
  • Physical pain and emotional distress
  • Reduced quality of life caused by disabilities interfering with your ability to partake in activities you previously enjoyed
  • Repair or replacement of damaged property, such as broken glasses or a dropped cell phone

What Is the Timeline for a Florida Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawsuit?

How long it takes to get compensation following a slip-and-fall accident depends on several factors, including the strength of your case and the other party’s willingness to negotiate. Another is whether you represent yourself or seek help from an attorney. If you work with an experienced Pensacola slip-and-fall lawyer with Cardoso Law, PLLC, we will typically follow these steps in your case:

  • Investigating the accident to recover evidence such as surveillance footage, accident/incident reports, witness statements, and accident scene photos.
  • Building a legal case by organizing evidence and working with accident reconstruction experts to explain how the slip-and-fall occurred.
  • Filing insurance and legal claims with the property/business owner and insurers.
  • Working with the insurance carriers to settle your slip-and-fall injury claim.
  • Filing a lawsuit if the other side refuses to offer a fair settlement.
  • Undertaking discovery (exchanging evidence between parties) and deposing witnesses to narrow issues for trial.
  • Going to trial if the parties can’t reach a settlement, where you can present your claim to a jury or a judge.

Another factor affecting the slip-and-fall lawsuit timeline is Florida’s statute of limitations on personal injury suits. State law allows you to file a lawsuit two years after a slip-and-fall accident. If the accident occurred on the state or local government property, you must provide the government with notice of your claim within three years. If you miss the relevant window for your particular claim, you may lose your opportunity to pursue the compensation you need through the courts.

Even if you do not ultimately choose to file a lawsuit, the statute of limitations will still affect your claim. That’s because your ability to threaten a lawsuit is your principal leverage point during settlement negotiations. Because they can be time-consuming and unpredictable, trials can cut into an insurance company’s profits. Without the ability to drag them into court, you have little to compel them to cooperate.

Ultimately, no one can predict the timeline of your sip-and-fall claim. Some claims can be resolved in as little as a couple of months, while those that go to trial can take years to resolve.

How Can a Pensacola Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Help Me?

You should not face property owners, businesses, or insurers alone. A Pensacola slip-and-fall attorney from Cardoso Law, PLLC, will fight for your rights and interests by:

  • Using our experience to investigate the accident thoroughly and secure all available evidence, including surveillance video and accident/incident reports.
  • Reviewing the facts of your case to identify the party or parties who can be held liable for your injuries and losses.
  • Documenting your expenses and losses to calculate what compensation you deserve.
  • Filing claims on your behalf with at-fault parties and their insurers.
  • Aggressively negotiating for a fair and full settlement of your claim.
  • If necessary, take your case to court to demand a favorable result.

Contact Our Pensacola Slip-and-Fall Accident Law Firm

Contact Our Pensacola Slip-and-Fall Accident Law Firm

Don’t wait another day to talk to a slip-and-fall lawyer in Pensacola about recovering compensation for your injuries. We serve clients in the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Metro Area and throughout the Emerald Coast and the Florida Panhandle. We charge no fees for initial consultations and work on a contingency basis, which means you won’t pay us until we secure compensation for your injuries.

Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC, today for a no-obligation consultation to discuss what our firm can do for you.

Ryan Cardoso