Have you or a loved one experienced a fall or injury on an individual’s property? You probably have questions about if you can hold the property owner responsible, how you can be compensated, and if you need a St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyer. The experienced injury attorneys from Distasio Law Firm are here to give you answers to those questions and are available to provide sound legal counsel regarding your best course of action. Some common inquiries regarding slip and fall incidents include:
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- Is the property owner responsible for causing my injuries?
- Can I be compensated for medical expenses and lost wages?
- How can a slip and fall attorney help me?
- How do I find the best St. Pete slip and fall lawyer?
Distasio Law Firm is committed to answering these slip and fall questions for our clients and holding the responsible property owner accountable. We guide our clients through the legal process and work to seek justice by getting them the money they’ve lost due to injury and the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Don’t hesitate, as a prompt response to address your injuries is of utmost importance. Call us today so that we can discuss your case.
The Distasio Law Firm Difference
Over the years, we’ve found three excellent ways to find the best slip and fall injury attorneys in St. Petersburg for your case. When seeking a slip and fall lawyer, look for:
Knowledge and Experience Handling Slip and Fall Cases
Your lawyer should not only know Florida premises liability law. The knowledge is not enough. That attorney should also have years of experience handling slip & fall injury cases. Scott Distasio has been handling these cases for over 27 years. His years of experience investigating, negotiating, filing lawsuits, taking depositions, and going to trial will absolutely make a difference in your case.
Independent Verification of the Lawyers Ability
All attorneys claim they know what they are doing. Their marketing materials may also be persuasive. But you will only know the truth about that lawyer if the lawyer is rated by respected. independent, non-biased rating systems. Scott Distasio has an “AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. This is the highest rating an attorney can receive for both ability and ethics. Scott Distasio is also Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Trial Law. To achieve this accomplishment, an attorney must have tried a minimum number of cases and passed a competency exam. Less than 1% of all Florida lawyers are Board Certified.
Willingness and Ability to Go to Trial
Not all personal injury cases go to trial. The truth is most cases settle. If your case does need to go to trial, it’s important to hire a law firm that has the experience, resources and ability to try your case. Scott Distasio is a board certified civil trial lawyer. This gives him the right to call himself an expert trial lawyer.
Are Premise Owners Responsible for All Injuries That Happen on Their Property?
In order for a property owner to be held accountable, it must be proven that their negligence or wrongdoing led to injury. The skilled St. Petersburg slip and fall attorneys at the Distasio Law Firm will review all the aspects of your case and determine the best way to move forward. We know that in St. Petersburg and throughout the state of Florida, it is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain a safe environment at all times, and this includes correcting any problem that might lead to an injury. It is important to know that property owners also have an obligation to properly warn all people who enter their property about any unsafe conditions that are present.
What Is a Slip and Fall Case?
A situation in which a property creates or does not fix a harmful situation that leads to injury from falling, slipping, or tripping is called a slip and fall case. This happens most frequently in:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Shopping malls
- Movie theaters
- Apartment complexes
- Office buildings
- Department stores
- Parking lots
What Are the Most Common Slip and Fall Accidents?
Slip and fall accidents typically take place when objects are misplaced or because of poor conditions. The most likely areas of liability include parking lots, walkways, and stairs, where accidents are often caused by faulty railings, potholes, or uneven surfaces.
The property owner is responsible to ensure that the environment is continually kept clear of hazards. A warning must be placed notifying people of a potential hazard. A great example of a warning is the wet floor signs that are often found in grocery stores, as slip and fall accidents in St. Petersburg occur most often because of spilled liquids.
What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall?
Accidents often occur because of negligent property owners who put a priority on profit rather than safety. If you are injured in a slip and fall scenario, it is imperative that you act quickly and do the following:
TAKE A MOMENT TO STUDY WHAT HAPPENED
The best time to take a mental note of the events is immediately after your fall. Although you are probably in pain and disoriented, try to look for what caused you to fall and remember its size, shape, color, consistency, and condition. Also try to remember the events that led up to the fall, if there was liquid on the ground, your shoes and clothing at the time, and the actual fall itself. Try to write down in detail all that you remember and do it as soon as possible after the fall.
TAKE PICTURES OF THE AREA WHERE YOU FELL, YOUR INJURIES, AND YOUR SHOES
Memories often fade and relying on the place where the accident occurred to accurately document what happened is a mistake. Take several photographs from different angles of the surrounding area and of what caused you to fall. Be sure to take pictures of your injuries, bruises, shoes, and anything else that is relevant. All of these actions will help ensure that you have documented accurate information.
IDENTIFY WITNESSES TO THE FALL
Get the names, phone numbers, and addresses of as many of the witnesses as you can. Ask if they knew about the dangerous condition and how long that condition had been present.
FILL OUT A STORE INCIDENT REPORT
Some businesses may take the position that the event never happened if you do not notify them of what happened. Find a manager or owner and insist on filling out an incident report. Get a copy of the report.
ASK THE STORE TO PRESERVE ANY SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF THE EVENT
Most businesses have surveillance video running. The video can actually show things like how long the dangerous condition existed, how it was created, whether it was ever noticed as a danger, and how you fell. Unfortunately, many video systems record over old footage periodically, so you should request that they save a copy and or give you a copy. Make a note of who you asked, and if possible document your request by putting it in writing.
GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR YOUR INJURIES
It is not uncommon to feel embarrassed after falling, but unfortunately, it is common to wait to see if your injuries go away on their own and not seek immediate medical attention. Be advised, if you wait too long before seeking treatment, the property owner may point to a gap in time and claim that you injuries were not a result of the fall. To prevent this from happening, get medical attention as soon as possible after the incident to document your injuries with an independent source.
Common Injuries That Will Arise From a Slip and Fall Include:
- Back injuries
- Fractures and broken bones, such as hips, arms, ankles, tailbones
- Spinal injuries
- Bruising and soreness
Looking for a St. Petersburg Slip and Fall Attorney?
If you were hurt after slipping and falling on someone else’s property, reach out to Distasio Law Firm today. A St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyer could help you build a comprehensive case for compensation. Call now for a free case review.
Slip and Fall Injury Case Results
$225,000.00 Settlement | Lakeland, FL
Our client was sitting in a chair in a restaurant eating her lunch when her chair suddenly collapsed. An examination of the chair revealed it was so old the joints had rusted away causing them to fail. The other chairs in the restaurant were in a similar condition and were wobbly due to the failing joints. A lawsuit against the restaurant was filed for negligently failing to routinely inspect the chairs and replace them as they aged. Our client’s injuries included rotator cuff damage to her shoulder and neck disc herniation. She underwent shoulder surgery and neck fusion surgery. The defense claimed the restaurant was not responsible for finding defects in the chair, that the chair was negligently made by the manufacturer and that our client’s injuries were caused by wear and tear on her body over the years of her life and not the fall from the chair.
$135,000.00 Settlement | Tampa, FL
Our client was walking down the steps of the outside stairwell of his apartment complex when the last step gave way. He injured his low back and underwent laser discectomy surgery. An examination of the broken stair revealed the bolt holding it in place had rusted out due to old age. A lawsuit against the apartment complex was filed because the stairwell was not properly maintained. The apartment complex claimed falling only one step could not cause a disc herniation and that our client’s injuries were caused by lifting and bending at work. A mistrial occurred during the second day of trial. A settlement was reached just before the beginning of the new trial.
$135,000.00 Settlement | Sarasota, FL
Our client was walking down the stairs of a chair rental hut on the Sarasota beach when she fell. She experienced immediate neck pain. An examination of the stairs revealed they were in violation of the building code because the height and width of the stairs were not uniform throughout. Our client was diagnosed with a herniated disc in her neck that required her to undergo neck fusion surgery.
