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How Long Do I Have to Sue After a Slip and Fall in Florida?

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The at-fault party’s insurance company will immediately launch an auto accident investigation to reduce their payout.

This investigation includes taking statements from the parties and witnesses and collecting physical evidence, such as photographs and even the damaged vehicles.

While the insurance company attempts to avoid liability, most auto accident victims are left to deal with the personal and financial effects of the trauma. This reality is why it’s important to have a specialist on your side. We won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you.

Most people avoid doctor appointments after a vehicle accident. However, after a severe auto crash, it is important to follow medical advice to give yourself the best and fastest chance to heal.

Seek medical care immediately after an injury and avoid missing appointments with your healthcare professionals.

Your auto accident case value is determined by evidence from several places, especially your doctors. Most people who require treatment will get better; however, some catastrophic injuries require lifelong care.

After an accident, document what future needs may be necessary. It is also important to tell your doctors about past issues.

The doctors need to give opinions about new injuries and prior injuries that were possibly exacerbated. Failure to provide your doctors with accurate information may damage your credibility and undermine your doctor’s findings.

After Lakeland, FL, car accident, you must demonstrate that your injury is permanent to receive compensation for pain and suffering, disability or physical impairment, deformity, mental anguish, inconvenience, or loss of capacity for enjoyment of life.

To be considered a permanent injury, it must include:

A significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.

Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement.

An injury that the evidence shows is permanent to a reasonable degree of probability.

Maximum medical improvement is when an injured patient’s condition cannot be further improved or when a healing plateau is reached.

It can mean the patient has fully recovered from their injury, or their condition has stabilized, and no substantial change can be expected. Maximum medical improvement does not mean the patient will not receive future care.

Sometimes, future care is designed to help with functionality or pain levels and will not cure the condition. This kind of treatment following a car wreck is called “palliative care.” Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to specialized health care for people with severe conditions.

It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptom or pain. Such therapy aims to improve the patient’s quality of life.

After getting the care you need, obtaining good advice and counsel is important for your future. Hiring the right personal injury attorneys can make a difference in your case. If you need legal assistance, contact one of our car accident specialists.

If you hire a lawyer on contingency, you will likely pay the same percentage fee whether your lawyer is a first-year lawyer with little or no experience or a board-certified specialist by the Florida Bar.

Most slip and fall victims in Florida have up to two years to sue the property owner or another liable party responsible for their fall and injuries. However, there are many tasks to complete before filing a lawsuit, so it is best to get started earlier. 

Continue reading to learn answers to many frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Florida fall injuries. If you have additional questions unique to your case or are ready to get started, don’t hesitate to reach out. If you need help, just ask Dave!

Deadlines for Florida Slip and Fall Lawsuits

Every state has a deadline for beginning personal injury lawsuits, generally varying from one to three years. Florida used to have one of the longest statutes of limitations in the country, but that recently changed when HB 837/SB236 became law on March 24, 2023. 

Today, most injury victims only have two years from the date their injuries occurred to file the initial paperwork to start a lawsuit. Fla. Stat. § 95.11 generally sets a two-year deadline on these cases. Wrongful death cases have two years from the date of death. 

Some exceptions exist, but these could mean you need to act more quickly or that you have longer. The best way to ensure you meet the deadlines in your slip and fall case is to discuss your options with a Lakeland personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your fall. 

Other Reasons To Get Started On Your Florida Slip and Fall Case Quickly

When a fall victim enlists the help of a premises liability lawyer, they must navigate many steps before it is time to sue the at-fault party. This includes: 

  • Protecting your rights
  • Gathering evidence
  • Identifying the liable party or parties
  • Valuing your case
  • Negotiating with the insurance carrier for a fair settlement
  • Preparing the paperwork for the lawsuit

While having extra time to perform these tasks is beneficial, the first two are very time-sensitive. You want your attorney on your side as soon as possible after a fall because they can protect your rights from the start and gather additional evidence that might not be available later. 

The insurance carrier and at-fault party will not want to pay you what you deserve based on the injuries, expenses, and losses you endured. When you have an experienced slip and fall attorney, they take care of this, and you do not have to worry about it. They manage all communication with these parties, preventing them from using tactics to reduce the value of your case. 

Some key evidence only lasts hours or days following a fall. The property owner could have the hazard cleared before first responders arrive. Eyewitnesses might forget the details of what they saw. Surveillance video rarely lasts more than ten days or two weeks. The sooner a law firm begins preserving evidence, the stronger your case. This makes enlisting their help early paramount to your case outcome. 

Recoverable Damages in a Florida Fall Injury Case

The goal of a Florida slip and fall lawsuit is to hold the at-fault party accountable and recover fair compensation to cover your related expenses and losses. Each case varies widely when it comes to value and types of damages recoverable. Some common examples include: 

  • Medical bills for injuries, current and future
  • Income lost because of the fall and injuries
  • Reduced earning ability due to permanent injuries
  • Miscellaneous expenses with receipts
  • Pain and suffering losses

When serious injuries occur, victims can pass away from fall injuries. If this happened to your loved one, a Florida wrongful death attorney can help. These cases work in much the same way as personal injury cases. You must show negligence and liability, identify the liable party, and seek compensation from them or their insurance company. 

However, the rules around how you proceed with these lawsuits are different. Florida restricts the plaintiff in these cases to the victim’s estate executor, known as their “personal representative.” In addition, the types of recoverable damages are different. 

You can learn more during a free consultation with a wrongful death law firm. 

How a Florida Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help With Your Case

Hiring a Florida slip and fall lawyer to manage your premises liability case allows you to focus on healing from your injuries and getting back to your previous activities. A lawyer who handles these cases regularly will know how to identify the liable party, build a case, and pursue compensation for you. 

Identifying the liable party in these cases requires determining who is responsible for keeping the grounds or structure where the injury occurred free from hazards. This is often the property owner, although a lessee or another party might be legally liable under some circumstances. 

Our lawyers gather evidence to determine what happened, who is liable, and how much the injury cost you. We use this evidence to support a claim and attempt to negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party and their insurance carrier. The possible outcomes of this include:

  • We reach a fair settlement, and you sign a settlement agreement
  • We go to mediation, arbitration, or attempt to settle the case through other methods
  • We sue the liable party or parties and prepare the case for trial

When we sue and take a slip and fall case to trial in Florida, we ask the jury to award fair compensation based on the expenses and losses our client experienced. This often allows us to recover money for our client’s damages through this process.

Contact Dismuke Law About Your Slip and Fall Case: Ask Dave!

At Dismuke Law, we provide free consultations for fall injury victims across Central Florida. We want to ensure you understand your rights and options. If you have questions, it’s time to ask Dave! 

Contact us today to get started. 

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We Care About Your Recovery

Seriously injured? Have no coverage? We want to talk to you and we can help. We have two convenient office locations in Lakeland and Tampa and can even come to you if you are unable to travel due to your injuries. When you’ve been hurt in Florida, 1-800-ASK-DAVE is the only number you have to remember.

WHAT IS MY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT CASE WORTH?
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WHAT IS MY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT CASE WORTH?
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!

Contact Us Today