If you suffer injuries in a slip, trip, or fall, you have legal rights that you must protect. The experienced St. Petersburg slip and fall injury lawyers at Nicoletti Accident Injury Attorneys can take steps to protect your right to compensation right away. Our St. Petersburg premises liaiblity accident lawyers are here to answer all your questions about slip and fall accident cases and your options. Our legal team has obtained compensation for clients with many injuries, including:
- $3,300,000 for a client who needed multiple surgeries
- $1,700,000 for a client with traumatic brain injury
- $1,050,000 for a client who lost their eye
These are only some examples of the results we obtain for our clients after accidental injuries.
Schedule A Free ConsultationWhere Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in St. Petersburg
There are many places where it is possible to slip, trip, or fall in St. Petersburg. Here are some of the most common places where these injuries occur in and around the St. Petersburg area:
Stores and Restaurants
Our sunny beaches bring visitors to Florida all year long. As a result, the shops and restaurants of St. Petersburg get a steady flow of traffic, and some customers can suffer injuries in a busy crowd. We can help you with slip and fall injuries at these and many other popular destinations:
- St. Petersburg Walmart Superstores and Neighborhood Markets
- Tyrone Square Mall
- Trader Joe’s
- Winn-Dixie
- Aldi
- Save-a-Lot
Boats
It is all too easy to slip on a boat. The deck is often wet and constantly rocking, and there might not be enough rails or grab bars to help guests keep their balance. Whether you sustain injuries on a commercial boat or a private boat, you may be entitled to compensation for slip and fall injuries.
Water Recreation Areas
Many different businesses in St. Pete offer water recreation and sports. For activities on the open water, many businesses offer equipment rental and lessons. Customers can enjoy water skiing, parasailing, boogie boarding, and other water sports. The Walter Fuller Recreation Center and Dell Holmes Park also offer activities in a closed setting away from the ocean. Families can enjoy pools, splash pads, and other water recreation. Whether you are on the open water or within a park, it is easy to suffer injuries while participating in water recreation. You might slip and fall on a pool deck. Your instructor might not properly advise you on how to avoid injury during a water skiing lesson. Let our injury lawyers review your case to determine who caused your water recreation injuries.
Common Injuries In Slip and Fall Cases
You can sustain many different injuries in a slip and fall accident. Work with a personal injury lawyer who understands your specific injuries. The experienced accident attorneys at Nicoletti understand these different injuries, and we know how to prove what they are worth. Here are some of the most common injuries our lawyers see in our injury law practice:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury that affects the brain’s normal processing. The effects of a TBI can be temporary or permanent, but anytime the brain does not function as it should, a patient can be in danger. See a doctor as soon as possible anytime you suspect any brain injury. According to the CDC, TBIs are a major cause of death and disability in the United States. About 166 Americans died every day in 2019 due to TBIs and related complications.
Damage to the Spinal Cord
The Mayo Clinic defines a spinal cord injury as damage to any part of the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. Like the brain, the spinal cord is a critical part of the body’s central nervous system. It carries the electrical impulses that allow us to move and feel sensations. It also carries the electrical impulses that keep our vital organs functioning normally. Damage to the spinal cord can also carry dangerous medical complications. Spinal cord injuries are permanent, and they may partially or completely paralyze victims for the rest of their lives.
Broken Bones and Complex Orthopedic Injuries
Broken bones are common in slip and fall injuries. Many victims fall on a hip, arm, or ankle, and this can lead to painful breaks that require miserable weeks in a cast. These injury victims might also have weeks of painful physical therapy or rehabilitation after they are out of the cast. Even a “simple” break can lead to pain and discomfort for years to come. Complex breaks can be even more painful. A surgeon might have to insert plates, pins, or screws to realign the broken bone. Painful scar tissue can grow around these implants, and the victim will likely have trouble with metal detectors for the rest of their life. Orthopedic cases can also be complex due to underlying medical conditions. If, for example, an elderly fall victim suffers from osteoporosis, this can make it more difficult for the broken bone to heal. The bone might never heal back to a functional level. In this case, the negligent defendant is responsible for the added pain and suffering this victim will endure. Our injury lawyers know how to prove the unique pain and suffering you endured in your specific circumstances so that you can get fair compensation for your losses - even if they were worse than another injury victim’s losses.
Internal Injuries
Not all injuries are as obvious as a broken bone. There are many ways that your body can suffer internal injuries without you even knowing about them. Trauma to the abdomen can affect many different vital organs. If your kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, or liver suffer crush or piercing injuries in an accident, you might not know about it right away. It can take hours for the body’s normal function to falter so that you notice something is wrong. Internal bleeding presents a similar problem. If there are no bruising or external signs of trauma, a patient might not notice a slow internal bleed for hours until the symptoms of shock begin to set in. At this point, it might be too late for doctors to stop the bleeding. These injuries are very serious, but if you see a doctor right after an accident happens, you may have a much better prognosis. Our injury law team can then work to get you the compensation you need for all your medical bills.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries occur to non-bony body tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The many different soft tissue injuries include tendonitis, contusions, bursitis, sprains, and stress injuries. Insurance companies devalue the pain and suffering associated with soft tissue injuries. Because there are no dramatic casts or X-rays, they assume that your pain and suffering are worth less. This is not fair to those who suffer from soft tissue injuries. A stress fracture can leave you in pain for years to come. You might never put weight on the knee, ankle, or foot that fractured. Soft tissue injury victims deserve fair compensation for their pain and suffering. Don’t let the insurance company tell you that your case isn’t worth much. You have the right to get an independent legal opinion from your own injury attorney.
Proving Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case
The first step to getting compensation for injuries is determining who was at fault for causing them. The injury victim’s lawyer must prove that the defendant was negligent (and that this negligence caused the victim’s injuries). There are many ways that our accident attorneys prove negligence in slip and fall cases. Here are just a few of the many types of evidence we use:
Building Code or Safety Violations
Evidence of any legal violations (such as building codes or safety regulations) can be crucial in a slip and fall case. A property owner who allows these violations to occur places their guests in danger. These laws exist to keep everyone safe, so property owners who ignore them can be found negligent.
Notice of Prior Accidents
A landowner who fails to correct a safety problem after an accident occurs is likely to be found negligent if the same problem injures other victims in the future. This scenario is common at apartment complexes and other rental properties. If one tenant sustains injuries due to a loose step, for example, the landlord has notice of the problem. Other tenants who suffer harm on the same step in the future can usually introduce evidence of the prior accidents to prove that the landlord negligently failed to address the problem.
Expert Testimony
Some slip and fall cases involve technical issues. The angle of a stair, the proper mounting of a handrail, and other technical issues can come up when determining if a property owner was negligent. The injury lawyers at Nicoletti Accident Injury Lawyers know how to hire expert witnesses on all technical matters. Medical issues or other complex topics may require expert witnesses. Our experts know how to explain their opinions so that jurors can understand them. Their reports can constitute persuasive evidence in settlement negotiations, as well.
FAQs About St. Petersburg Slip and Fall Cases
How long do I have to sue for slip and fall injuries?
Section 95.11(3)(a) of the Florida Statutes requires bringing most personal injury cases in Florida within four years. You may file some claims (like workers’ compensation) sooner, and sometimes, you must give notice to the defendant within six months of the injury. Consult a lawyer before these deadlines so you do not miss them. Once these deadlines pass, the law can bar your claim forever, and you may not get any compensation for your injuries. Your attorney will also need time to investigate your case before the deadlines pass. The best practice is to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can after a slip and fall accident.
Why is Nicoletti the right injury firm in Florida?
You can choose many personal injury lawyers in the St. Petersburg area, but Nicoletti works hard to represent our clients. Our lawyers only practice injury law. They are not distracted by divorce or bankruptcy cases - they spend their time learning about all the issues that come up in injury claims. Our accident attorneys understand the medical, legal, and technical issues that we must prove in an accident case. We also know how to prove the value of your pain, suffering, and other intangible losses. Our experience allows us to handle any challenge the insurance company might make and prove what compensation is fair in your unique case.
Will I have to go to court?
The vast majority of personal injury claims in the U.S. settle out of court. It is statistically unlikely that you will have to file a claim in court, but even if you do, this does not necessarily mean you will have to show up to a court date. Sometimes the act of filing a lawsuit with the court is enough to get the insurance company to make a fair settlement offer. If it does not, there is still an extensive pretrial process of discovery and disclosure, and the attorneys continue to work toward settlement throughout this process. If all this fails, your case can go to trial. You have nothing to worry about if this happens. Your attorney will thoroughly prepare you for what will happen and what you will have to do. There will be plenty of time to ask your lawyer all your questions before trial so that you feel comfortable walking into court.
How will I cover my medical bills before my case settles?
Your health insurance must cover all services under your plan, even if they happened due to an accident. Medicare and Medicaid plans must also pay for covered care. If you suffered injuries at work, you might also have a workers’ compensation claim, and this can allow you fast access to coverage for your medical bills. If these claims are not available to you, speak with your lawyer about other options for getting the care you need. Do not delay treatment because of the cost. Delays in treatment can make your prognosis worse and reduce the amount of compensation you can get for your claim.
Did a St. Petersburg Slip and Fall Accident Injure You? We Can Help You
Contact our St. Petersburg slip and fall attorneys for information about how we might help you. We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No matter when you find yourself injured, we can immediately evaluate your case, investigate your accident before the evidence disappears, and fight hard for the compensation you need to pay your bills and other damages. You can reach us at any time at (727) 797-2020 or through our contact page.