St. Petersburg Slip and Fall Lawyer
While some may dismiss slip and fall accidents as relatively insignificant in the hierarchy of personal injury events, the truth is that a surprisingly substantial number of individuals sustain very serious harm as a result of such incidents.With common consequences routinely including brain injuries, broken bones, tissue trauma and more, there is a need for increased awareness of the degree to which Floridians are impacted by these occurrences.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, well over 700,000 instances of hospitalization annually stem from slip and fall accidents, and the National Safety Council has reported that falls of various descriptions are the leading driver of injury-related fatalities among seniors. Making events of this nature all the more devastating is the fact that far too many are directly attributable to the negligence of others.
When that is the case, a St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyer stands prepared to intervene on behalf of victims and their families and to zealously pursue the financial compensation they need and deserve. If you have been injured, call today and discuss your case with a premises liability attorney in St. Petersburg today.
How and Where Slip and Fall Accidents Occur
A common misconception is that slip and fall accidents are relatively rare and are often the result of inattention on the part of the injured.
The fact is that these incidents can and do happen virtually everywhere, and the resulting damage can be profound. Statistics released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reveal that slip and trip accidents are responsible for a greater rate of workplace harm than any alternative cause, producing roughly 15 percent of all on-the-job accidental deaths.
For example, in stores and malls, workers clean the floor with a wet mop, and it takes time for the water to completely dry. As a result, workers are supposed to leave a notice saying that the area has been mopped and may still be wet. By seeing the sign, people will hopefully be careful.
But if workers do not place the sign in the wet area, people cannot be aware that there is a danger of slipping. They do not know that the area is wet. If someone slips, falls, and suffers injury because the floor was wet and there was no sign saying so, then the store may be at fault.
Work sites are by no means the only places in which dangerous slip and fall conditions are frequently present. Some examples of typical hazards encountered in everyday settings include:
- Slippery, polished flooring
- Loose or dislodged paving stones or gravel
- Broken sidewalks
- Snow and ice-covered walkways
- Excessive, unsecured wires or cabling
- Untended tree roots or branches
- Improperly maintained stairwells
There can be little doubt about the fact the above dangers and many others truly are ever-present, and serious injuries can be sustained in a wide array of venues. Whether in an office building, shopping center, parking deck or school building, poorly maintained premises can spell disaster for even the most cautious, conscientious individual. The key to obtaining justice following such an event is to enlist the help of a diligent slip and fall attorney in St. Petersburg who is ready to fight for the resources necessary for recovery.
Filing a Claim
Though every case is different, and establishing fault is not always a straightforward proposition, an experienced St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyer will undertake a thorough review of the facts, collect critical evidence, examine medical records, interview witnesses and engage in vigorous advocacy on behalf of clients and their families.
Given the speed with which expenses begin to mount following a serious injury, it is essential for victims to assert their right to seek payment for things such as medical bills, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and emotional distress and, in cases of fatality, burial costs and financial support for surviving dependents.
Importance of An Attorney
Anyone who has suffered injuries due to a slip and fall accident will attest to the life-changing harm these events can potentially produce. Though some victims experience only brief disruptions in their lives, others are faced with an uncertain future marked by financial challenges and lasting disability.
If you would like to learn more about how we can assist in the quest for justice following an accidental injury, we invite you to contact a St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyer with our firm today.