At some point in our lives, every one of us will end up on our rears. Maybe we tripped on our own stairs or were knocked down in a sporting event. What makes this situation even worse is when our fall isn’t our own fault.
Many individuals can immediately recover from the incident without further thought. Sometimes, however, slip and fall accidents may cause life-altering injuries, leaving victims struggling to return to normal. Victims who suffer serious injuries in a slip and fall accident may never return to work or participate in activities they enjoyed in their daily lives. More severe injuries may leave victims with permanent limitations that impact every aspect of their life.
When you walk into a restaurant, a store, or down the street, you expect to find safe conditions. You don’t expect to find slippery floors, water on the sidewalk, or spilled food. All of these scenarios create unsafe conditions that can lead to serious injury.
If you encounter these or similar situations, you need to know what to do next. The thing to remember is that you did not cause your injuries and that you should not have to pay for them.
For assistance making sure your bills are covered, you need an aggressive and compassionate slip and fall attorney in Fort Myers to take your case. Experienced Fort Myers slip and fall attorneys regularly fight for the rights of injured victims to seek the compensation they are entitled to. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Viles & Beckman for a free consultation and case evaluation today.
Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries
Your injuries impact your ability to enjoy your life. Because you played no part in causing your slip and fall, you should bear no responsibility for the bills associated with your recovery.
After suffering injuries in a slip and fall, whether victims notice the injuries immediately after the accident or at a later time, injured victims deserve compensation for their injuries. The experienced Fort Myers slip and fall attorneys at Viles & Beckman regularly fight for the rights of injured victims to seek the compensation they are entitled to. Contact us as soon after your accident as possible.
After a fall that results in injuries, victims deserve compensation for their injuries, but how much should they expect?
While no attorney can guarantee the results of any unique claim, most victims can include several common categories of damages when seeking compensation for their injuries, including:
• Medical costs. Even minor injuries can lead to high medical bills. Broken bones, for example, may require ambulance transport to the hospital, emergency room treatment, and even surgical procedures to set the bone properly. Injured victims may require extensive physical therapy to return to normal functionality. Victims are entitled to claim compensation to cover all their medical bills in their slip and fall claims.
• Lost income. Injuries may prevent individuals from returning to work, which will result in lost wages on top of medical bills and other expenses. An attorney can instruct clients about how to calculate the lost wages resulting from their accident. Lost wages may include wages lost immediately after the accident, as well as future lost wages that may be incurred after future medical procedures.
• Pain and suffering. An attorney can help injured victims calculate the costs associated with pain and suffering resulting from the accident’s impact on all areas of their life. Pain and suffering includes losses beyond the physical pain of the victim’s injuries. If victims can’t participate in activities they once enjoyed due to their severe injuries, they may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering.
• Loss of companionship
• Rehabilitation costs
• Emotional distress
Even the most minor injuries may come with major medical costs. What many clients don’t anticipate is future costs. You may have medical bills sitting on your kitchen table, but those aren’t the only bills you’ll need to pay. Our compassionate and aggressive personal injury team will help you recover damages to help you cover all of your medical costs.
We Know What Evidence to Look For
Immediately after your slip and fall, your biggest priority should be making sure that you get better. You’re not an expert in slip and fall cases, and you may not even know what to look for to support your claim.
But we do. Since 1995, we’ve been collecting evidence for victims of slip and fall accidents in Florida. We interview witnesses before they forget details about your accident. We make sure your injuries are documented. And we’ll get copies of any accident reports.
This isn’t all we do. We also make sure your case is provable:
• Was there a dangerous condition?
• Did the property owner fail to act reasonably?
• Did the property owner violate the law?
Answering yes to the above questions helps to build your case. Our job is to make sure you get the compensation that you deserve to get better. We focus on the legal work while you focus on your recovery.
Settlements Aren’t Always in Your Best Interest
The insurance company of the property owner will likely contact you with a settlement offer. Until you speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer who reviews the offer, don’t accept it.
Most likely, this is a low ball offer that won’t cover all of your medical costs. Besides that, you may have to waive your right to bring a future claim against the insurance company. This means you could find yourself in extreme financial hardship if you take the first low ball offer from the insurance company.
They know you have medical bills piling up, and they know you need fast cash. They want you to take the low ball offer. Insurance companies make money by not paying out claims. Don’t let this happen to you. Speak with us today to make sure that your rights are protected and that you get the compensation you deserve to get back on your feet.
How Much Is a Slip and Fall Case Worth?
It all depends on the circumstances of your accident. But rest assured, insurance companies won’t want to settle for the full value of your claim. They may get away with it too if you decide not to use an experienced personal injury attorney. Insurance companies are in the business of making money. If they pay out your claim, that hurts their bottom line. Their insurance adjusters are trained to pay out as little as possible for every claim that comes across their desk.
Having the right slip and fall lawyer on your side is one of the most important factors in making sure you get the full value of your claim. Insurance companies know that Viles & Beckman is aggressive and won’t settle unless it’s right for you. We can help you get the compensation you need to pay your bills and get back on your feet.
What We Do for You
At Viles & Beckman, it’s our job to reduce your stress and handle the legal work, so you can focus on your recovery. We do that by taking care of the paperwork. Personal injury claims are complex and there is a great deal of paperwork that you must file and review. We’ll handle this so that you don’t have to worry about it.
While it’s true that most cases settle out of court, we won’t settle your case unless it benefits you. Ultimately, we want you to get better, and that means you need a certain amount of money. We will aggressively fight with the insurance company to get you what you need.
If we can’t get there in a settlement, we are fully prepared to take your case all the way to trial, if necessary, to get you compensation for the full cost of your injuries.
Without a trusted personal injury lawyer fighting for you, you risk getting nothing for your personal injury claim and having to pay your medical expenses out of pocket. Avoiding this scenario is one of the best ways for you to make sure your focus is on your recovery.
Slip and Fall Causes
According to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, slip and fall accidents are common. Causes may include:
• Recently waxed floors
• Uneven surfaces
• Potholes
• Loose rugs
• Spilled food or liquids
While everyone should look where they’re walking, certain dangers are hidden, so even if you are diligent, you may not see the issue ahead. Besides, it’s never your fault that you slipped on something that should have been cleaned up by the property owner.
Even if you weren’t paying attention to where you were walking, that doesn’t remove liability from the property owner. In Florida, property owners, whether the property is commercial or residential, owe you a duty of care to keep their property safe. If you’re injured on their property, they’ve probably failed in that duty and owe you compensation for your injuries.