In the state of Florida, any liability for a slip-and-fall accident in a public place would fall upon the business or property owner. It may be a homeowner, business owner, or a government entity such as a city or a school. Of course, determining exactly who owns the property in question is crucial to filing any kind of claim, as various entities have their own specific legal protections, timelines, and limitations on exactly how much compensation can be awarded in a slip-and-fall suit.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim Involving a Slip-and-Fall Incident?

Every state has its own set time frame during which someone may file a claim following any given kind of accident. The legal term for this time period is “statute of limitations,” and in the state of Florida, the statute of limitations on slip-and-fall injuries or related property damage is four years, specifically. After the statute of limitations has expired, it becomes very difficult to successfully file a claim without some kind of judicially-granted exception or deadline extension.

What Kind of Negligence Might Lead to a Slip and Fall Incident on Public Property?

A number of different circumstances might be considered negligence capable of leading to a slip-and-fall accident. If, for example, failure to properly maintain the property leads to structural cracks or flaws in a road or sidewalk, that may be taken into account. Likewise, if a potentially dangerous characteristic of the property–a particularly sharp curve or sudden change in elevation–isn’t marked with appropriate signage, that may also be determined to be a contributing factor to a personal injury. Every situation is different and should be carefully and thoroughly analyzed by a knowledgeable attorney in order to understand the best possible way to proceed with any potential legal actions.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney to Determine Who Might be Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident?

In some slip and fall cases, you may be able to determine who is liable if it is a business or property owner. However, determining where liability lies can be complicated and often needs the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. When you hire an experienced lawyer from our law firm, we will evaluate the evidence at hand and advise you on how we might proceed with your claim.

Once we determine who is liable, we will focus our investigation on making sure you get justice for your injuries. Any evidence we find could help us prove liability, which ultimately might make settling your claim easier and faster. Contact our law firm today to learn more about your next steps.