Slip and Fall Lawyer FAQ: What should I know about slipping and falling at a school?
If you have you ever fallen or tripped on a curb or sidewalk and were injured, then contact a slip and fall attorney Longwood, FL recommends at David & Philpot, P.L. for assistance right away. You may be entitled to compensation from the city or property owners where the injury occurred. Nearly 80% of pedestrian injuries are as a result of a fall. A 2012 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors revealed 24 percent of pedestrian injuries were due to tripping on uneven or cracked sidewalk, while 17 percent tripped or fell due to other reasons.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall, and you believe it occured to the negligence of another party, please call our office to book a free consult.
Common Sidewalk Injury Causes
- Cracks or uneven pavement can be very dangerous. It is the duty of the city or property owner to ensure that users of the property or street or sidewalk is safe for general use, such as walking. Over time, tree roots or earthquakes or other elements can result in dangerous conditions.
- Potholes can occur on pavement or even sometimes on the sidewalk. They are usually caused by pooled water or debris that was too heavy for the asphalt to support.
- Debris on sidewalks, in gutters, stairs, etc. can create a very dangerous situation. Leaf litter, tree branches, overflowing trash, bicycles and other personal property are just some of the many perilous things that could cause a person to fall and become injured.
- Rain, Ice, Snow or other weather conditions can present a variety of dangerous conditions.
No matter how your injury occurred, you should contact a Longwood, FL slip and fall attorney as soon as you are able. Our experienced team has vast experience in representing clients who have been injured on public property.
FAQs for Sidewalk Injury Claims
- Who is Responsible? – It depends, and sometimes there can be multiple defendants, depending if your injury occurred solely on public property or if something from a private property caused or partially caused the accident. As always, speak with an attorney.
- How Can I Prove Damages? Keep track of any medical reports, bills, documentation of lost wages or other financial losses, keep names and contact information of witnesses and photos of conditions and write down any information you remember about weather, time of day, etc. Do this as soon as possible, because memories fade and witnesses can be hard to track down later.
- How Hard Is It To Collect Damages? In order to succeed in a sidewalk injury case, you must be able to prove negligence on the part of the city or property owner. Your attorney will know what is entailed in proving negligence.
Sidewalk injury lawsuits can be a challenge to win. The city or property owner also has lawyers on their side who have experience defending such claims. It is imperative that you do not talk to anyone from the city, their law firm or insurance agent without the presence of your attorney.
What to Do After A Slip and Fall Injury
A slip and fall accident can be very serious, often life altering. The moments and days after the injury might be scary, painful, and overwhelming. In many cases, you have the right to recover damages for your injuries and any loss of income or other damages you have incurred.
However, in order to protect yourself and to give yourself the best chance of being granted an appropriate settlement, there are things you should do at the scene and in the ensuing days of the accident investigation. Sometimes negligence is easy to determine, but more often there are a slew of complicating factors that may make it more difficult to prove fault on the part of the city or property owner.
It is always advised to speak with a slip and fall attorney in Longwood at David & Philpot, P.L. shortly after any slip and fall injury accident. Usually, the sooner you consult with an attorney, the better the outcome will be for you. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements for clients; let’s find out what we can do for you.
At the Scene of the Accident
There are several things you need to do at the scene of the accident that will help you gather the correct information that our legal team needs to help you, as we sort out the facts of your case:
- Call for medical care. Your top priority should be to your own safety and well-being. Often a person is in shock after an accident and doesn’t realize the seriousness of their injuries. Attorneys and medical professionals prefer that you are transported in an ambulance to a hospital or at least see a doctor on the day of the accident to make sure your injuries do not worsen or pose a threat to your overall health and safety. Also it is best for any future lawsuit for you to have as much documentation as possible.
- Don’t downplay your injuries. Don’t be a tough guy and try to shake it off. It’s always better to be checked out by medical professionals right away than to wait. Turning down medical care at the scene of an accident can be used against you by insurance companies as they may suggest your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
- Gather information. Notate where you are and what you think caused you to fall. Write down anything you observe about obstacles or spills or any conditions that contributed to your accident. The moments after an accident can be confusing and you may not remember certain facts later.
- Take names and contact information of witnesses. It is crucial to get names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
- Never talk to any property managers, owners or anyone about your accident — that is, without a slip and fall attorney in Florida. If you don’t understand why, please give our firm a call.
If you or a loved one have sustained injuries from a slip and fall, call the law offices of David & Philpot, P.L. so we can consult with you on your case and make sure you get the settlement you deserve.
What to Know About Slipping and Falling at a School
Let’s say you’re late to bring your child to school. You walk them into the front office to explain what happened this morning. Over the night, it snowed so the entrance into the school is especially slippery. No signs have yet been posted. Your child slips and falls on the way in and is crying in pain. After taking them to the doctor, you discover they have broken their arm. If this example scenario sounds in anyway familiar, you might be wondering whether there is any legal recourse. After all not only might you have incurred medical bills, but you may also be unable to work due to having to care for your injured child.
Slip and Falls at School
As a Florida slip and fall attorney may inform you of, states have different premise liability laws. But in general, the owner of a property has a duty to maintain the premises and keep them safe from hazards. Schools are not an exception. A school does have a responsibility to ensure all of the occupants are safe.
Following a slip and fall accident at school or on school grounds you might wonder who can be held responsible. Unlike residential buildings or commercial properties, schools typically do not have an owner. To determine who can be held liable, you will first need to find out whether the school is private or public. Most likely you will know this right away.
Private School Versus Public School Slip and Falls
Private schools have a duty to keep their premises safe. The difference is that unlike a public school, the state will not intervene in the affairs of the facility. If your child slips and falls at a private school, they would almost certainly be responsible for the injuries. If your child slipped and fell at a public school, this matter may become more complicated. The reason for this is that public schools are owned by the government. In this case, you would likely have to pursue the government for compensation.
Unfortunately, this is not always easy because public schools, and government entities as a whole, have special legal protections. For example, there are very strict time limits to file a claim after a public school slip and fall accident. Depending on the state, you may have 30-90 days to file a notice of claim. Due to the strict rules and restrictions, time is of the essence.
Proving Your Slip and Fall Claim
Before you can sue the school for a slip and fall, there may be some questions you need a Longwood slip and fall attorney to answer for you, including:
- Did the school create a hazardous condition which was ultimately the cause of the accident?
- Was the school in need of maintenance or repair?
- Should the school have known about the hazardous condition?
- Did the school warn the occupants about the condition?
- Was there enough time to have known about the hazard, and address it?
In addition to the answers, evidence will be a vital element in a school slip and fall case. Photos of the scene, medical records, or witness testimony can be advantageous to prove and win your case.
Get Your Bills Covered After a Slip and Fall
At some point in our lives, every one of us will end up on our rear. Maybe we tripped down our own stairs or we were hit in a sporting event. What makes this situation even worse is when our fall isn’t our own fault. 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 food spilled. All of these scenarios create unsafe conditions which could lead to serious injury.
If you encounter these or similar situations, you need to know what to do next. The most important thing a FL slip and fall attorney hopes victims remember, is that they did not cause their injuries and should not have to pay out of their own pocket for treatment.
Slip and Fall Causes
Slip and fall accidents are common. Examples include:
- Recently waxed floors
- Uneven surfaces
- Potholes
- Loose rugs
- Uneven stairs
- 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.
Injuries Caused by a Slip and Fall
Slipping and falling may not seem like it could cause serious injury. Most often, the most injured part of you is your ego. After a fall, you’re embarrassed and just want out of the situation. In reality, slipping and falling can cause lifelong negative consequences for your health. Common injuries include:
- Chronic back pain
- Broken bones
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Bruises
- Swollen joints
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Death
Damages to Fight For
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. Working with an experienced slip and fall attorney based in FL at David & Philpot, P.L. can give you the best chance of recovering damages for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
Even the most minor injuries can be met 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 team can help you recover damages to cover your medical costs.
Getting Help for Knee Trauma After a Slip and Fall
A meniscus tear is a knee injury which is common after a slip and fall and other injuries to lower limbs occur often as well. Traumatic injuries from slip and fall accidents can cause meniscus tears in the knees. If you’ve suffered a disabling knee injury in a slip and fall accident, you might deserve fair compensation for your injury claim, particularly if the accident was due to the reckless or negligent actions of another party.
What Is the Meniscus?
Like many other knee injuries, a meniscus tear can be quite painful and debilitating. The meniscus is a piece of fibrous cartilage that cushions the knee, stabilizes it, and helps to distribute weight and friction evenly. It protects the bones that meet at the knee joint from wear and tear. However, sometimes all it takes is a twist of the knee with the foot planted to tear the meniscus. In some instances, a piece of the shredded cartilage can break loose and catch in the knee joint, causing it to lock up.
The knee has two menisci—the medial and the lateral. The medial meniscus is injured more often than the lateral one. The leading symptoms of a meniscus tear are pain, redness, and swelling of the affected knee. The injured knee can feel as if it’s locking or catching. The leg typically won’t straighten fully. This usually happens when the meniscus impinges on the knee joint.
Symptoms include:
- Swelling and redness
- Pain in the knee
- A popping sensation
- Stiffness
- Lost range of motion
- A tendency for the knee to lock, stick, or catch
- Difficulty in bending and straightening the leg
Initially, the pain may be mild. You might even walk away from a slip and fall accident thinking you are unharmed, Or, if it happens during a sporting event, you may play through the injury. However, once inflammation sets in, the knee will likely hurt quite a bit, and you may experience difficulty in walking. Some severe knee injuries require surgery, intense physical therapy, and an extensive recovery period. You might need even need to use crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair. Our Longwood, Florida slip and fall attorney wants you to contact a doctor immediately after this type of accident.
Getting Help for Accident Related Knee Injuries
While you’re injured, you might need help to meet responsibilities for your family, home, and even walking or caring for your pets. Perhaps you won’t be able to work, and the medical bills could pile up. So you may be wondering how you will manage and who will pay to treat your injuries after the accident.
Your financial recovery may depend on building a successful personal injury claim. You may need help drafting and filing your claim, as mistakes can be costly. To ensure you get the compensation you deserve, be sure to speak with your slip and fall attorney, Longwood, FL recommends.
Contact Us Today
Contact our firm right away to get the help and assistance you need. We have the experience required to protect your rights. You may not be calculating all the expenses for a full recovery. We can help you get what will be required to support your child as they recover in the immediate term but also longer term. There are symptoms and issues that may not rear their ugly heads for years to come. Be prepared for those days by using the services of a slip and fall attorney in Longwood, FL at David & Philpot, PL to protect your rights.