Miami-Dade County Slip and Fall Lawyer

Have you been injured in a slip and fall? Although anyone can trip over their own feet, other falls are the fault of the property owner, who has a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for all visitors. At Gerson & Schwartz, our lawyers have years of experience helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve. We are here to help.

Most injuries are not caused when victims slip but when they fall. In particular, victims suffer injuries when they hit their heads or another body part against the ground or another object, like a sidewalk or fire hydrant. Falls down stairs are particularly serious, with victims suffering blunt trauma each time they contact a step.

Some of the more common injuries our clients have suffered include:

• Broken bones
• Cuts or lacerations
• Back injuries
• Head injuries
• Neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Pinched nerves
• Knee injury

After falling, you should seek immediate medical treatment by calling emergency services or having a family member take you to Jackson Memorial, University of Miami, or another local hospital. Prompt treatment affords you the best chance of making a speedy recovery and returning to your old life. Prompt medical treatment allows you to properly document the severity of your injuries, which might be in dispute later if you decide to sue the property owner for your injuries.

Generally, all property owners must keep their property in reasonably safe condition by fixing hazards or warning their visitors of them. At Gerson & Schwartz, our clients have suffered an injury at all kinds of business establishments:

• Restaurants such as Joe’s Stone Crab, Versailles, and Il Gabbiano
• Fast food joints like McDonald’s or Subway
• Hotels and resorts, like Hampton Inn & Suites, Mondrian South Beach, and The Ritz-Carlton South Beach
• AmericanAirlines Arena, FIU Stadium, Watsco Center, and other sporting venues
• Pharmacies
• Cruise ships, like Norwegian Cruise Lines
• Shopping centers such as Miller Square Shopping Center and Central Shopping Center

You can also bring a slip-and-fall lawsuit against a private property owner, such as your neighbor or friend. They must also keep their property in reasonably safe condition for guests. Although you might be embarrassed to sue a friend or relative, realize that they have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance for precisely this reason.

Suing the government for a slip or trip on government property requires more steps. In particular, you must send them a notice within six months of the fall so that the government can decide whether to settle with you. If they refuse, then you can bring a lawsuit.

If the property owner is responsible for your injuries, you can sue them for compensation. In Miami-Dade, slip-and-fall victims can receive money damages for their economic and non-economic losses.

You can measure economic losses in dollars and cents because a receipt or bill is usually attached to them. For example, you can receive money damages for:

• Medical treatment, including transportation to the hospital, hospital stays, surgery, doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, and assistive devices like wheelchairs
• Lost wages, if your injury kept you out of work
• Lost future wages, if your injuries are so severe that you cannot return to your old job or to any job at all
• Property damage, if you broke something when you fell (like your glasses or smartphone)

You can also receive compensation for non-economic losses, which are harder to measure in dollars and cents. Nevertheless, if you have suffered a serious injury that warrants compensation, such as:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, such as depression, anger, grief, anxiety, or irritability

Depending on your injury, your spouse might be able to sue for loss of consortium for negative changes to your marriage, such as a loss of intimacy or care.

At Gerson & Schwartz, our slip-and-fall lawyers have helped countless victims get the compensation they need. Based on our experience, we can assess your injuries and estimate the amount of money damages you might successfully recover in a lawsuit. The amount you can receive depends on a variety of factors, including how much insurance the defendant has and the seriousness of your prognosis.

If you or a loved one has been injured after a fall, contact Gerson & Schwartz right away. Our team of premises liability attorneys will carefully review the circumstances surrounding your injury and identify who you can sue for financial compensation. Don’t delay. In Florida, injured victims are given only four years to bring a lawsuit for their personal injuries, so call 877-475-2905 for your free consultation or send a message online.