Have you been hurt in a slip and fall accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? Did you get hurt because of unsafe conditions in public, at a local business, or on someone else’s private property? If so, explore your legal rights by calling Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group You may be entitled to compensation, and our St. Petersburg slip and fall accident lawyers can fight to get you maximum recovery.
Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group has been a tireless advocate for injury victims and families in St. Petersburg, FL, for nearly two decades. Our team includes several Board Certified Civil Trial Specialists and attorneys who’ve been recognized as leaders in personal injury law by Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and other notable organizations. Our hard work and determination have helped us secure over $250 million in damages for clients like you.
Contact our St. Petersburg law office to discuss your slip and fall accident case at (772) 569-8155. There’s no charge for your initial case evaluation.
How Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Helps Slip, Trip, and Fall Victims in St. Petersburg, FL
You might’ve fallen on someone else’s property, but don’t expect the owner to take responsibility for your slip and fall injuries immediately. You’ll have to force them to do the right thing. This is easier said than done, especially if you’re trying to do it on your own.
That’s where our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers can help.
At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, we’re passionate legal advocates who’ve dedicated our careers to helping everyday people stand up to powerful corporations, government agencies, and insurance carriers after life-changing accidents. We understand our clients have one opportunity to get financial justice, and we’re determined to help each and every person we represent make the most of it.
When you ask for our help after a slip and fall or trip and fall in St. Petersburg, you’ll be able to count on us to:
- Ensure that your accident is subject to a thorough and independent investigation
- Evaluate medical records, accident reports, eyewitness statements, and other evidence we gather during the claims process
- Work closely with specialists in accident reconstruction, medicine, forensics, and other areas of expertise
- Determine the best approach for handling claims of contributory negligence that could limit or bar a financial recovery
- Actively pursue a substantial settlement offer during negotiations with the property owner, their insurance company, and defense attorneys
- Bring your slip and fall lawsuit to a Pinellas County jury, if necessary
You got hurt because a property owner in St. Petersburg, FL, was careless. You shouldn’t have to struggle with the consequences on your own. Hiring a slip and fall attorney can help you make things right. At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, we fight for our clients on a contingency fee basis.
Pay nothing unless our law firm wins compensation for your slip and fall case.
Learn more about your rights and how our personal injury law firm can help you navigate this stressful situation. We offer a complimentary personal injury case evaluation, so contact us at our St. Petersburg law office now.
What Causes Most Slips and Falls in St. Petersburg?
More than one million Americans visit emergency rooms across the country every year for injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents. Unfortunately, most of these slips and falls can be avoided. Slip and fall accidents are often caused by defects and hazardous conditions that wouldn’t exist if property were better cared for.
Some of the most common causes of slips, trips, and falls include:
- Broken sidewalks
- Uneven floor surfaces
- Slick or slippery floors, often due to waxing, cleaning, or spilled liquids
- Debris and garbage
- Unsecured electrical wires and cables
- Loose rugs and carpeting
- Poor lighting and obstructed views
If you’ve slipped and fallen in St. Petersburg and believe that the accident could have been avoided, don’t hesitate to contact Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group. We can evaluate your situation, explain potential legal courses of action, and help you pursue a monetary award to offset your resulting costs and suffering.
Who’s Liable For My Slip and Fall Accident?
It depends on where you slipped and fell. If you get hurt on your own property, you’ll be responsible for your resulting injuries. However, things change when you slip and fall on someone else’s property. In these situations, the owner or management of the premises can be liable for resulting damages.
That’s because Florida property owners must protect guests and visitors. The duty of care that’s owed to a particular guest depends on how they’re classified.
Florida’s premises liability laws recognize five categories of visitors:
- Business invitee
- Public invitee
- Invited licensee
- Uninvited licensee
- Trespasser
Business invitees, public invitees, and invited licensees are owed the highest duty of care. Property owners must inspect the premises for slip hazards, fix dangerous conditions when they’re discovered, and warn of known threats to safety.
There is no duty to inspect premises to protect an uninvited licensee. However, an owner must still conduct repairs and provide adequate warnings of risk.
Generally speaking, property owners do not have a responsibility to protect trespassers from slip and fall hazards. The sole exception might include children who enter the property because of an attractive nuisance.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
Slip and fall accidents tend to happen because a property owner is negligent in taking care of their premises. As a result, the cause of action for most slip and fall lawsuits is negligence.
When you file a premises liability lawsuit after a slip and fall accident in St. Petersburg, you’ll have the burden of proving:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care because you were on the premises with their consent
- The owner breached this duty of care by not inspecting/repairing/warning
- The owner’s actions (or inaction) allowed a slip and fall hazard to exist, which was the direct and proximate cause of your injury
- You’ve sustained damages
Florida law requires a plaintiff to prove their claim by a preponderance of the evidence. A jury has to be convinced that the allegations against the property owner are more likely true than not.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to St. Petersburg Slip and Fall Victims?
As the victim of a slip and fall accident in St. Petersburg, you’ll reserve the right to file a legal claim for damages against the property owner and/or their insurance company.
Two types of compensatory damages can be awarded in these situations: economic and non-economic. Each serves a different purpose.
Economic damages help you handle the financial costs of your slip and fall, which might include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages, income, and benefits
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages help you deal with more difficult-to-value consequences of a slip and fall, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Embarrassment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Chronic physical pain
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
- Emotional distress
In some slip and fall lawsuits, a jury might also decide that punitive damages are appropriate. However, Florida law limits the application of punitive damages to situations with clear and convincing evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
You’ll be able to count on our slip and fall accident attorneys in St. Petersburg to assess your damages and work to recover a settlement that genuinely represents the full extent of your losses.
Slip and Fall Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
Whether you slip and fall or trip and fall, the resulting injuries can affect every aspect of your life. You deserve to be compensated for any trauma you sustain in a slip and fall accident in St. Petersburg, including:
- Broken bones to the arms, hands, fingers, and other parts of the body
- Soft tissue injuries, including sprains and strains to your wrists and shoulders
- Nerve damage
- Concussion injury
- Skull fractures
- Traumatic brain injury
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Leg injury
- Chest injury
- Degloving injury
- Eye injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a close family member
Report your accident to the owner of the premises and make sure an accident report is filed. If necessary, report the accident to the St. Petersburg Police Department, as well. Then, get to the closest emergency room for a thorough medical evaluation. You’ll want to make sure that your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated to reduce the risk of complications.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Slip and Fall Accident in Florida?
Florida’s two-year statute of limitations applies to most slip and fall lawsuits.
While there are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, they’re relatively uncommon. If you miss the filing deadline, you risk losing out on valuable compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and distress.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Contact Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in St. Petersburg, Florida. You may be entitled to compensation. Our St. Petersburg slip and fall accident lawyers can help you fight for a top-dollar financial recovery.
We offer a free consultation, so contact our St. Petersburg law office to get started now.