Jeffrey R. Davis, P.A. has extensive experience in representing victims of fall down injuries caused by careless or dangerous conditions. The firm has represented injured victims against businesses, cities, municipalities, counties and individuals in both state and federal court.
Fall down cases, commonly called “slip and fall” or “trip and fall” cases, may involve wet or slippery floors, defectively designed floors, broken or damaged stairs and handrails, cracked sidewalks, uneven surfaces, misplaced foreign objects or worn surfaces. These accidents may result in injuries ranging from mild to severe. Possible injuries from a slip and fall accident may include:
- Bone Fractures
- Cuts
- Bruising & Contusions
- Brain Trauma
- Neck & Back Injuries
- Paralysis (Quadriplegia & Paraplegia)
- Death
Slip & Fall Injurires in Miami Can Be Severe
Depending upon the severity of the injuries, victims of slip and falls may need compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitative therapy, loss of wages, permanent disability, or losses associated with wrongful death.
Generally, under Florida law, the property owner or the party that maintains the property has a duty to keep the premises reasonably safe for people who come on the property. Consequently, the person or entity that owns and maintains the property may be held liable for the injuries caused by a fall on the property. It is important to know that the “status” of a visitor on the property determines how much of a duty is owed by the owner, and therefore ultimately determines whether liability will attach to the owner in certain cases. A visitor’s status will fit within one of the following:
- Business Invitee
- Licensee
- Recreational User
- Trespasser
The laws for each type of visitor status are different. As a general rule, the property owner owes the highest duty to a business invitee and the least to a trespasser. However, property owners typically have a duty to maintain “reasonably safe and secure premises,” to all visitors (even a certain level to trespassers).