Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

If you recently sustained injuries in a slip, trip, or fall accident in Fort Lauderdale, someone may be responsible for paying your medical costs and other physical, personal, and financial losses. The Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers with Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can help you pursue damages.

We handle premises liability claims throughout Florida. We’ve won million-dollar settlements for our past clients with rigorous legal representation in and out of the courtroom.

Our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyers and legal counsel want to help you fight for justice against a negligent property owner or another party that caused your slip and fall injuries. Call today for your free case consultation.

Our Results Speak for Themselves

When your physical and financial well-being is at stake, you want to feel confident throughout the legal process. We always strive for the maximum compensation possible for our clients, and some of our previous case results include the following:

• $400K settlement for slip and fall resulting in spinal injury
• $280K settlement for slip and fall requiring back surgery
• $100K settlement for slip and fall resulting in a fractured wrist
• $100K settlement for slip and fall at a gas station

Our legal team can listen to your story and explain your next steps.

Our Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Attorneys Can Help

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, from grocery stores and shopping malls to restaurants, sidewalks, and private properties. If you have suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident due to the negligence of a property owner, building manager, tenant, or employee, you may have the right to seek compensation for your losses. 

Debi Chalik and Jason Chalik are dedicated to helping accident victims understand their rights and pursue the fair compensation they deserve. Slip and fall injuries can lead to significant medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and they will work by your side for your recovery.

Our Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Attorneys Will Pursue These Damages

As a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident victim, you have the right to pursue compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Your damages may include:

• Medical expenses: The cost of all medical tests and procedures in connection with your accident injury
• Lost income: Any lost wages, tips, bonuses, and benefits you lost during recovery
• Reduced earning capacity: The loss of future income if your injuries prevent you from returning to a job, career, or work at all
• Accident-related expenses: This damage may include transportation, home healthcare, and housekeeping, as well as replacing property damage such as cell phones and personal effects
• Pain and suffering: Your physical pain and discomfort due to the accident and recovery and the impact the accident has had on your quality of life, such as emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life, can all be sought

Hiring a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyer can help protect your right to compensation while you rest and recover from your injuries.

Your Family May Seek Wrongful Death Damages for a Lost Loved One

If you lost a loved one due to a slip-and-fall accident in Fort Lauderdale, we can pursue compensation through a claim or a wrongful death lawsuit.

Potential damages our Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyers may seek on your family’s behalf include the following:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Cremation expenses
• Loss of consortium for the spouse or partner
• Loss of inheritance for the children and benefactors
• Your loved one’s pain and suffering before their passing
• Your loved one’s medical bills associated with their accident-related injuries

You deserve to grieve your loved one properly. We can calculate your damages and take care of the legal process.

Benefits of Hiring Our Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Lawyer

When you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you deserve a slip and fall attorney who will take your case seriously. Property owners and their insurers may attempt to minimize your legal claim and make you feel like you don’t have a case. 

Our accident attorneys can gather evidence of your injuries and fight for the compensation you deserve. Here are a few benefits of working with our team:

Free Initial Consultation

We provide new clients with a free case consultation. During your consultation, you have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about us and your case. 

Investigating the Accident Scene

Our law firm has the resources to investigate your accident and gather evidence for your personal injury claim. We will collect such evidence as:

• Medical records
• Incident reports
• Maintenance records
• Witness statements
• Photographs and videos

We will also consult with experts on your case if necessary. 

Understanding Liability Requirements

To claim compensation, we must prove that the other person or entity involved in your accident is liable for your damages. The elements required to establish liability can change depending on the circumstances. Our personal injury attorneys handle a variety of cases, so we are familiar with premises liability laws. 

Accurately Valuing Your Damages

Assigning a value to your injuries and accident-related damages is challenging, to say the least. Our attorneys have access to financial and economic specialists who can assist us in determining the future costs associated with your injuries.

Leading Negotiations With the Insurance Company

The insurance company’s priority is to protect themselves and the insured. They may offer you the lowest settlement possible as quickly as possible or no settlement at all. By negotiating on your behalf, our attorneys can protect your rights and fight for a fair offer. 

If we cannot come to a fair settlement or the insurance company acts in bad faith, our attorneys are prepared to take your case to court. We may even suggest beginning with a lawsuit.

Contingency Fee-Based Legal Representation

We offer our services on a contingency fee. You won’t pay us anything out-of-pocket. Instead, we collect a preapproved percentage of your court award or settlement if we’re successful in your case. 

By doing so, we create a mutually beneficial relationship in which you’ll have peace of mind knowing we’re working in your best interest. 

Complying With State Deadlines for Your Slip and Fall Lawsuit

Prompt filing of your lawsuit is essential to claiming compensation. Per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), you generally have two years following your accident to file your personal injury lawsuit with the Broward County courthouse. There are exceptions to this deadline, but they are minimal. 

If you exceed this timeframe, the court can refuse to hear your case. Additionally, the insurance company will be unlikely to negotiate a better settlement. We will ensure your case stays on track, but you must contact us as soon as possible. 

Compassionate Support Through the Legal Process

When you hire Chalik & Chalik, you will be working directly with the founders, Debi and Jason Chalik, on your case. At any time, you can reach out to us with your questions and concerns. We will provide constant updates on your case and follow up on your medical progress. 

Call us today for your free case consultation. Get the personal attention and honest communication you and your family deserve during this difficult time. 

Common Causes for Slip and Fall Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

Slip and fall accidents typically happen because of slick floors or wrongly placed objects. These accidents can occur anywhere, such as parking lots, grocery stores, malls, apartment complexes, playgrounds, etc. Some common causes of slip and fall cases in Fort Lauderdale include:

• Uneven surfaces or cracked floors
• Potholes
• inadequate lighting
• Broken handrails
• Torn mats or carpets
• Broken stairs
• Wet floors or slippery surfaces
• Unsafe ladders 
• Broken handrails on stairs
• Unsecured cords and wires

When a property owner or business manager becomes aware of a hazardous condition on their premises, they should attempt to rectify the situation or, at the very least, set warning signs about the dangerous condition. Not addressing the problem is negligence and can result in people getting hurt through slip and fall accidents.  

Potentially Liable Parties in Your Slip and Fall Accident

Where your accident occurs will influence the insurance coverage available, the liable parties, how liability will apply, and the steps that you need to take to pursue a slip and fall accident claim. A slip and fall lawyer from our law firm can help identify the party (or parties) legally responsible for the unsafe condition and your injuries.

Determining Who Is Liable

Many factors must be examined to determine liability, including whether the party had control over the dangerous condition. If so, did they fail to fix it despite knowing about it? For example, store employees could have been careless in mopping up spilled liquids, causing you to slip and fall.

If your slip and fall accident happened at a business establishment because of something on the floor that should not have been there, a lawyer from our firm can help prove negligence played a role. 

Our lawyer will investigate the accident, speak to witnesses, gather evidence, and use comparable cases to help prove your claim.

Transitory Foreign Substances in a Slip and Fall Case

Florida premises liability trials, trial court orders, and appellate court decisions may all use the term “transitory foreign substance” when deciding slip and fall claims. Per Florida Statutes § 768.0755, a transitory foreign substance refers to a liquid or solid substance, item, or object located where it does not belong.

Examples of transitory foreign substances on floors include:

• Spilled food or beverages
• Broken eggs
• Oil or grease
• Floor wax or cleaner
• Clothing
• Melted ice
• Water

If your case involves you slipping or tripping on an object, liquid, or another substance that should not have been there, you will need to understand premises liability laws surrounding transitory foreign substances. Our Fort Lauderdale property owner liability lawyer can help.

Constructive Knowledge

Florida slip and fall laws have a special provision regarding lawsuits over “transitory foreign substances” at business establishments. The Florida statute states that if a person slips and falls on a transitory foreign substance on a commercial property, the victim must prove that the establishment had actual knowledge of the substance yet failed to take action to prevent accidents.

Constructive knowledge is something a plaintiff may prove through evidence such as:

• The substance existed for so long that a reasonable business establishment would have known about the condition.
• The hazard occurred regularly and was therefore foreseeable.

Proving Negligence in a Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Accident Claim

Slip and fall accidents in Fort Lauderdale are prosecuted as premises liability claims because property and business owners are legally obligated to maintain reasonably safe premises. Proving a transitory foreign substance existed and a business’s liability for injuries may require testimony from eyewitnesses. It can be a difficult burden of proof for a victim since they must not only show that the hazardous condition existed but also that the store was negligent in acting upon it.

Examples of negligence and liability include failing to:

• Perform routine maintenance, such as fixing a leaky pipe that drips onto a floor, which creates a slip hazard
• Install high-traction flooring
• Mop up or otherwise remove spilled liquids
• Warn the public of a slip and fall hazard

A Fort Lauderdale attorney with our firm can determine if negligence played a role in a slip and fall accident and identify all financially liable parties. As our legal system requires, our attorney will also help prove negligence by demonstrating the following four elements:

• Duty of Care: The property owner has a responsibility to keep the premises free of any situation that would cause injury.
• Breach of Duty: The property owner had pre-existing knowledge of a dangerous situation but failed to take any or adequate action.
• Causation: The property owner’s negligent conduct caused your slip and fall accident and injuries.
• Damages: The slip and fall resulted in medical bills and lost income due to time missed from work.

To establish negligence in a slip and fall case, you and your attorney will need to demonstrate that the property owner, building manager, or tenant had a duty of care to keep the premises safe for visitors, they breached that duty, the breach caused the hazardous condition that led to your fall, and your injuries resulted from the fall. This often involves gathering evidence such as surveillance footage, maintenance records, and witness testimonies.

Actions to Take After Your Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Accident

A slip and fall accident can leave you or your loved ones injured and needing medical care through no fault of your own. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you should take several steps immediately after the incident:

• Check for injuries: After your fall, take a moment to check yourself for injuries and their severity. If you can move without harming yourself further, do so. If you cannot, remain where you are until emergency services arrive.
• Report the incident: Make sure you report the accident to the store manager, landlord, or any other person in charge of where the accident took place. Ask for a name and contact information so you can get a copy of the incident report later. If possible, also inquire about their insurance information. 
• Document the accident: If your injuries permit, you can start collecting evidence for your personal injury claim. Take photographs and videos of the accident scene and your injuries. Keep notes on what you remember from the fall. Also, note the names and contact information of any witnesses. 
• See a doctor: Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to visit the emergency room at Broward Health for level-one trauma care. If you do not go to the emergency room, you still need to see your primary care doctor as soon as possible. Falls injuries can range from minor scrapes and bumps to catastrophic injuries, such as broken bones and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Your doctors can conduct tests and order imaging to identify obscured injuries before they worsen. 
• Follow your doctor’s treatment plan: You need to follow your doctor’s orders completely. Attend all appointments and therapy sessions. Take all your medications. Before discontinuing any medical care, talk with your doctor first. Seeing your doctor and following their orders helps create a link between the accident and your injuries. Failing to do these things could give the insurance company a reason to devalue or deny your claim.
• Contact a law firm: There is no law that says you must hire a lawyer. However, most personal injury lawyers provide free case consultations so that you can learn more about your legal options. They can begin investigating your case and documenting your damages for a claim to the liable party’s insurer, allowing you time to recover from your injuries stress-free.

There are some things you should avoid doing. You should refrain from making accusations or becoming emotional with the property owner. If you speak with the insurance adjuster, be careful of what you say. Don’t tell them you feel fine, and absolutely do not admit fault. You should also refrain from posting on any social media for a while. 

Anything you say or post can be turned against you by the insurance representatives. Your best bet, though, is to speak with an attorney first and let them handle all communications for you.  

Common FAQs Regarding Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Accidents

Below are several questions slip and fall victims commonly ask after their accident. You can read these and then call Chalik & Chalik for a free case consultation. Our legal team will answer any questions you may have about your slip and fall accident in Fort Lauderdale:

What Is the Value of My Slip and Fall Accident Claim?

The value of your slip and fall case will be based on the losses and injuries you experienced. Your settlement should include the costs of your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, property damage, and possibly more.

Additionally, certain factors will affect your settlement value, such as: 

• The severity of the injuries
• The insurance policy limits
• The parties involved
• The insurance company’s willingness to negotiate 

When Should I Contact a Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Lawyer?

In Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit, which includes slip and fall cases, is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, it is crucial to consult with a slip and fall attorney as soon as possible after the incident. Contacting an attorney early will give them time to investigate and preserve evidence while meeting all legal deadlines.

Can I Handle a Slip and Fall Claim Without an Attorney?

While it is possible to handle a slip and fall claim on your own, it is not recommended. Slip and fall cases can be complex, and insurance companies may try to offer you a low settlement that does not adequately compensate you for your damages. A Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorney can help navigate the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure you receive fair and just compensation for your injuries and losses.

Our Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Attorneys Are Ready for You

Slip and fall accidents come with unique challenges. It can be difficult to show the property owner or building manager knew about a hazard that resulted in your injuries. They may also argue that your carelessness caused or contributed to the accident, which can reduce the financial compensation you could receive.

Chalik & Chalik advocate for victims of negligence. Our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident attorneys understand the unique laws and circumstances surrounding these cases and will use our experience and resources to bring a favorable outcome for you. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a preventable accident in Fort Lauderdale, a negligent property owner may be liable. 

Contact us for a free case review with our legal team. During the meeting, we can discuss the potential of your case and explain your legal options and rights. We can also discuss how much your case may be worth. Call today.