What Should I Do if I Slip and Fall at a La Quinta Inn?

If you slip and fall at a La Quinta Inn, you should get the medical care you need and then take the necessary steps to protect your rights. Proving that a La Quinta Inn employee or owner’s negligence caused your accident is essential to building a persuasive compensation claim.

Suffering injuries on someone else’s property is a premises liability case, which can be more complicated than other personal injury claims. A Plantation La Quinta Inn slip and fall lawyer with experience in this area of law can help you navigate the specific requirements for your claim.

Florida’s Law Affecting Slip-and-Fall Accidents in a Business Establishment

Florida Statutes § 768.0755 outlines what you must prove for a slip and fall compensation claim based on negligence. Your case must include evidence of one of these conditions:

• An employee or the owner knew about the hazard that caused your fall and injury yet failed to remedy the problem or warn visitors about the risk. 
• An employee or the owner should have known about the hazard because it had been in place long enough for them to recognize and fix the problem.
• The hazard recurred regularly, was predictable, and should have been remedied.

How to Protect Your Future if You Slipped and Fell at a La Quinta Inn

When you suffer an injury, your immediate concern is receiving the medical attention you need. Depending on the injury, you may require EMTs to provide emergency care, or you could choose to wait to see your primary care doctor.

Whatever the timeframe is, it’s critical to seek medical services to ensure you receive proper treatment. For your compensation claim, this initial visit generates documented evidence that your fall caused your injuries. In addition to collecting this documentation, the following actions could support your premises liability case:

• Tell a manager at La Quinta Inn about the accident and your injury. Be precise in your description of the event and ask for a copy of their incident report for your records. Do not discuss blame, and if they ask how you are, do not give the typical response of “I’m fine.” Their insurance adjuster could use that statement later to suggest that you were not injured or had no lingering injuries from your fall.
• Take pictures and videos of the hazard on which you slipped. If CCTV cameras capture your accident, ask for copies of the footage. Also, be sure to capture video of the accident scene, describing what happened as you film the area.
• Log your medical journey by describing your treatments and the effect the injury has on your daily routine and emotional state. Regularly record videos or images of your injury and physical therapy or rehab to illustrate the impact the accident has had on your life.
• Record eyewitness statements or collect their contact information for later use.
• Meet with a Plantation La Quinta Inn slip and fall accident lawyer to learn how they can help you through the legal process. Once proof of negligence is in hand, they can negotiate with La Quinta Inn’s insurers for a reasonable compensation settlement or, if necessary, represent you in court as you seek the money you need and deserve.

How Slip and Fall Accidents Can Happen at a La Quinta Inn

Hotels and inns present many opportunities for negligence to cause a visitor to slip and fall, such as:

• Wet floors. Leaks, spilled liquids, custodians mopping or cleaning floors, or rain splashing entryways all cause hazards where, if not remedied or have warning signs posted for visitors, someone could easily slip, fall, and be severely injured.
• Debris. Food spills in a café or restaurant, soiled towels in a hallway, and maintenance equipment not safely stored can all contribute to a fall risk.
• Insufficient lighting. Dark hallways or unlit parking lots increase the chance of slipping, tripping, or falling.
• Damaged floor covering. Broken floor tiles and frayed mats or carpets increase the risk of falling and sustaining an injury.

Common Losses From a Slip and Fall Injury

You could recover these damages after sustaining an injury in a slip and fall accident at a La Quinta Inn:

• Current and future medical expenses, such as hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, or prescriptions
• Income lost while recovering, including the differential if you had to reduce your hours
• Loss of future income if the severity of your injury affects your earning capacity
• Out-of-pocket expenses, such as assistance with childcare or tasks that you cannot perform due to your injury
• Physical pain and suffering caused by your injury
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life

The Deadline to File a Slip and Fall Liability Lawsuit in Florida

Florida’s statute of limitations gives personal injury victims two years to begin legal action against a defendant. If you miss the deadline, the court might not allow you to seek a verdict, costing you the opportunity to recover damages.

There are exceptions to the deadline. Your attorney can review them to determine if any apply to your case.

What Happens If You Are Partially Responsible for Your Slip and Fall Injury?

Florida Statutes § 768.81 outlines how you may be partially to blame for your fall and injury and still recover some compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. 

For example, if the jury decides you’re 20% at fault, you may recover 80% of your losses rather than the entire 100%. So, if the jury awards you $150,000, you would receive $120,000 to account for your share of the blame.

Our Legal Team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers is Here to Help You

Call Chalik & Chalik today for a free, no-obligation case consultation with a team member. We provide personal attention and honest communication to every client. Founding partners Jason and Debi Chalik personally handle every case and work with you and your family to get your money faster.