Slip and fall injuries can cause some of the most devastating and incapacitating injuries possible. However, slip and fall accidents can also be some of the most difficult cases to successfully present in the State of Florida. This is because the injured person must prove the negligence of the premises owner caused or contributed to the slip and fall injuries. Under Florida law, the owner of premises is not an absolute insurer of the safety of its guests. A premises owner is only responsible for a guest's injuries if there is negligence on the part of the premises owner or operator. This is often difficult because, in general, people injured in slip and fall accidents rarely document the cause of the fall with photographs and witness names and phone numbers.

When people fall in public places, the usual first reaction is that of embarrassment. People naturally feel embarrassed that they have fallen in public. They are shaken-up and try to get up as soon as possible. If you have ever tripped over a curb in public, the first thing you do is look at what caused you to fall and then look to see who saw you trip. The owner/operator of the premises where you fell is counting on this exact reaction. They hope you spring to your feet, shake it off, say your okay and try to leave without determining what the dangerous condition was that caused you to fall.

Therefore, it is imperative, if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else's premises that you try to do the following:

1. Try to determine what caused you to fall in the first place;
   
   
2. Document this by taking photographs, if possible; photographic evidence of the dangerous condition or foreign substance can be a tremendous benefit. Oftentimes, however, this is difficult to do as the store or premises owner manager will instruct the employees to immediately clean the foreign substance. However, if you are with someone, go get a disposable camera in the store if possible and take pictures. You can pay for the camera as you leave the store.
   
   
3. Obtain the names, address and phone numbers of any persons who may have witnessed the fall and observed the foreign substance or dangerous condition. The best witnesses are people not related to the injured customer. It is also helpful to obtain the name, address and phone numbers of all employees who saw the slip and fall and /or who rendered assistance. Oftentimes, lower-level employees change jobs or locations and may be difficult to find after the fall occurs.

If slip and fall injuries have been sustained, medical care should be sought as soon as possible. Many people will wait to see if their pain and discomfort subsides and not seek immediate medical care. While no one should exaggerate or fake any injuries or pain, if you are in pain, get it treated and documented by medical professional.

Finally, do not relying on the store or premises manager when he tells you that the store will cover and pay for any medical treatment you may require. The insurance company for the premises is the ultimate decision maker on whether or not to cover your medical expenses. More often than not, the insurance company for the premises will deny that they are responsible for your fall and thus not responsible for your medical expenses. Therefore if you seek medical attention, provide the physician with your own personal health insurance if you have it.

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Orlando Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Risi
2699 Lee Road, Suite 101 - Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407-629-2484 Fax: 407-629-8275 Toll Free: 888-282-6529

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