Slip and Fall Lawyer Tampa, FL

Slip and Fall Lawyer Tampa, Florida

If you have ever fallen or tripped and were injured, we encourage you to talk with a slip and fall lawyer in Tampa, FL, from Jeff Murphy Law. You may be entitled to compensation from the city or property owners where the injury occurred. This type of personal injury law is called a slip and fall.

Nearly 80% of pedestrian injuries are the result of a fall. A 2012 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors revealed 24 percent of pedestrian injuries were due to tripping on uneven or cracked sidewalks, while 17 percent tripped or fell for other reasons.

While slip and fall injuries can occur anywhere, many of them take place on sidewalks.

Common sidewalk injury causes include:

• Cracks or uneven pavement can be hazardous. The city or property owner has a duty of care to ensure that users of the property or street or sidewalk is safe for general use, such as walking. Over time, tree roots, earthquakes, or other elements can result in dangerous conditions.
• Potholes can occur on the pavement or even sometimes on the sidewalk. They are usually caused by pooled water or debris that was too heavy for the asphalt to support.
• Tampa, FL slip and fall lawyers want you to know that debris on sidewalks, in gutters, stairs, etc. can create a hazardous situation. Leaf litter, tree branches, overflowing trash, bicycles, and other personal property are just some of the many unsafe things that could cause a person to fall and become injured.
• Rain, Ice, Snow, or other weather conditions can present a variety of dangerous situations.

No matter how your injury occurred, you should contact a local, knowledgeable lawyer in Florida as soon as you are able. Our experienced team has vast experience in representing clients who have experienced injuries on public property. Call Jeff Murphy Law today for a free case evaluation.

Determining Fault and Responsibility

The person or entity at-fault for the slip and fall depends on the circumstances of the incident. Sometimes there can be multiple defendants, depending on if your injury occurred solely on public property or if something from a private property caused or partially caused the accident. Speak with our team for advice based on the factors of your accident.

Keeping Track of Damages and Losses

Keep track of any medical reports, bills, documentation of lost wages or other financial losses, keep names and contact information of witnesses and photos of conditions and write down any information you remember about the weather, time of day, etc. Do this as soon as possible, because memories fade and witnesses can be hard to track down later. Then, be sure to share this information with your Tampa, Florida slip and fall lawyer at Jeff Murphy Law.

Collecting Compensation 

To succeed in a slip and fall injury case, you must be able to prove negligence on the part of the city or property owner. We can talk with you further about what proving negligence entails.

Slip and fall injury lawsuits can be a challenge to win. The city or property owner will also have lawyers on their side who have experience defending such claims. It would be best if you didn’t talk to anyone from the city, their law firm, or insurance agent without the presence of your attorney.

Our Law Firm Commitment

At our law firm, our team has many years of experience representing clients who have sustained injuries as a result of negligence of the city or a property owner. Call us today for a free consultation with a slip and fall lawyer in Tampa, FL, at Jeff Murphy Law before the situation can escalate, and more losses are accumulated.

Five Steps to Take When Slip and Fall Accidents Happen

Being in a public place and suddenly suffering a slip and fall accident can be embarrassing. While you may be tempted to downplay the incident, the fact is these types of accidents are one of the most common ways in which severe and potentially debilitating personal injuries occur. Our Tampa, FL slip and fall lawyer at Jeff Murphy Law wants to help you protect your rights. The following outlines five critical steps you need to follow.

What to Do When a Slip and Fall Accident Happens

Slip and fall accidents are common and can happen in any public place. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, roughly eight million people seek emergency care for slip and fall injuries each year. These can result in medical conditions you are immediately aware of, such as a broken ankle or a head injury that knocks you unconscious. A lawyer you can depend on will tell you that in some cases, more subtle injuries may occur. These may include muscle or tendon sprains and strains, which often have symptoms that take days or even weeks to appear.

Do not make any assumptions about the situation or the injuries you may have suffered. To prevent being stuck with potentially enormous out of pocket costs, follow these steps when any slip and fall accident occurs:

1. Notify an authority right away. Our Tampa, FL slip and fall lawyer wants you to know that filing an accident report is one of the most important steps you can take after a slip and fall. Have a friend or onlooker find the appropriate person to report your accident to before you even attempt to get back on your feet.
2. Make a note of the exact day, time, and place where the accident occurred. Look around you for anything that might have contributed to your slip and fall accident, such as wet or uneven floors, torn carpeting, or excess clutter. Under state law, property owners can be held liable for failing to maintain the premises and for not letting others know that dangerous conditions exist.
3. Get the contact information for witnesses at the scene. Often, people will immediately come forward after your accident to see if you are all right. Get a brief description of what they saw, along with their complete name and address. Enlist a friend or other onlooker to help if you are unable to do this yourself.
4. Get medical attention immediately. If you are dizzy or having trouble walking, do not hesitate to call an ambulance to the scene. Otherwise, seek treatment at your local hospital emergency room.
5. Follow your doctor’s instructions. Seemingly minor injuries can take weeks or even months to heal. Not following your doctor’s instructions could increase the risk of ongoing disabilities and jeopardize your rights in a claim.

Contact Us Today for Help

We know that slip and fall injuries can have long-ranging impacts on your health and financial security. To ensure you get the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs, reach out and contact our experienced Tampa, FL slip and fall accident lawyer at Jeff Murphy Law to request a consultation today.

Slip and Fall Accident Prevention

Slip and fall accident claims are one of the most common types of personal injury insurance claims. Unfortunately, a slip and fall can occur nearly anywhere, on someone’s property, at a store or restaurant, even on a sidewalk owned by the city or local government. While some are more susceptible to slip and falls than others, anyone could succumb to this type of accident. While there are several ways that you may be able to prevent an accident, when a property is unkempt, you may find yourself, victim, to an accident that has resulted in injuries. Should you suspect that your accident was the result of a negligent property owner’s failure to uphold their duty of care, you should take action with our Tampa, Florida slip and fall lawyer at Jeff Murphy Law as soon as possible. 

Vulnerable Populations

While anyone could find themselves victim to a fall that has resulted in severe injuries, there are primarily two categories of people who may be more at risk for falling

• Those over the age of 65
• Children under the age of 4

These age groups are relatively unstable on their feet and are at higher risk of falling and experiencing head injuries. Such accidents can be devastating, resulting in damages that can be incredibly impactful, even resulting in death. 

Tips for Fall Prevention

Experiencing a fall can be entirely unexpected. Given that some are more likely to suffer a fall than others, the following are tips that may mitigate the risk of an accident:

• Try to stay physically active
• Pay attention
• Wear shoes that offer additional support and protection
• Take advantage of handrails

Our Tampa, Florida slip and fall lawyer shares that while taking precautions may have the ability to prevent falls, sometimes, an accident might be inevitable. This is a primary reason why it’s so critical for property owners to practice the utmost duty of care by warning visitors of risks and repairing any potential hazards that might pose a danger. 

Types of Injuries

While a slip and fall may appear minor, they can result in injuries that can be incredibly severe. Such injuries may require medical treatment that can be extensive, which may result in exorbitant medical expenses. Additionally, your ability to earn an income could be impacted. Injuries you may be facing include:

• Fractured Bones
• Brain Injuries
• Sprains
• Torn Ligaments
• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Spinal Injuries
• Lacerations

Because of how serious injuries can be, you must seek medical care to receive the treatment you deserve. Additionally, documentation outlining your injuries from a medical provider can play a crucial role in proving your slip and fall insurance claim. 

Seeing a Doctor After a Slip and Fall

When you have been in a slip and fall accident, our Tampa, Florida slip and fall accident lawyer believes that one of the best things you can do is seek help from a medical professional as soon as you can. Unfortunately, slip and fall injuries are not just embarrassing for some people. For many, they lead to hospital stays or more permanent injuries if they aren’t treated correctly. It is possible to have a limp for the rest of your life or a bad hip that never quite healed when you are in a slip and fall accident. In more serious cases, if you fall on your back, you may end up with a back injury so serious that it affects your ability to walk or even leaves you paralyzed. You should always know your rights when you have been in an accident like this. 

When is the best time to go to the doctor?

We have seen many victims of slip and fall injuries who choose not to go to the doctor’s office right away. You think you should probably wait to see how serious your injuries are so you don’t “make a big deal out of nothing.” However, there is a huge problem with this logic. For example, say you slipped and fell and hit your head. Maybe you didn’t lose consciousness so you do not think it is that serious. However, over the next week, you begin noticing that you have a harder time concentrating on tasks and you are developing headaches. You may not even realize that these are signs of a traumatic brain injury following your accident and that you could be dealing with a life-threatening condition if it is not treated by your doctor. 

Further, you may want to see how your injuries develop before going to the doctor so you don’t spend time on something unnecessary. However, if your condition worsens later and you need medical attention, your medical bills could skyrocket. When you end up filing a claim for this, the person liable for your injuries may not have to have their insurance pay you anything if you did not get medical treatment in an appropriate amount of time. 

Who are the two most important people to talk with after an accident? 

After your slip and fall accident, call a doctor first and then call your attorney. We believe that when it comes to getting the healing help you need and the legal help you need, these are two very important steps. 

Taking Action

We know that you might be experiencing significant losses as a result of your fall. Unfortunately, the physical pain, injuries, and financial damages could have a severe impact on your ability to recover and move forward. If you believe that someone can be held accountable for your losses, your first call should be to our Tampa, Florida slip and fall lawyer at Jeff Murphy Law.

Client Review

“Jeff actually handled 2 cases for me. His years and expertise helped calm me during a very stressful time. He always responded to my inquiries in a timely manner. He had great communication letting me know next steps and normal length of time.”
Savannah S.