If you slipped and fell on another person’s property, injuring yourself, you may be wondering about your next steps. Do you need to file an insurance claim? Hire an attorney? Or just let the incident go, pretending it never happened?
At the very least, scheduling a consultation with an attorney is a wise idea, while letting the incident go probably isn’t. Learn when to contact a slip-and-fall attorney in Florida and how a personal injury lawyer can assist you.
Times When It Makes Sense To Hire a Slip-and-Fall Attorney
Not every slip-and-fall case will require an attorney’s assistance. If your case is relatively simple, the accident only led to minor injuries, or the insurance claim adequately covered your expenses, you might not need a premises liability lawyer to help you. However, there are certain instances when it makes sense to hire legal representation after a slip and fall:
- The property owner is not taking responsibility. If the property owner refuses to acknowledge that their negligence led to the accident, the insurance claim may be slow-going. An attorney can help you collect evidence and file a compelling claim.
- Your injuries are severe. Injury severity affects the value of your case and the energy you have to navigate it. If the slip and fall left you with serious injuries, an attorney can take the burden off your shoulders and seek the maximum compensation.
- The insurer has denied your claim or lowballed you. An insurance claim should at least cover your medical expenses and associated costs from the accident. If the insurance company is refusing to provide a sufficient payout, contact a slip-and-fall attorney in Florida to negotiate or appeal on your behalf.
- You need help collecting evidence. Showing evidence of the property owner’s negligence is key to winning a slip-and-fall claim, but often, this evidence is hard to come by. An attorney can explore all avenues of evidence collection to strengthen your case.
How Soon Should You Contact a Slip-and-Fall Attorney?
When should you contact a slip-and-fall attorney in Florida? Usually, the sooner, the better. This is true for a few reasons:
- Florida has a two-year statute of limitations for slip-and-fall claims. Failing to file a case by this deadline may bar you from seeking compensation.
- Evidence preservation is crucial in the days after your accident. The longer you wait to hire an attorney, the less evidence they will have access to.
- The compensation process may be lengthy. By hiring an attorney right off the bat, you can potentially streamline your case and secure compensation faster.
Aim to schedule a legal consultation within a week or two of your accident. These consultations typically have no obligation attached to them, allowing you to speak with an attorney about your potential case value and the compensation process.
How Can an Attorney Assist You?
Slip-and-fall attorneys in Florida offer assistance in several forms for victims of premises liability accidents. Your attorney will help you with all of the following, at a minimum:
- Gather evidence to support your case
- Advise you on how to collect medical records and other documentation to tie your injuries to the accident
- Communicate with all parties on your behalf, such as the defendant, their insurance company, the police station, witnesses, etc.
- File a claim with the appropriate insurance company
- Negotiate with the insurer for a sufficient payout
- Take legal action to increase your compensation award
- Represent you in court if your case makes it there
While your legal representation handles the compensation process for you, you can focus on recovering from injuries and moving forward with your life.
Let Steinberg Law, P.A., Guide Your Slip-and-Fall Case
At Steinberg Law, P.A., we help Florida accident victims protect their rights to compensation. When should you contact a slip-and-fall attorney in Florida? We would be happy to discuss your case with you as soon as today.
Contact our attorneys at 877-783-4611 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation.
