Slips, trips, and falls are far more than everyday inconveniences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of serious injury and death, especially among older adults. For many senior citizens, these accidents are veritably life-threatening occurrences, which pose a significant risk of painful—and potentially debilitating—injuries.
Fractured hips, for instance, are a common injury almost always caused by inadvertent falls. However, the long-term effects prove unpredictable. Even for Floridians with high-quality health insurance, the costs of treatment can accumulate quickly, draining savings accounts and depriving accident victims of their right to live a dignified, independent life.
You don’t have to accept uncertainty as the consequence of another person’s misconduct. Since 1976, DeLoach, Hofstra & Cavonis, P.A., have fought to protect the rights of Sun City Center slip and fall accident victims. Our experienced team of personal injury law attorneys could help you or a loved one secure the compensation needed to begin rebuilding your life.
The True Cost of a Slip and Fall Broken Hip ![Slip and Fall Broken Hip Attorneys in Sun City Center]()
Fractures of the hip and pelvis are almost always considered serious injuries. The Mayo Clinic, for instance, characterizes these types of injuries as life-threatening, in part because they increase the risk of critical medical complications, including permanently limiting mobility.
Complications of a broken hip include, but aren’t limited to:
- Recurring bedsores
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Pneumonia
In some cases, slip and fall accident victims who suffer physically disabling injuries may also experience an irreversible loss of muscle mass. Even with the right care—surgery, medication, or physical rehabilitation—recovery isn’t always possible, leaving many survivors weakened and, unfortunately, more likely to sustain further fall-related injuries.
Liability in Sun City Center Slip and Fall Accident Claims
Slip and fall accidents occur almost anywhere, with most reported inside victims’ own homes—usually caused by poor coordination, slow reflexes, or bad luck. However, if another party’s negligence contributed to an incident, that’s a different story.
In Florida, property owners have a legal obligation to ensure their premises are safe from unexpected obstacles. This obligation is termed a “duty of care” and it requires property owners to take certain steps to mitigate reasonably foreseeable hazards. If a landlord or homeowner abrogates their duty of care, they could be held liable for the costs of any resulting accident.
Depending on the circumstances of your slip and fall accident claim, you could be entitled to economic and non-economic damages such as:
- Hospital bills
- Anticipated medical expenses
- Long-term care
- Physical rehabilitation
- Paid co-pays and deductibles
- Lost income from work
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Wrongful death
Florida doesn’t typically limit compensation in most slip and fall claims, but recovery is never guaranteed—in fact, your rights could be contingent on the actions you take in the immediate aftermath of an accident.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Slip-and-Fall Accident
State law empowers accident victims, affording them the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent person or party who caused their injuries. However, slip and fall accident claims can be contentious, and property owners aren’t always willing to admit wrongdoing.
Protect your rights to a fair recovery by taking the following steps.
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
You should always get medical attention after an accident, even if you don’t believe you were seriously injured. Seeing a physician presents an opportunity to both assess your injuries and obtain documentation of a life-changing accident.
2. Collect Evidence
If you don’t need critical care, try to collect evidence from the accident site. Evidence could include pictures of your visible injuries or a photograph of the dangerous condition that caused your accident. If another person witnessed your slip and fall, ask for their full name and phone number—their testimony could prove crucial in court.
3. Report the Incident
You may not be able to collect compensation for your slip and fall accident-related injuries unless you file a formal incident report. However, reporting requirements vary, and you should always consult a Sun City Center slip, trip, and fall attorney before sending a notice to a homeowner, landlord, or local business.
4. Document Your Symptoms
A fractured hip or pelvis causes debilitating pain, leaving victims disabled and permanently handicapped. If your injuries pose an impediment to daily life, record your symptoms in detail, tracking them over time and taking account of how they impact your mental health, physical well-being, and overall quality of life.
