Frequently Asked Questions:

A: While the circumstances are different in every case, here are some guidelines of what generally must be done. You should be sure to take good, clear photographs of the sidewalk defect which caused your fall as well as the surrounding area putting the defect in perspective. If emergency medical personnel were not called to the scene at the time you fell and you do not know if the property owner was put on notice of your fall, you should report the fact to them. If you report it in person, get the name of the person taking the information. When you go to the hospital or doctor be very precise in what you say about  how you were injured and make certain they take down your description accurately. A mistake in the medical record describing what caused your fall can seriously hurt your case.

These issues and many more are fully discussed by Attorney James W. Dodson in his book, Dangerous Trips to Avoid in Your Fall Case, available FREE on this website to consumers who have been injured in Florida.

Contact us today for a free consultation at 888-340-0840.

A: A fracture is a break in the bone. It might be a stress fracture which is a crack in the bone or it could be a complete break where the bones may shift out of place or break the skin. Broken ankles are often caused by a fall, an injury or a car accident. Symptoms that one or more of the three bones that make up the ankle may be fractured are: swelling, bruising, tenderness, severe pain in the ankle, inability to weight bear, and a deformity in the joint.

To learn more about how a Cleawater personal injury lawyer can help, start by requesting a free copy of our legal guide, Dangerous Trips to Avoid in Your Fall Case. Or, if you prefer to speak to us right away, contact us today for a no-cost evaluation of your case at 1-888-340-0840. Don’t wait to call. Florida has limits and deadlines on when you can bring a claim. Don’t let your claim be turned down or refused…call today!

A: In our practice, a fall injury involving the ankle, the wrist, the elbow  and the hip most frequently require Open Reduction Internal Fixation. These falls commonly occur from unsafe walking surfaces such as cracked, broken or irregular sidewalks, unsafe steps, handicapped ramps and  water and other material  left on floors.

To learn more about how a Cleawater personal injury lawyer can help, start by requesting a free copy of our legal guide, Dangerous Trips to Avoid in Your Fall Case. Or, if you prefer to speak to us right away, contact us today for a no-cost evaluation of your case at 1-888-340-0840. Don’t wait to call. Florida has limits and deadlines on when you can bring a claim. Don’t let your claim be turned down or refused…call today!

A: When you have experienced a slip and fall accident, more than one party may be liable for your injuries and damages. Especially if you have a slip and fall accident in places such as a grocery store or a mall, it would not be uncommon for more than one party to be liable for your injuries and damages.

When you endure a slip and fall accident that has happened in a big public place, such as a grocery store or mall, different parties may be held accountable. For instance, if you fall over a product display in a grocery store, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the grocery store, the distribution company that set up the display, and the manufacturer of the product.

The same idea applies for a slip and fall that occurred in a mall. For example, if you slip and fall in a clothing store, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries from the mall, the clothing store, and the store manager.

If you want to learn more, start by requesting a free copy of our legal guide. If you prefer to speak to us right away, contact us today for a no-cost evaluation of your case at 1-888-340-0840.

A: If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in Clearwater, then you may decide to seek compensation through a Florida slip and fall claim. The time frame in reaching a settlement in a Florida slip and fall claim will depend on the specifics of your case.

Each case will be different, with a variety of circumstances that may come into play. Some cases are more complex and will involve additional time to collect the evidence and pinpoint negligence. Other cases may be more easily settled within a short period of time.

It is not uncommon for an insurer to do everything it can either to diminish or delay your settlement in a Florida slip and fall claim. They want to make sure that you either settle quickly for a low amount, or they will delay so that eventually you may decide that it isn’t worth pursuing.

Of course, no one can give a concrete answer of how long you can expect before a settlement is reached. There are factors that will come into play and influence the outcome of your slip and fall claim.

The best thing you can do is seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from your case.

Contact us today at 1-888-340-0840.

A: Don’t let your insurance company fool you – they’re not in the business to give you a fair settlement for your Florida slip and fall claim; they’re in the business to make (and keep) money.

Therefore, their claims adjusters often use these 5 common tactics to deny your claim:

• Denying Liability – They’ll try to point all the blame for your accident on you, and say you caused your own injuries, not the defense.
• Recorded Statements – You’ll be pressured abruptly to give a recorded account of how you were injured, and often in the haste, you’ll admit to things that can harm your Florida slip and fall claim. DON’T do this without talking to an attorneyfirst!
• Signing Medical Authorizations – If you sign a medical authorization you’re giving the defense access to your medical history, meaning they can look for related past injuries and say that your current injuries were pre-existing.
• Full Release – You may be offered an immediate settlement (which will most likely be far too low to compensate for all your damages) and asked to sign a full release. If you do this without consulting your Clearwater, Florida, attorney first, you may be signing away your rights to seek compensation at a later time.
• Persuading You NOT to Hire an Attorney – the claims adjuster will try to convince you that they’re committed to getting you a fair settlement, and you don’t need an attorney.

The truth is, without an attorney on your side, you probably won’t have a very good idea of what’s fair in a settlement offer or not – if you even get one. Don’t just take the insurance company’s word if your Florida slip and fall claim is outright denied – seek a second opinion from an experienced personal injury attorney.

If you want to learn more, start by requesting a free copy of our legal guide. If you prefer to speak to us right away, contact Jim Dodson today for a no-cost evaluation of your case at 1-888-340-0840.