“How much can I expect to recover?” If you were injured in a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident on someone else’s property, this question is quite understandably top of mind. Your medical bills may be piling up already, you likely already missed time from work, and you may be struggling to see how you will ever fully recover from the effects of your injuries.
Let’s start at the beginning. If you were injured as a result of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property (such as a spill in a grocery store or a loose handrail in an office building), there is a good chance that you are entitled to financial compensation. Under Florida’s premises liability law, property owners and tenants owe certain legal duties to protect visitors and guests from slip, trip, and fall hazards. If the owner of the property failed to maintain the premises as required by law – and if your accident was caused by their failure – you are entitled to seek full compensation for all of your injury-related losses.
Economic and Noneconomic Losses from Premises-Related Accidents
Broadly speaking, the compensation available in premises liability cases can be divided into two categories: economic damages and noneconomic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic losses are those that have a direct impact on your personal finances. Outstanding medical bills are the most-obvious example (and a top priority for most accident victims), but these often make up just a small portion of an accident victim’s total compensation awards. Other types of economic losses include:
- Future medical expenses (which are often significantly greater than outstanding medical bills)
- Loss of income and lost future earning capacity
- Prescription and medical device costs
- Mileage for doctor’s office and hospital visits
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-Economic Damages
Separate from these costs are what are known as “non-economic damages.” These are losses that do not have a direct financial impact, but for which financial compensation is still available under law. In many cases, a slip-and-fall accident victim’s non-economic losses will exceed their financial losses. Non-economic damages in premises liability cases include:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship, consortium, support, and society
What is My Case Worth?
So, these are the types of compensation that are available – but what is your case worth? This is a question that cannot be answered without a clear understanding of the unique facts and circumstances involved in your case. The extent of your economic and noneconomic damages will determine the amount of compensation available, but the property owner’s insurance company may try to argue that your award should be reduced because you were partially to blame for your own injuries. In any case, calculating your total losses is an essential step toward securing just compensation, and an experienced attorney will be able to help you dispute the insurance company’s claims that you are entitled to less than full compensation.
Injured? Call 561-202-6673 for a Free Consultation
Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers is a Palm Beach County law firm that represents victims of premises-related accidents. If you would like to find out what your case is worth, I encourage you to call for a free consultation. To speak with me, attorney Brian D. Guralnick, personally your case, please call 561-202-6673 now.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is not intended, and must not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. If you need advice on specific legal issues, please consult with a licensed Personal Injury attorney.
