Child Slip & Fall Injury Attorneys
As parents, we can’t always stop our children from falling down, but we can encourage them to get back up and keep going. But how should you proceed if your child suffers a severe injury after a slip or fall? If the accident occurred on someone else’s property, you might be entitled to receive a settlement, including money for medical bills. However, slip-and-fall accident cases are difficult to prove, mainly because the plaintiffs must demonstrate that the property owners acted with negligence. If you’re planning to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit after your child’s slip-and-fall accident, make sure to hire an experienced child personal injury attorney with The Galione Law Firm, P.A. in Gainesville, FL.
Most personal injury lawyers work primarily with adults, but our attorneys specialize in child injury cases. Because we serve clients ranging from infants to teenagers, along with their parents or extended family members, we understand how to build strong cases without putting undue stress on children during sensitive times in their lives. To find out how our child slip and fall injury lawyers in Gainesville can help your case, schedule a free consultation.
What Is Florida’s Slip & Fall Law?
Under Florida law, homeowners and business owners must maintain their property, including repairing hazardous areas, and warn visitors of hazards. If these necessary steps weren’t taken, and your child was injured as a result, you could be on grounds to file a premises liability insurance claim through the property owner’s insurer or take the owner to court with a personal injury lawsuit. The Florida slip-and-fall statute of limitations, which is outlined in Florida Statutes section 95.11(3)(a), allows the plaintiff four years to file a lawsuit. Because of this deadline, it’s essential to hire a lawyer as soon as possible.
Though retaining an attorney isn’t obligatory for slip-and-fall cases, the nuances in Florida’s premises liability laws (including the high bar for evidence proving a property owner’s negligence) makes winning a slip-and-fall settlement without a lawyer a challenge. So, whether you’re seeking an insurance claim or a settlement, count on our child injury attorneys to guide you through the process while accounting for your child’s best interests in every decision.
Common Types Of Child Slip & Fall Accidents
Slips and falls are the leading causes of nonfatal childhood injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 3 million children visit emergency rooms each year after falls, while falls account for more than half of all injuries to infants younger than 1 year old.
In severe slip-and-fall accidents, a child’s injuries could lead to a physical or intellectual disability or another setback that forever affects his or her life. That’s why our child injury lawyers fight tirelessly to ensure your child receives every dollar that’s owed from the insurance company or the defendant. These payments aren’t just about the money; they’re about providing your family with the resources to care for your child’s health and well-being for today and the future.
Here are some of the many child slip-and-fall accidents that our attorneys can help you with.
Playground Accidents
Playgrounds bring children joy, but they can also pose risks of injury. Old equipment can be hazardous when it’s in a dilapidated condition, while the playground’s owner bears responsibility for the poor upkeep. Even new or refurbished playgrounds can be dangerous when they have design flaws, such as hard surfaces located below climbing features. Not all playground injuries are accidents. If you suspect a loose slide, poorly designed climbing wall, or other playground feature contributed to your child’s accident, consult a child injury lawyer.
School & Daycare Accidents
Parents entrust their children’s safety to the school employees and the childcare providers who supervise them. By extension, the grounds of a school or daycare facility are expected to be safe. If your child sustains an injury due to a slip or fall, a personal injury case might be warranted. Negligent care of sidewalks is a leading cause of child slipping accidents. In Gainesville, kids don’t encounter many snow or ice patches, but they do come across cement cracks, jutting tree roots, and slick outcrops of leaves, all of which present hazards.
Sports Field Accidents
Youth sports are an excellent way for kids to be active and socialize. To help make sports safe for kids, the owners of the facilities where the children play, from basketball courts to soccer fields, are responsible for providing safe conditions. If your child is injured while playing sports and the cause is the condition of the playing field, you could have grounds for filing an insurance claim or an injury lawsuit. Common examples of sports facility hazards include unlevel playing surfaces and inadequate lighting.
What To Do When Your Child Slips Or Falls On Someone Else’s Property?
The first step after your child’s accident is to seek medical attention. Not only is their health the most important priority, but documenting the injuries right away creates better evidence for an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit later. The next step is to hire a slip-and-fall injury attorney who’s experienced in child accident cases. Retaining legal counsel quickly ensures that your family files a case before the statute of limitations expires. Meanwhile, because kids aren’t always as forthcoming as adults are about how they feel, it’s essential to have a lawyer who understands how to work with children. Our child injury attorneys use patience and empathy to connect with young clients and help them share their story so that we can build the most persuasive case.
What If Another Child Is Injured At Your Home Or Business?
If your child invites friends to play, or you run a business where children are frequent customers, you should take precautions to create a safe environment. If a child is injured on your property, you could be responsible for paying medical expenses and more. Usually, parents work out agreements between themselves without involving lawyers. However, when an insurance company or a judge has to be involved, it’s to your benefit as the defendant to hire an attorney to negotiate with the plaintiffs on your behalf and look for evidence that exonerates you.
Why You Should Hire A Child Personal Injury Attorney After A Slip Or Fall Accident
After your child is injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you might be overcome with emotion and demand a swift resolution. Before you file an insurance claim or pursue a lawsuit, however, remember that slip and fall cases are challenging to prove, especially when the child is hesitant to discuss the incident. It’s to your and your child’s benefit to consult with a child accident attorney with The Galione Law Firm, P.A. before making any crucial decisions. We’ll advise you on how to proceed to have the best chance at a settlement for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of future income, or other damages from the accident. To schedule a free consultation, please contact our child injury lawyers in Gainesville today.