Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Cases in Florida

The statute of limitations for slip and fall accident cases in Florida is set at two years. Under this law, you generally have two years from the fall or from the date you discovered injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit.

There are several legal considerations to weigh when determining if your window to file a lawsuit remains open. A Florida slip and fall lawyer from our legal team can review the specific details of your case and advise you about pursuing legal action for financial compensation.

The Slip and Fall Deadline Is Found Under the Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

You can find the statute of limitations for slip and fall cases under Florida Statutes § 95.11. This statute lists several deadlines, one of which is personal injury cases like yours. 

As stated, you typically have two years from the date of the fall to file a premises liability lawsuit. If your loved one died in a fall, your family has the same amount of time, but the deadline would begin on the day your loved one passed away. However, there are extenuating circumstances that could extend this deadline, legally referred to as tolling the statute of limitations. For example, if your case involved a minor, the case could be paused until the child turns 18. 

Our Florida personal injury lawyers will review your case and explain whether the date of the fall, the date of your loved one’s death, or another qualifier starts the clock on your case. In any instance, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible.

What the Statute of Limitations Means for Slip and Fall Accident Victims

Outside of your health and well-being, the statute of limitations is arguably the most important consideration after a slip and fall accident because:

• With few exceptions, the statute of limitations is a black-and-white time limit that every plaintiff and personal injury attorney must follow.
• If you fail to file your slip and fall accident case by the two-year statute of limitations, you may not be able to pursue fair compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

The odds are that if you have waited more than two years to file your lawsuit, you have also missed the opportunity to file a personal injury claim with the insurance company. Therefore, delaying beyond the statute of limitations generally means forfeiting your opportunity to seek money for fall-related injuries, no matter how severe your injuries may be.

How a Slip and Fall Attorney Will Help You Beat the Statute of Limitations

Nobody respects the statute of limitations in Florida more than personal injury attorneys, who must outpace it in every case they handle. Our legal team will work to file your case before the statute of limitations expires.

We can:

• Initiate an investigation into your case immediately
• Determine who is liable for your injuries, as this will be necessary to name defendants in your legal complaint
• Identify the cause of your fall
• Gather the evidence and facts necessary to file a legal complaint against liable parties
• Use the entire might of our law firm, including attorneys, investigators, and paralegals, to draft and file your legal complaint as quickly as possible

Our speed will not come at the cost of accuracy, though. Our team handles legal cases daily. We’re well-versed in the art of filing legal complaints with little time to spare. So long as you retain our team in a reasonable time frame, we will file your slip and fall accident case before the statute of limitations expires.

How Will a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Help Me With My Case?

Filing your case is a critical step, but it’s only one step. You can count on our team to protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve for injuries or wrongful death. These things require us to:

Gather Evidence of the Property Owner’s Negligence

Our team will launch an immediate investigation to determine what dangerous condition on the property caused your fall. We may find that a property owner’s negligence is to blame. Evidence of a property owner’s negligence may include:

• Photographs of the slipping hazard that caused you to fall
• Testimony about the owner’s failure to remove slipping hazards
• Video footage of your accident
• The incident report

We will even file any necessary legal motions to secure evidence in the property owner’s possession, such as security camera footage.

Document and Calculate Your Damages

Our team will document and calculate the damages resulting from your fall. We may use medical bills and images, proof of lost income, your own testimony about the harm you’ve suffered, and expert testimony as documentation of your damages.

Negotiate a Settlement

Our trained attorneys will represent you in settlement negotiations. We won’t back down, no matter how hard liable parties fight against paying the compensation you deserve.

Complete a Trial (Only if Necessary)

A trial is an option in every slip and fall accident case we handle. Though we always work relentlessly to secure a fair settlement, we’ll be ready to proceed to court if necessary.

What Damages Do Slip and Fall Accident Victims Receive for Compensation?

Recoverable damages in slip and fall accident cases may include:

• Healthcare costs
• Pain and suffering
• Professional damages (including lost income)
• Property damage expenses

You have a unique array of damages and your own story of negligence to tell. Our team will help you tell that story as we fight for the money you deserve.

What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Slip and Fall?

If you have been involved in a slip and fall, there are several things you can do to protect your rights, including: 

• Report the accident to the business manager or property owner
• Request a copy of the incident report
• Take pictures of the accident scene while you are there
• Ask for contact information from witnesses
• Call 9-1-1 for medical care
• If you don’t go to the emergency room, see a doctor immediately
• Follow your doctor’s medical treatment plan

Additionally, be very wary of what you say to people about the accident, and don’t speculate or accuse; just stick to what you know. You should also avoid posting anything online or giving a recorded statement to the insurance companies. 

Then, call us. 

Call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Today for Your Free Consultation

With the statute of limitations deadline in mind, don’t wait to hire a personal injury lawyer from Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers. You will work directly with our partners, Attorney Debi Chalik and Attorney Jason Chalik, which is an offer few personal injury firms can extend.

Call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today for your free, no-obligation initial consultation. We don’t take any upfront fees, so we only receive our payment if we recover a settlement or court award for you.