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What Is the Statute of Limitations in Slip & Fall Accidents?

Person in boots slipping on wet floor

If you have recently been injured due to a slip and fall accident that occurred on another person’s property, it’s important to know that each state has its own statute of limitations on how long you can take to file a claim if you decide to do that. The first instinct that the majority of slip and fall victims have when they become injured is to seek medical attention; this makes sense, because of course if you are in pain, you want to have that pain treated quickly. Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys know very well that the first step in any slip and fall accident is to receive medical treatment—whether or not you decide to pursue a claim.

There may come a point when you consider seeking compensation, especially as medical bills pile up. If your slip and fall accident was particularly severe, you are probably also struggling under a decreased income. You will most likely receive a telephone call or visit from an insurance adjuster for the property owner’s insurance company. It is important to understand and keep in mind that, no matter how friendly the adjuster may be—and no matter his or her personal views—they work for the insurance company, and their goal is to pay you as little as possible. If you choose to work on your own, you may find yourself in endless negotiations lasting months, often waiting long periods of time to receive answers from the insurance company.

If on the other hand you work with a personal injury lawyer, such as Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys Zimmerman & Frachtman, you can feel more comfortable in the process. An attorney is experienced in representing slip and fall injury victims can handle these negotiations more smoothly than even the most confident individual without legal representation.

One of the most important aspects of your claim is the statute of limitations; from the day you suffered your injury, the clock began ticking. The statute of limitations for slip and fall injury lawsuits ranges from one year to six years—and in some states, the time you have to file can be impacted by whether or not the injury occurred on government-owned property. In the state of Florida, you have four years from the date of your injury to file your personal injury claim. There may be special circumstances, and it is a good idea to contact a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney if you live in south Florida in order to get the most accurate information.

As a final note, the more serious your injuries, the sooner you should hire an attorney to help you negotiate; the reason for this is two-fold: first, insurance companies only maintain their profitability when they avoid paying claims. It is an unfortunate fact of the industry that many of the claims that are rejected are perfectly valid claims—they simply drag out the process to discourage claimants, and to try and get as close to the statute of limitations as possible. The second reason is that the sooner you hire an attorney, the more quickly you’ll be able to receive your compensation and focus simply on your recovery. If you are looking for a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney, consider Zimmerman & Frachtman. We take pride in offering free consultation and we only charge you if we win your case.

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