Who Will Pay for My Hospital Bills If I Have a Slip and Fall?
A person who sustains an injury from a slip and fall that occurs on someone else’s property can be compensated under the legal theory of premises liability. In the event that a landowner failed to take the necessary steps to ensure that their property was safe, the landowner can be held accountable. In Florida law defines negligence as the failure to use reasonable care. Reasonable care is the degree of care that a reasonably careful person would use under like circumstances. In most instances, the standard of care used is that of a reasonably prudent person under similar circumstances. This standard is an objective one, measured by what a reasonably prudent person would do, rather than whether a particular defendant is acting in good faith or using her best efforts. Florida law requires a property owner to use reasonable care to determine that their premises is reasonably safe for invitees. Additionally, property owners must use reasonable care to protect invitees from unreasonably dangerous conditions. The duty to protect invitees from unreasonably dangerous conditions is further broken down into two specific and independent duties: (1) to use reasonable care in maintaining the property in a reasonably safe condition; and (2) to warn of dangers of which the owner knew, or should have known, existed and which are unknown to the invitee and cannot be discovered through the invitee’s use of reasonable care.
Liability for Medical Bills After a Slip and Fall
Injuries sustained in slip and falls can result in the accumulation of hefty medical bills due to frequent visits to doctors, specialists, and physical therapists for routine checkups, diagnostics, MRI and x-ray tests etc. Undeniably, one of the major concerns most of my clients have is how I can help them get properly compensated so that they can continue treatment and pay for the medical bills they have already incurred. To start, every case is different. In some instances, you may be dealing with a property owner who immediately offers to pay off your medical bills. It is important for you to understand that under Florida law, the mere fact that the property owner has offered to pay for your medical bills does not constitute an admission of fault for your fall. This means that this initial offer does not prevent you from bringing a future personal injury claim or lawsuit in the future. Although such an offer it is definitely a sign of good faith on the part of the property owner, you should be apprehensive about being asked to sign any paperwork. For example, the property owner may ask that you sign a release agreement where you would be forfeiting any personal injury claim or lawsuit you may want to assert in the future. If this is your experience, we recommend you consult with a personal injury lawyer in South Florida who can help you protect your rights under the law. In other instances, you may be faced with a property owner who is denying liability for your injury. If you find yourself in this scenario, we can help you file a personal injury claim with the property owner’s insurance provider, but you do have some other options while you wait to get your claim resolved. If you have a health insurance policy or have a Medicaid or Medicare plan, you can file a claim with them and obtain coverage for your medical treatment. The only downside is that if you decide to file a personal injury claim in the future, any settlement proceeds you obtain may be subject to a Medicare or Medicaid lien. Sadly, in the event that you do not have a health insurance plan, you will be ultimately responsible for your medical bills and expenses until you are able to obtain a personal injury settlement or win at trial. However, we find that in many cases, medical clinics and hospitals are much more flexible when they are advised of a pending personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Speak with a Florida Slip and Fall Attorney Today!
Slip and falls can result in very serious injuries and it can cost thousands of dollars to get proper medical treatment. Slip-and-fall cases are among the most challenging to prove and can present issues for any legal team, let alone one person. That is why if you are a victim of a slip and fall accident in South Florida, you should seek the advice of an experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer who has extensive knowledge of the complex personal injury laws in Florida. At the law offices of Suarez and Montero, we operate on a contingency fee basis. In other words, the consultation is free, and you don’t pay a single cent, unless we win your case. Once you hire our firm, one of our expert lawyers will conduct a systematic and complete investigation to come up with a customized plan of action for your personal injury claim. Our lawyers provide efficiency, experience, knowledge, and can help you get the compensation you deserve after a slip and fall. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation.
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
