What is the Average Compensation for a Slip and Fall?
Some people fall and quickly get up, brush themselves off, and continue with their day. However, other people are severely injured in a fall. The elderly, in particular, can suffer serious injuries when they fall, but in fact anyone can.
As a prominent Coral Gables, Florida law firm, we field many calls from the public. One common one is to ask, “What is the average settlement for a slip and fall?” We understand why people ask this question. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. Adding up all the slip and fall settlements in Florida and then dividing to find the average really tells you nothing about how much you could receive in your particular circumstances. Let’s look at the specific factors that make up a settlement.
Hard Economic Expenses
If you fall and suffer an injury, then you will need medical care. You might also miss work. Generally, slip and fall victims can receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, transportation to the hospital, rehabilitation, prescription drugs, and other medical expenses
- Lost wages, if they need time off from work to recover
Our clients can use medical bills, receipts, and pay stubs to calculate the amount of “hard” economic losses. If a client is permanently disabled, they can also receive compensation for ongoing medical care and lost earning capacity. Meet with an attorney to calculate those losses.
Non-Economic Losses
Many of our clients also qualify for compensation for so-called “non-economic losses.” These include things like:
- Pain and suffering, for the physical pain a victim feels
- Emotional distress, for the negative emotions experienced after an accident
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In catastrophic accidents, a spouse might also receive compensation for “loss of consortium,” which can make up for loss of companionship and sexual intimacy.
The amount our clients receive for these non-economic losses varies by case. This is why it is so hard to talk about “average” settlements. Someone who has suffered a permanent disability because of a serious brain injury can often receive much more in this type of compensation than someone who might have broken a bone and suffered some bad bruises.
At our firm, we will help you fully document your pain and emotional distress so you can receive the maximum amount of compensation under the law.
Limitations on Settlement
There are some things that can limit your settlement. For example, you might have contributed to your accident by being careless. Imagine you walk into a store staring at your cell phone, so you don’t see a sign warning you that the floor is wet. If you slip and fall, you bear some of the burden because you were not being careful. Florida’s comparative fault rules will reduce the amount of compensation by your percentage of fault.
You might also be limited by the defendant’s insurance policy. If you fall on someone’s home, then their homeowner’s policy might only cover up to a certain amount. As a practical matter, it can be hard to receive more than the policy limit.
Speak to Us Today
If you have a question about your slip and fall case, speak to a Florida slip and fall lawyer at Halpern Santos & Pinkert, P.A., today. We offer a free consultation to those who contact us.
https://www.hsptrial.com/can-i-receive-compensation-if-i-slipped-and-fell-in-a-store/
