SLIP & FALL NEW LAW IGNORES FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RULING

Let's be fair. Today's St. Petersburg Times article, Slip-and-fall Suits to Lose Traction in Florida, fails to address how an injury from a slip and fall can forever change someone's life.

The article's first sentence talks about a 14-year old falling at a KFC. However, you have to go 21 more paragraphs to see that this 14-year girl sustained a torn ligament (as well as other injuries) because of the fall. I don't know the facts of that case, but the article is silent as to how the KFC was negligent in causing her to fall. Give KFC and its lawyers some credit-if they didn't feel there was some responsibility, would they have offered anything? Would you?

The article also fails to mention that the new law overrides a Florida Supreme Court decision. The Florida Supreme Court--the only body of government not swayed by lobbyists--already ruled on this issue and determined that the business owner bears more responsibility to make sure that their businesses are reasonably safe. Remember, they invited us there to spend our money to make them profit. Shouldn't they be held to a higher standard?

Slip and fall injuries can forever change someone's life. Families sometime have to wrestle with the death of a loved one because of a slip and fall. A newspaper article can write about slipping on vomit in a parking lot, just also write about broken steps, leaky coolers, electrical sockets hidden under the carpet, and overly waxed floors with no warning.

If the businesses want our money for their products, then give us a safe place to shop. An individual needs to be accountable and responsible for their failure to do the right thing--so should a business. They shouldn't get to hide because lobbyist dollars to "persuade" the Legislature to thumb their nose at the Florida Supreme Court.

Even after the new law, I will continue to proudly represent those injured in slip and fall cases. My client may not have been able to stop a business from causing him or her to be injured, but maybe my actions will prevent another from being injured because of the lackadaisical behavior of some business owners.

For answers to legal questions after a slip and fall case, contact Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes for a free case consultation. His Tampa Bay personal injury law firm--Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes--has been caring for clients after Florida slip and fall cases, car accidents, Florida workers' compensation claims and other personal injury claims for over 55 years. Insurance companies have attorneys working for them--so should you!