Personal Injury Claims — Slip and Fall, Premises Liability, and Other Negligence Claims
Personal injury actions make up a significant portion of all civil litigation in the United States. In order to be heard, such cases must feature an injury to a person or property occurring as the result of negligence on behalf of a third party.
Personal injury cases in Florida come in many shapes and sizes. While people most commonly think of car accidents, the reality is that any negligent action may qualify for a personal injury claim when someone is hurt. Beside vehicle collisions, common causes for a personal injury suit include, slip and falls, animal bites, and other accidents occurring on someone else’s property.
Have You Been Injured Due to Someone Else’s Negligence?
Maybe you slipped and fell and it was not because you are clumsy or not paying attention. Likely, you did not just slip and fall for no apparent reason. Your accident could have been caused by a negligent property owner who knew about a problem and did not address it, potentially leaving you injured, out of work, and with medical bills.
Whether it is an unaddressed spill on a floor, a faulty railing or step, an obstruction of some sort, or any other factor a property owner knew about but did not address, you are left dealing with a host of issues that were no fault of your own. You do not have to put up with this.
Gulisano Law’s personal injury lawyers help people who have been injured by a slip and fall. As your personal injury attorneys, we can assist you in recovering compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Top Broward Slip and Fall and Premises Liability Attorneys
Slip and fall accidents usually occur on property (or “premises”) owned or maintained by someone else. Premises liability, discussed more thoroughly below, is a legal concept that typically comes into play in personal injury cases where the injury was caused by some type of unsafe or defective condition on someone’s property.
Slip and fall lawsuits are an important way to hold negligent property owners accountable. However, these cases can be complex. They require an experienced slip and fall lawyer who knows what questions to ask and what to look for in a case, among other things, and who is ready to take your case all the way to court if it is necessary.
If you or a loved one were a victim of a slip and fall accident, and you are looking for help, contact us for a free, no-risk case evaluation today. Gulisano Law has significant experience with slip and falls and other premises liability cases, and might be able to get you compensation for your injuries.
Premises Liability – Recovering for Slip and Fall and other Personal Injuries
Florida law requires property owners to keep their grounds in reasonably safe condition for visitors, workers, residents, and other groups. Unfortunately, many property owners fail to adhere to these legal requirements. Broken pavement, wet or uneven floors, debris left on floors, and other common property hazards are responsible for serious injuries and deaths on a daily basis.
If an injury occurs inside or outside of a building — and that injury is the result of inadequate maintenance or some other form of negligence — the victim can sue the property owner under Florida law. By doing so, they can receive fair compensation for any and all injuries or damages that occurred.
Under Florida law, a property owner is liable for personal injuries, for example, a slip and fall, if there was a “dangerous condition” on the property that the property owner should have known about, and that a “reasonable property owner” would have found and fixed before anyone could get hurt.
Dangerous Conditions
A dangerous condition has to present an unreasonable risk of harm to those on the property and must be a condition a reasonable person would not have expected. In other words, not an obvious, avoidable hazard.
Slippery spills on a supermarket floor that store management did not address would be a dangerous condition. After all, you do not go to a store expecting an obvious hazard like unattended spills.
Another example would be broken stairs in a movie theater. When you are descending stairs to your seat, you expect that those stairs will function as they should. But what if they give way and you fall, because the owner neglected to fix the problem? That is a dangerous condition.
“Reasonable” Property Owner
In addition to dangerous conditions that went negligently unattended, a slip and fall case requires proving that the property owner did not act as a reasonable property owner would. A reasonable property owner would have a plan in place to efficiently and comprehensively address any and all dangerous conditions so that no one gets hurt.
A negligent property owner, however, fails to do this and potentially creates conditions in which people get hurt. If you have been injured in a slip and fall, we will seek to answer the following questions as we investigate your slip and fall claim:
- Did the hazardous area exist long enough for the property owner to be aware of it?
- Is there a standard procedure in place for examining the premises, and did the owner have proof of this procedure?
- Was there a legitimate reason for the area to be hazardous, such as a slippery floor after being washed?
- If there is a reason for the area to be hazardous, was there any way to make it safer?
- If an object caused the slip, trip, or fall, was there anywhere else the object could have been stored to make the premises safer?
- Could a warning sign or barrier have been created to prevent injury?
Premises Liability Cases Take Many Forms
Premises liability negligence can take many forms, and each incident often depends on context – for example, how regularly the property was maintained. Some of the most common forms of premises liability negligence include:
- Cracked pavement or broken steps;
- Wet or slick floors and surfaces;
- Broken or insufficient lighting;
- Loose debris on floors and surfaces;
- Environmental contamination;
- Inadequate on-premises security; and
- Falling objects.
It is also important to note that premises liability negligence can occur in a variety of places, including residential buildings, shopping malls, municipal properties, offices, theme parks, etc. Owners of these properties are expected to look for these risks and repair them upon discovery. Failure to do so in a timely and reasonable manner may be negligence and grounds for a premises liability action.
If you or someone you love has been injured due to premises liability negligence, you may be able to recover for your damages. The first step toward receiving just compensation under the law is contacting an experienced Florida premises liability lawyer.
How Much Can You Get From a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from a slip and fall accident, you could be considering a lawsuit to recover compensation for your medical bills and other expenses. This means you are also probably wondering how much your case would be worth. There are many factors that go into this, depending on the circumstances of your case.
You can get more answers by contacting Gulisano Law for a free no-obligation case review and consultation. Our attorneys are experienced at handling cases in a variety of practice areas, including slip and fall claims.
Finding the Right Premises Liability Attorney in Florida
Injuries associated with negligent property upkeep can have devastating physical and financial consequences. This means that it is imperative for you to work with a legal advocate who specializes in premises liability cases.
Navigating the complexities of premises liability law can be challenging for the average person. Additionally, those who are guilty of maintaining negligent property often have deep resources and experienced legal counsel of their own.
For these reasons, it is essential to find a local attorney who has deep experience with Florida premises liability laws. This will provide you with the best chance to recover fair compensation for your injures and/or damages.
