Florida Premises Liability Lawyer
Smith, Ball and Báez Injury Lawyers hold property owners accountable and protect victims’ rights by filing premises liability claims.
Florida Premises Liability Lawyer
Property owners, as well as individuals or companies in control of a property such as a tenant or property manager, have a legal duty or obligation to keep their property free of dangerous hazards that put you and other Florida residents at risk. They also have a duty to warn people about such risks.
Unfortunately, though, they don’t always live up to their end of the bargain. Property owners sometimes fail to remove hazards and keep their property safe, which can result in devastating injuries.
If you’ve been injured on public or private property, you may be eligible to file a claim and recover damages. As a leading Florida premises liability firm, Smith, Ball and Báez Injury Lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in damages for our clients, including an $8 million settlement for a spinal cord injury sustained in a swimming pool accident. Contact us to learn more about filing a premises liability claim in Florida.
Examples of Florida Premises Liability Claims
Premises liability cases come in many different forms. Examples include:
- Slip and falls or trip and fall accidents
- Swimming pool accidents, including drownings
- Elevator or escalator accidents
- Dog bites and attacks
- Trampoline Accidents
- Amusement Park Injuries
- Accidents caused by inadequate maintenance
- Construction defect accidents
- Inadequate or negligent security, lighting and/or safety precautions leading to injury or assaults.
This list is far from all-inclusive. If you’ve suffered an injury on someone else’s property, contact a Florida premises liability attorney to see if you have a claim.
Establishing a duty of care
Before you can file a premises liability claim, you must prove that the property owner or manager owed you a duty of care. The duty of care owed is based on your reason for being on the property. If you have a legitimate business reason to be on the property, you are considered an invitee and are owed the highest duty of care. An example of an invitee is a customer shopping at a grocery store. If you have permission to go to a property for a social reason, you are a licensee and are owed the second highest duty of care. An example of this is visiting a friend’s house for a birthday party.
Proving A Premises Liability Case
Florida has special laws as it relates to slip and fall accidents at businesses. If a person slips and falls on a “transitory substance” the injured person must prove that the business establishment “had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition and should have taken action to remedy it.” In other words, if you slipped and fell on a liquid in the grocery store, you will have the burden of proving that the business had “actual or constructive knowledge” of the hazardous condition.
Constructive knowledge means proving that the “dangerous condition existed for such a length of time that, in the exercise or ordinary care, the business establishment should have known of the condition” or proving that the “condition occurred with regularity and was, therefore, foreseeable.”
Tell Us About Your Case
Contact Us Today for Your Free Case Evaluation
TESTIMONIAL
CASE RESULTS
WHY CHOOSE SMITH, BALL & BAEZ INJURY LAWYERS
- Free Consultation – Fill out an online form or call us to discuss your case free of charge.
- Highly Rated – We have numerous 5-star reviews on Google and a rating of 10 on the legal website Avvo.
- Proven Results – Smith, Ball & Báez Injury Lawyers has secured numerous multi-million settlements and trial verdicts for clients, including a $40 million settlement for a car accident wrongful death.
- Serving the State of Florida – Our personal injury law firm is based in Palm Beach County, and we serve victims throughout the state.
- Bilingual Law Firm – Smith, Ball & Báez Injury Lawyers and legal support team are bilingual so that clients can speak in their native language.
- Available 24/7 – Reach out to our firm any time of day or night. We are available 24/7 to serve you and help you get the compensation you deserve.
REAL CLIENTS, REAL REVIEWS
WHAT TO DO AFTER A SLIP AND FALL OR TRIP AND FALL
If you suffered an injury in a slip and fall or trip and fall at a business like a shopping mall, hotel, restaurant, apartment complex or other location, there are certain things you should do including:
- Ask for a manager and notify them of what happened
- Complete an incident report and ask for a copy
- Seek medical treatment if you are injured. Calling an ambulance or getting medical care as soon as possible after the incident is critical for your well-being and to document your injuries.
- If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information.
- Take photographs or video of the dangerous condition; and
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney to find out what your legal rights are right away. Your attorney will send a written request to the property owner asking them to save any videotaped surveillance of the incident that could be destroyed if you wait too long.
DAMAGES IN PREMISES LIABILITY CASES
You can recover economic and non-economic damages in a Florida premises liability case. Potential damages include past and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning potential, and pain and suffering. An experienced premises liability attorney will have medical experts evaluate your injury to determine the long-term impact. Then, the attorney will fight to help you recover the money you need for your long-term care.
