Florida’s premises liability laws state that property and business owners owe a “duty of care” to take reasonable measures to ensure no harm comes to any welcome visitors to their property. When they fail to do so, and a visitor becomes injured as a result, that visitor has a right to seek compensation for the damages caused by the property owner’s negligence.
Have you been injured in a slip and fall or other kind of accident while a visitor, customer, or guest on someone else’s property? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages resulting from your injuries. Damages in a Central Florida premises liability claim can include current medical expenses, anticipated medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.
You can collect this compensation by filing a premises liability claim against the property or business owner. The first step is speaking with a Central Florida premises liability lawyer at Rivas Law Group.
Types of Premises Liability Claims
Rivas Law Group is here to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your accident-related injuries. Central Florida premises liability lawyer Tania Rivas has successfully represented clients in premises liability claims arising from:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Negligent or inadequate security
- Playground injuries
- Poor lighting
- Poor building maintenance
- Exposure to hazardous materials
- Stairway, elevator, and escalator accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Animal attacks
- Lack of fire alarms, smoke detectors, emergency lights, and other safety devices
We can assist you at every stage of a premises liability personal injury claim, from collecting the evidence needed to support your claim (including accident scene photos, medical records, police reports, eyewitness testimony, etc.) to negotiating your claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. In order to prevail in a Central Florida premises liability claim, you’ll have to be able to establish that:
- You were visiting the property as an invitee or licensee.
- There were hazardous conditions on the property.
- The property owner was aware of the hazardous conditions.
- The property owner failed to remove, repair, or warn about the hazardous conditions on their property.
- You suffered injuries as a result of these hazardous conditions. And
- You suffered damages as a result of your accident-related injuries.
In addition to property owners, Florida’s premises liability laws also apply to property management companies. property tenants, and sub-contractors.
What Type of Visitor Were You?
What type of visitor you are will have a big impact on the outcome of your premises liability case. Florida law places visitors into three categories:
- Invitees – Invitees are those who have been invited to enter or remain on a property as a member of the public for a purpose for which the property is held open to the public. Invitees include shoppers, diners, customers, or hotel guests.
- Licensees – Licensees are people who have received an express or implied invitation to enter a property for reasons other than business. A property owner is required to inform a licensee of any dangers he is aware of but is not required to inspect the premises or repair any dangerous conditions when they come to his attention. A person dropping by a private residence on a social call is an example of a licensee.
- Trespassers – Trespassers are uninvited or unwanted visitors. Under Florida’s premise liability laws, a property owner does not have to provide an adult trespasser the same duty of care he owes an invitee or licensee.
As with most rules, there are exceptions. If your child was injured while trespassing on someone else’s property, then special “attractive nuisance” rules apply to their case. In Florida, a property owner is expected to exercise reasonable care to prevent any child from coming to harm because of any “attractive nuisances” on their property, even if they are trespassing. Swimming pools and playground equipment are examples of attractive nuisances.
Central Florida Premises Liability Lawyer Tania Rivas Fights for Victims of Negligent Property Owners
Injuries in premise liability accidents can range from minor to catastrophic. Damages often include medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. Central Florida premises liability lawyer Tania Rivas is here to ensure you get the maximum compensation you are owed for your accident-related injuries.
Rivas Law Group can help you at every stage of a personal injury claim, from collecting the evidence needed to support your claim (including accident scene photos, medical records, police reports, eyewitness testimony, etc.) to negotiating your claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Attorney Rivas has successfully represented clients all over Central Florida who have been injured because of a property owner’s negligence.
Contact us through our website, or call us at (877) 299-5539 today to schedule a free consultation.
