Premises Liability - Slip And Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents, sometimes known as premises liability accidents, can occur anytime, anywhere, to anyone. When injuries occur because of someone’s negligence - leaving spilled water, grease, or potentially dangerous materials in high traffic areas - you are entitled to be compensated for your injuries. When sidewalks or driveways are in dangerous disrepair and you’re injured, you have a right to be made whole.
Public Places
A public is what the name implies - places the public might go to. Included in this list would be stores, malls, shopping centers, businesses, parks, neighborhoods, other people’s homes, office buildings, parking lots, and many other places. Property owners have a legal duty to ensure their property is reasonably safe and will not cause injury. Many accidents are due to simple, but preventable, causes that could have and should have been cleaned or fixed! These include:
- Wet floors, water pooling on floor or ground
- Slippery substances on surfaces
- Uneven, not level flooring that abruptly changes without warning
- Poor lighting or no lighting at all
- Unlit parking lots
- Lack of video cameras in unsafe areas
- Lack of emergency call boxes
- Hidden hazards
- Debris and other obstacles on the ground or flooring that can cause tripping
- Failure to monitor or safeguard parking lots at night
- Not providing proper security
- Unsafe properties
Property Owner Responsibilities
Property owners have a responsibility to regularly investigate their property and keep it free from hazards. Any known hazard must be dealt with quickly and reasonable warnings made - for instance stores often will display a cautionary yellow sign around a wet floor. Failure to take precautionary measures which can prevent an injury may constitute negligence on the part of the property owner, and an injured person might be entitled to be compensated for their injury.
Slip And Fall Injuries
Slip and fall injuries can be painful at best, and traumatic at worse. A wet floor can be slippery, and a person who falls may break bones, have a head injury, or worse. A stairway in disrepair can cause a serious fall, injuries, perhaps even death. Uprooted or broken sidewalks can be dangerous and result in sprains, broken bones and serious injuries due to uneven surfaces. Escalators and elevators that are not properly maintained or repaired can be particularly dangerous - even an escalator that suddenly “stops” can cause some degree of whiplash or neck trauma.
Unsafe Property
Failure to provide security and lighting can result in serious harm to individuals. For instance, an unlit parking lot may cause someone to fall and injure themselves because they can’t see. Or if the parking lot is in an area where crimes regularly occur, a person may be robbed, assaulted, or worse. If a property owner should have reason to know that his or her property may be unsafe, he or she may be liable for damages when injuries occur. Parking lots should be properly lit. Security and monitoring should be provided for areas which are not safe. Emergency call boxes might also be important, as are video cameras or roving security patrols. When crimes or injuries occur because a property owner did not take reasonable steps to ensure some degree of safety, a victim may be entitled to compensation for their damages, losses, pain and suffering, and emotional traumas.
Important To Act Quickly After Injury!
After an injury occurs it can be very important to act quickly to preserve evidence. Witnessed need to be located, contacted and interviewed, the accident scene needs to be photographed, property owners need to be notified, and witness statements need to be quickly recorded before memories fade or change. Police reports may need to be filed, and incident reports may be important. Video camera footage may need to be preserved as well.
If you’re injured or hurt on someone else’s property, it is possible to recover money from the property owner’s insurance company to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and money for pain and suffering. Contact the Byrne Law Group for a free case evaluation. Understand your rights, know your options. Call 813-413-6565 today.
Take Action Now!
If you or your loved ones have been hurt or injured through someone else’s actions or negligence throughout Florida, from Tampa to Ft. Myers, Miami to West Palm Beach, Orlando to Jacksonville, Naples to Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Sarasota, don’t wait. Call the Byrne Law Group right now! We may be able to help. We can find you a doctor, help you get compensated for lost wages and medical bills, and fight to get you money for your time, pain and suffering. We will work with your insurance company to properly handle your claim, and prepare your case.
Call 813-413-6565 right now for a FREE consultation to discuss your case with the Byrne Law Group’s car accident attorneys right now - take the first step toward feeling better!