Florida Premises Liability Lawyers

In Florida, those who own or occupy a property have a legal duty to make sure nothing harms their guests, customers or others who have been invited onto the property. Property managers must take reasonable care to ensure that hazards are removed promptly or that visitors are warned about them. This applies to homeowners with invited guests, as well as businesses open to the public: stores, restaurants, amusement parks and others. Injured people can make these claims even if the danger was obvious; the law still holds property owners or occupants responsible for fixing it or warning others about the hazard. However, the law does not apply to trespassers or others who are on the property unlawfully.

There are two different types of claims visitors can make under Florida law. One is a simple premises liability claim, often called a slip-and-fall claim. In these claims, someone was injured because of a dangerous condition that the property's owner or occupant knew about -- or should have known about. For example, if a server at a restaurant spills a plate full of food on the floor, the restaurant must clean it up within a reasonable amount of time. A homeowner with a pool must make sure that small children invited to visit can't get into the pool area without supervision. If they fail in this duty and a visitor gets hurt, that visitor may hold them legally responsible for that negligence. The media may make slip-and-fall claims sound trivial, but they can be quite serious, especially for older people and victims of long falls. Slips can cause broken bones, brain damage or even death, as well as lost wages and steep medical bills.

The other type of claim is a negligent security claim, in which a visitor was harmed by a violent crime, typically at a business or rental property. Florida law allows the visitor to sue when there was inadequate security at the property, or inadequate warning that a violent crime could occur there. Again, it doesn't matter if the danger was obvious. If the landlord or business didn't take adequate security measures in a dangerous area or a business that could attract crime, failed to warn visitors, or overstated the safety of the area, they are liable for the injuries of anyone who was on the property lawfully during the crime. Because violent crimes often involve guns, this type of claim can involve serious injuries, permanent disabilities or even wrongful deaths.

If you were injured in a public place or private home because of another person's negligence, you have rights. The Alvarez Law Firm is committed to protecting those rights, and winning you the best possible compensation for your physical, emotional and financial injuries. We have a strong track record of winning large verdicts and settlements for our clients, including many verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more. If you're thinking of filing a premises liability or negligent security claim, call an experienced Miami premises liability lawyer at the Alvarez Law Firm today for a free evaluation of your case.

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