Deerfield Beach Premises Liability Lawyer
The owner or occupier of property has a duty to protect visitors from dangerous conditions that exist on the premises. If the property owner fails in their duty to protect visitors, they can be liable for the harm that results. At Leifer & Ramirez, our Deerfield Beach premises liability lawyers hold accountable property owners and occupiers that fail to keep their visitors safe and work hard to get our clients the compensation they are owed for their injuries.
Premises Liability Accidents
Public, private, residential, and commercial property are all subject to premises liability. This includes a person’s home or farm, a small business, mall, amusement park, grocery store, restaurant, or gym. The most common type of premises liability accident is a slip and fall; however, the possibilities are nearly endless. Common dangerous conditions that lead to premises liability accidents include:
- Inadequate lighting
- Obstructions on stairways
- Slippery conditions
- Broken or missing handrails
- Broken or uneven sidewalks
- Obstructions in hallways or aisles
- Uneven steps
- Malfunctioning doors or windows
- Negligently displayed merchandise
- Inadequate maintenance
- Lack of snow or ice removal
- Negligent security
Florida also adheres to the attractive nuisance doctrine, which holds a property owner or occupier liable for any accidents that occur to a child involving an item that is attractive on the property. Examples of an attractive nuisance include swimming pools, construction equipment, gravel pits, and septic tanks.
Types of Visitors
The owner or occupier of property has a different level of duty to protects visitors depending on the type. In Florida, visitors are broken down into three categories: business invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Business invitees are on the premises for business purposes and are given the highest duty of care. Property owners are required to keep the property in a safe condition and either fix any dangerous condition or provide notice of any hazards on the premises. This includes regularly inspecting the property because willful ignorance is not a defense to a dangerous condition on the premises.
Licensees are social guests to the property and can include friends, family members, and neighbors. Similarly, property owners or occupiers must maintain the property in a reasonably safe manner and either repair any hazardous conditions or warn licensees of the danger. Trespassers are people who do not have permission to be on the premises, but property owners and occupiers still have a duty to protect them from intentional or reckless injury. One common example is when a property owner is liable for damages because a trespasser set off a tripwire gun. Once it becomes known that a trespasser is on the property, the owner is required to warn them of any unknown dangers that would not be noticed with simple observation.
Damages Collected for Premises Liability Cases
Once it is proven that a property owner is liable for an accident on their premises, the victim of the accident is entitled to compensation for their injuries. Damages for a premises liability case typically include medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability or disfigurement, loss of earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and potentially wrongful death.
Call Leifer & Ramirez Today
If you were hurt by unsafe conditions on another person’s property in the Deerfield Beach area, call the premises liability lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez today. Our office will schedule a free consultation to review your case and fight for the compensation you are owed.