A premises liability lawsuit falls under the umbrella of personal injury law. Personal injury law encompasses accidents caused by the negligence of another that result in harm or injury to the victim. Premises liability is a form of liability under personal injury law that specifically covers injuries caused by dangerous or defective conditions that occur on another’s property due to the property owner’s negligence or carelessness. When a property owner is negligent in maintaining the property, the property owner will be liable for injuries caused by any dangerous or defective conditions. Florida personal injury law requires that property owners exercise reasonable care and take proper steps in keeping the property safe for guests.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, you may have a viable premises liability claim. However, not every accident will be the responsibility of the property owner. If the owner did not have a reasonable amount of time to fix a defect or if the victim was trespassing on the property, the owner will not be held liable for injuries. Only a trained and experienced premises liability lawyer can review your case and advise you as to whether you have a legitimate claim. Kaiser Romanello is a boutique personal injury law firm located in Parkland, Florida that focuses on helping clients obtain results and seek compensation for injuries. With 25 years of combined courtroom experience, the attorneys at Kaiser Romanello are well-versed in Florida personal injury law and are eager to zealously pursue your claims. Kaiser Romanello represents South Florida clients in a variety of different premises liability cases, including improper building security and criminal assaults, maintenance issues, defective conditions, slip and falls, swimming pool accidents, and more. To discuss your potential premises liability case, contact Kaiser Romanello to schedule a free case evaluation.
DEFICIENT BUILDING SECURITY AND CRIMINAL ASSAULTS
Property owners are required under Florida law to reasonably secure buildings, including apartment buildings, businesses, and offices, in order to maintain safety for guests. This includes maintaining working locks on access doors, providing adequate lighting inside and outside of the building, removing unwanted or uninvited individuals or criminals, and providing locks on windows. Many landlords for apartment and office buildings in heavily populated or high crime areas provide additional security measures such as secured access doors, gates, security cameras, and security guards. A landlord or property owner may be liable if you are assaulted by an intruder who enters your building due to deficient building security such as a broken lock.
MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND DEFECTIVE CONDITIONS
Florida personal injury law requires property owners to keep premises free of dangerous defects and conditions. Property owners will be liable for any foreseeable harm that results from a dangerous defect or condition. This means that the owner must adequately maintain the property and repair issues within a reasonable amount of time. Dangerous defects and conditions include:
- Warped flooring
- Rickety stairs
- Holes
- Unstable balconies
If a landlord fails to maintain the property, the property may fall into disrepair. For instance, front steps may become rusted and worn. If an accident occurs because the owner did not properly maintain the stairs, the owner will be liable for the injuries if he or she knew or should have known about the poor condition of the stairs.
In addition, if an issue arises on the property, such as a pothole, the landlord must fix the issue within a reasonable amount of time. Again, if the owner knew or should have known of the issue and an accident occurred, the owner will be liable.
SLIP AND FALLS IN PREMISES LIABILITY CASES
Slip and falls are the most commonly occurring type of premises liability accident. Slip and falls are caused by a dangerous and defective condition such as a puddle or ice that causes unsuspecting property guests to slip, fall, and injure themselves. Property owners are required to maintain their premises free of any dangerous or defective conditions such as puddles. If a property owner knew or should have known that a puddle or ice had formed on the property, the owner is required to take adequate steps to remedy the problem, such as drying the puddle or placing signs around the ice. Florida law gives the property owner a reasonable amount of time to try the puddle. If the owner does not take proper steps within a reasonable amount of time, the victim may have a valid claim for injuries caused by the slip and fall.
SWIMMING POOL ACCIDENTS
Many Florida homes have swimming pools. While a pool may be a great way to cool off during the hot Florida summer, the pool and pool deck can be dangerous places. Each year, countless victims are injured while slipping on wet pool decks, drowning in unsupervised pools, and diving into shallow waters without adequate signage. Whether the owner of a small home pool or the manager of a community pool, the owner is required to ensure the pool is adequately maintained to ensure guest safety. This includes proper signage, cleaning up spills, maintenance of pool equipment, and lifeguards if necessary. Owners may be liable for accidents that occur at the pools if the injury is foreseeable.
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION WITH THE BROWARD COUNTY PREMISES LIABILITY ATTORNEYS AT KAISER ROMANELLO TODAY
If you were injured while on someone else’s property, you may be unsure if you have a valid claim. While there are some exceptions to property owner liability, many viable claims go uninvestigated each year. Kaiser Romanello can evaluate the facts of your case and advise you as to whether you can pursue compensation for your injuries. To speak with an attorney with more than a decade of experience in premises liability, contact Kaiser Romanello now to schedule a free initial consultation.
