You can never anticipate what sort of accidents will happen outside your home. Whether you are at the grocery store, a friend’s house, a restaurant or the mall, any hazardous situation could result in severe injuries. When an accident leaves you unable to work and earn income, it could also place a large financial burden on you and you may be under the overwhelming stress of not knowing what to do next.
If you were injured on public or private property, you might be able to file a lawsuit against the person responsible. The legal process can be complicated, but a dedicated accident attorney could guide you through your case. Reach out to a Tampa premises liability lawyer today for help with seeking the financial compensation you need.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability law includes injuries that happen on public or private property that is not your own, and it is caused by some sort of unsafe condition. To win a premises liability claim, many elements need to be proven:
- You were allowed to be on the property and were not trespassing.
- You were injured and the hazard at the property directly caused your injuries.
- The injury could not have been reasonably avoided and the hazard was not obvious.
- Another party was negligent- we discuss more about establishing negligence more below.
Everyday Situations that may Lead to Leading to an Accident in Tampa
There are several types of hazards that could turn an everyday activity into a dangerous accident. Our cases include slip-and-fall injuries, assaults, drownings, and other injuries might be caused by:
- Spilled liquids and slippery floors
- Uneven walkways and unexpected step-ups/drop-offs
- Construction defects and code violations
- Falling merchandise or sharp protrusions
- Insufficient lighting in stairwells and parking lots
- Dangerous or unsupervised swimming pools
- Insufficient or negligent security
- Animal attacks
- Other foreseeable hazards
- Negligent security
- Swimming pool accidents
Talk to our legal team about the circumstances of your accident to determine if you are eligible to file a premises liability lawsuit.
How is Fault Determined in Premises Liability Claims?
Like most personal injury claims, premises liability cases are often based on a legal theory of negligence. To prove that a property owner is responsible for the injuries you sustained on their premises, you must prove that they failed to exercise reasonable care in keeping you safe. This could be due to a failure to maintain the property or address hazards.
Property owners have a responsibility to remedy unsafe conditions and adequately warn visitors about potential dangers on the premises. This rule applies to hazards that the owner knew or should have known about. If you are pursuing a premises liability claim, it is best to hire a lawyer who could help you establish negligence.
How Can the Status of the Visitor Impact the Case?
Your status as a visitor directly affects the duty the property owner has towards you. If the owner invited you to the building or outdoor space, you are owed the highest duty of care. Additionally, for an accident in a retail store, the business owner would owe you a duty of care as a licensee.
Trespassers may not be able to file suit, as property owners generally have no obligation to warn intruders of hazards or remedy unsafe conditions for people who are not permitted on the premises. A local premises liability attorney could help you determine your legal status in this type of case.
Work with a Tampa Premises Liability Attorney
If you or a loved one were harmed in an accident, taking legal action is probably not the first thing on your mind. However, if you wait too long to file, you may be barred from pursuing damages.
The aftermath of being injured in a premises liability accident can be a challenging time for you and your family. You may be at a loss with how to proceed. Working with a Tampa pedestrian accident lawyer may be the most effective way to protect your right to pursue damages for your injuries. Holding negligent parties accountable may also prevent them from inflicting similar injuries to others in the future.
At Hancock Injury Attorneys, we wish to help you navigate your claim as you focus your efforts on recovery. Call a Tampa premises liability lawyer now to get started with your case or click the button below to schedule your free case consultation.