Lake City Premises Liability Lawyer
Premises liability involve an injury sustained on someone else’s property due to a defective or unsafe condition. Like other types of personal injury cases, premises liability cases are based on negligence. This means you have to prove the property owner was negligent or failed to maintain the property and use reasonable care. Premises liability cases can be hard to prove, which is why it’s imperative to have a skilled Lake City premises liability lawyer on your side.
Just because you were injured on someone else’s property it does not mean that the property owner was negligent. An unsafe condition is also not automatic evidence either. A skilled Lake City premises liability lawyer will work to prove that the property owner knew of the condition, or should have reasonably known that the property in question was unsafe, and still did not take reasonable corrective action.
Duty of Care from Property Owner
Florida law says the owner of a property owes a different duty of care depending on the status of the entrant. They are divided into three main categories:
- Invitees
- Licensees
- Trespassers
Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. An invitee can be someone in your home or a customer shopping in the store. Florida divides licensees into two categories — invited and uninvited. Invited licensees are social guests while uninvited licensees are one who have permission but no implied or formal invitation. The duty of care is lower with an uninvited licensee. The duty of care for a trespasser would be the lowest, but some courts have done away with the distinction between uninvited licensee and trespasser.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases
Personal injury cases that fall under the heading of premises liability are varied. Some of the more common ones include:
- Slip and falls
- Dog bites
- Defective condition on premises
- Fire
- Swimming pool accident
- Ice and snow accidents
- Escalator or elevator accidents
- Amusement park incidents
- Flooding or water leak
- Lack of security that lead to assault or injury
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
Premises Liability Injuries
Premises liability cases often involve serious or catastrophic injuries. For example, slip-and-fall accidents can result in injuries like:
- Back injuries
- Hip fracture
- Neck injury
- Various sprains or other fractures
- Concussion or other head injury
A dog bite might leave permanent damage and noticeable scarring. Swimming pool accidents can cause brain injuries due to lack of oxygen, and fires can result in significant burns and scarring. Injuries can vary widely based on the type of premises liability loss.
Retaining a Florida Premises Liability Lawyer
Because premises liability cases are complex and difficult to prove, it’s important to retain an attorney who specializes in these types of matters. At Douglas & Douglas, we have extensive experience with different types of premises liability cases. We work quickly to preserve evidence and have access to a number of industry experts who are on hand to quickly review company records or handle any investigative needs.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall, suffered a dog bite, or any other type of personal injury, contact our Lake City office at 386-752-5511 to schedule a consultation.
