Tampa Premises Liability Attorney
You should be able to walk in a grocery store or gas station without being at risk for injury. You should not be concerned about your safety walking to your car at night in your apartment complex. Slip and falls, negligent security, dog bites, and more fall under what is known as premises liability. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises secure and safe for visitors. If you are the victim of a crime or sustain an injury while on someone else’s property, you could have the right to bring a claim for your damages. If you believe you have a valid premises liability claim, speak with the Tampa premises liability attorneys at Moore Law today.
Common Types of Premises Liability Accidents
Some of the most common types of premises liability claims involve the following types of accidents:
- Slip and falls: Slip and falls can happen anywhere, including stores, restaurants, government buildings, public sidewalks, neighbors’ homes, etc. Some hazards include ice, wet floors, uneven surfaces, debris, slippery floor surfaces, broken rails, etc.
- Swimming pool accidents: Swimming pool accidents can occur when a barrier or fence does not correctly protect the pool. Pool owners can be found liable if they did not adequately secure the pool grounds.
- Negligent Security: If you are assaulted on someone’s property, they may be held responsible in some cases. This is especially true if the property owner knew their location was likely to attract crime or there were repeated issues. Examples include being raped in a hotel or assaulting in a mall parking lot.
- Amusement park and concert accidents: With so many amusement parks and live venues in Florida, these types of premises liability cases are relatively common. Accidents at these venues can include escalator accidents or falling down stairs, flying projectiles, slip and falls, trip and falls, pyrotechnic accidents, ride or equipment malfunction, etc.
- Dog bites: Dog, or other animal bites, can also fall under premises liability. Dog owners are responsible for bites in public places and private spots if the victim was there lawfully and did not provoke the dog.
- Exposure to hazardous substances: This type of claim sometimes occurs in rental properties where the tenant has informed the landlord repeatedly about problems with the unit. Older homes and apartments that have lead paint or asbestos that can result in problems later in life.
Proving Liability in a Premises Liability Case
Being on someone’s property doesn’t automatically make them liable for your injuries. You must show that the property owner failed to exercise reasonable care regarding some aspect of their property that caused your injuries. The property owner had to know or should’ve reasonably known that the hazard or problem existed.
Proving liability in premises liability cases can be challenging in some situations. Insurance companies are often quick to dismiss these claims, especially slip and falls, due to fraud. For example, if you slip and fall in a grocery store immediately after someone spills something, the store likely wouldn’t have any liability. If the spill was there for hours and then you fell, they had ample time to discover and clean up the hazard.
Contact a Tampa Premises Liability Attorney
If you believe you have a valid premises liability claim, speak with the Tampa premises liability attorneys at Moore Law today. Contact our office to schedule a consultation.
