Indian River County Slip & Fall Lawyer

Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for all who lawfully use them. Unfortunately, they don’t always live up to this responsibility, and sometimes, people are seriously injured as a result. If you were injured due to dangerous conditions in a retail store, parking lot, or anywhere else, you can depend on a dedicated Indian River County slip and fall lawyer from Ullian Trial Law to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact our firm for a free consultation today.

What is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is a legal concept that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for maintaining their premises in a reasonably safe condition. In Florida, this means that owners, business operators, landlords, and even some tenants have a duty to keep their property free from hazards that could cause harm to visitors. If they fail in this duty, and that failure results in injury, they can be held liable.

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common forms of premises liability cases. These can happen in countless ways–spilled liquids left unattended in a grocery aisle, loose floorboards in a rental property, inadequate lighting in a stairwell, or uneven pavement outside a store. However, not every injury on someone else’s property will automatically qualify as a viable legal claim. You must show that the property owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the dangerous condition and failed to address it.

Importantly, Florida law categorizes visitors into different groups–invitees, licensees, and trespassers–and the level of care owed can vary depending on your status. Invitees, such as customers in a business, are owed the highest duty of care. This means business owners must regularly inspect for hazards and take prompt action to fix or warn about them.

Premises Liability Cases We Handle

Ullian Trial Law handles all types of premises liability cases, including those involving:

• Apartment Accidents
• Parking Lot Accidents
• Sidewalk Accidents
• Retail Store Accidents
• Stairway Accidents
• Elevator/Escalator Accidents
• Negligent Security Accidents
• Restaurant Accidents

How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Premises Liability Claim?

To succeed in a premises liability case in Florida, you must prove specific elements. While every case is unique, you will generally need to establish the following:

• The property owner owed you a duty of care. This depends on why you were on the property, but in most slip and fall cases involving businesses, the owner has a duty to maintain safe conditions for lawful visitors.
• A dangerous condition existed on the property. This could be anything from a puddle of water to a broken handrail, uneven flooring, or poor lighting.
• The property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. You can prove actual knowledge (the owner was aware) or constructive knowledge (the hazard existed for such a length of time that they should have discovered it through reasonable inspection).
• The owner failed to repair or warn about the hazard. This might include not cleaning up a spill promptly, failing to post warning signs, or ignoring known structural issues.
• You suffered injuries as a direct result of the dangerous condition. You must connect the hazard to your injury with medical evidence and testimony.
• Your damages are measurable. This includes medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses directly linked to the incident.

Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability Claims in Florida

If you are considering a slip and fall or other premises liability claim in Indian River County, it is critical to act quickly. Florida law imposes strict deadlines for filing lawsuits, known as the statute of limitations. As of current state law, most premises liability claims must be filed within two years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline can bar you from recovering any compensation, no matter how strong your case may be.

Contact a Vero Beach, Florida Slip & Fall Lawyer

Florida law makes it challenging for individuals to win premises liability claims, which is why you’ll need a knowledgeable and skilled Indian River County slip and fall lawyer in your corner. Here at Ullian Trial Law, we have extensive experience representing clients who’ve been injured due to dangerous property conditions, and we stand ready to put that experience to work for you. Contact our firm today so we can get started working on your case.