Disclaimer: Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers does not handle premises liability cases. For assistance, we recommend contacting the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (850) 561-5600.
Were you injured because of dangerous or hazardous conditions on someone else’s property in Dunedin, FL? You may have the right to take legal action. Whether you want to sue a private property owner, a local business, or a government agency, a Dunedin premises liability lawyer can help you fight for a maximum recovery.
Your attorney can handle the claims process from start to finish, protecting your rights every step of the way. For assistance, contact an experienced legal professional to discuss your options under Florida law. Most premises liability attorneys offer a free consultation.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You With Your Premises Liability Claim in Dunedin, FL
You know that your accident or injuries could have been avoided, but how can you prove that the owner of the premises is at fault? In truth, it can be hard to do. That’s why it’s essential to enlist the help of an experienced Dunedin personal injury lawyer.
Trust your attorney to handle every aspect of your premises liability claim from start to finish. They will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident and injuries
- Determine what the property owner could have (and should have) done to protect you from the type of harm suffered
- Secure key pieces of evidence during the discovery process
- Hire specialists, professionals, and expert witnesses to weigh in as they build your case and assess your damages
- Calculate what your premises liability case is worth and actively seek a settlement offer that makes you whole
- Help you make informed decisions about how to best resolve your personal injury claim
- Argue your case to a jury if you don’t receive a meaningful settlement offer
If you suffer serious injuries in an accident on someone else’s property in Dunedin, the results can be catastrophic. Hiring a premises liability lawyer to help you launch a successful legal claim for damages shouldn’t make things more stressful.
Most injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that, as a client, you pay nothing unless you win your case. Contact a personal injury lawyer in Dunedin, Florida, today to learn more.
What is Premises Liability?
You should not have to watch your every step or be overly cautious when you go out in public, enter a local business in Dunedin, or enter someone’s home. In Florida, premises liability laws help to ensure that you won’t be subject to unreasonably unsafe conditions when you’re out and about. If you are and you get hurt, you can sue the owner of the premises for your resulting damages.
However, the lengths to which a property owner has to go to protect you depend on your legal status as a visitor. Visitors can fall into three classifications: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitees
Invitees are individuals who enter property in Dunedin with the owner’s permission for a business-related reason. An invitee’s visit benefits the owner’s business interests in some way. For instance, you’d be considered an invitee if you stopped and filled your car at a local gas station, bought groceries in the local supermarket, or dined at a Dunedin restaurant.
Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. Florida requires owners to inspect their premises for hazards, fix threats to visitor safety, and warn of known risks.
Licensees
Licensees are individuals who enter property with the owner’s permission for a non-business-related reason.
In Florida, licensees fall into two categories: invited licensees and uninvited licensees.
Invited licensees are individuals who are specifically invited onto the premises, such as social guests. In Florida, invited licensees are owed the same duty of care as invitees.
Uninvited licensees are individuals who enter property lawfully, but without an express invitation. For example, you’d be considered an uninvited licensee if you entered a store for the sole purpose of using the restroom. Florida property owners can only be liable for an uninvited licensee’s injury or death if it is the result of willful or wanton conduct or the failure to warn of known hazards.
Trespassers
Trespassers are individuals who enter property without the owner’s permission. Property owners in Dunedin typically have no duty to protect trespassers from foreseeable harm. There are some exceptions, notably involving children who enter the property because of an attractive nuisance. If an owner has an attractive nuisance on their premises – like a swimming pool – they must take steps to keep trespassing children from getting hurt.
Types of Premises Liability Claims
There are many types of premises liability cases, including the following:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Dog bites
- Animal attacks
- Build collapse accidents
- Toxic exposure
- Fires and explosions
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Sidewalk accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Negligent security
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Swimming pool accidents
If you recently got hurt or have experienced the wrongful death of a family member in an accident on someone else’s property in Dunedin, call an attorney for help right away. A Dunedin premises liability attorney can evaluate your situation, explain your rights, and help you seek monetary justice from the negligent owner.
What Damages Can Be Awarded in a Dunedin Premises Liability Case?
When you get hurt because a property owner is negligent in taking care of their premises, you’ll have the right to sue for compensatory damages.
Compensatory damages can include two types of awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are designed to offset the financial costs and burdens of your injuries, which might include:
- Current medical bills, including but not limited to hospitalization, surgery, and medication
- Future medical expenses, such as rehabilitation and follow-up care
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Nursing care
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages are designed to help you cope with harder-to-value consequences of your accident, such as:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Embarrassment
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages, which are awarded to punish a defendant, can also be available if your premises liability lawsuit goes to trial. In these situations, there must be evidence that the defendant’s conduct was intentional or grossly negligent.
The negligent property owner, their insurance company, and defense attorneys will work hard to minimize your suffering and downplay your injuries. Their goal will be to limit or prevent a financial recovery. A skilled Dunedin premises liability attorney won’t let these tactics stand between you and a successful outcome.
How Long Will I Have to Seek Compensation in a Florida Premises Liability Lawsuit?
In Florida, most premises liability lawsuits involving personal injury or wrongful death are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. Barring any exceptions, you must file your claim by the second anniversary of your accident if you want to hold the owner accountable for your damages.
If you miss the filing deadline, you may lose the right to assert a legal claim altogether.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Dunedin Premises Liability Attorney
You do not have to struggle with the consequences of a recent accident in Dunedin, Florida, on your own. You got hurt because the owner of the premises was negligent by allowing a hazardous condition to exist on their property. They have to be held accountable. A lawyer can help.
Contact the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (850) 561-5600 today to discuss your rights and options for securing compensation.
