Every Palm Harbor property owner has a responsibility to maintain their premises securely. One of the most common injuries caused by property hazards is slip and fall injuries. When a land owner fails to maintain safe premises, they could face legal liability for a slip and fall injury. A personal injury attorney could provide guidance on recovering compensation related to these injuries.
When an attorney reviews your case, they could provide you with insight into the viability of your injury claim. Call today to have your case thoroughly reviewed by an experienced Palm Harbor slip and fall lawyer.
Property Owner Obligations in Slip and Fall Accident
Property owners are required to take specific steps to protect their visitors from slip and fall injuries. However, the extent of the duty owed to each visitor varies. Under Florida law, there are three different types of visitors. Property owners owe each category a different duty of care. The three categories are invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitees
A property owner in Palm Harbor owes the highest duty of care to invitees. Invitees are anyone that enters the property for the benefit of the landowner. Typically, this involves a business relationship – like a customer entering a hardware store. A property owner owes invitees a duty to protect them against any hazard they are aware of or should be aware of.
Licensees
Property owners are not held to the same standard for licensees as they are for invitees. A licensee is any person that enters the property for their own purposes. The most common example of a licensee is a social visitor. Property owners must warn licensees of any known hazards on the premises. This is a noticeably lower standard compared to invitees, as the property owner is not required to prevent or remove the hazard.
Trespassers
Trespassers are visitors that enter property without permission. Typically, Florida law does not protect trespassers beyond suffering intentional harm. In most cases, a trespasser faces an uphill battle in recovering damages.
Compensation in a Slip and Fall Accident
To some, a slip and fall accident may seem like a minor annoyance. However, even people in perfect health could suffer severe injuries in a fall. These falls often result in a variety of injuries including concussions and broken bones. A Palm Harbor slip and fall attorney could take stock of a victim’s injuries and seek to recover monetary compensation from the negligent property owner. Some of the damages common to slip and fall lawsuits include:
Medical Bills
Medical expenses are common in slip and fall accidents. Falls frequently lead to emergency room trips, and in many cases, they could also involve months of follow up visits or physical therapy. A plaintiff may seek to recover the costs of these treatments through litigation.
Lost Wages
If the injuries from a slip and fall accident caused an injury victim to miss work, they are entitled to seek damages to cover their missed paychecks. For permanent injuries, these damages may also include compensation for diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
A plaintiff may also seek compensation for any physical pain they experienced due to the fall. While it may be difficult to put a dollar value on pain, juries frequently award these damages when injuries are severe.
Contact a Palm Harbor Slip and Fall Attorney
Many slip and fall lawsuits are more complex than they seem on the surface. At trial, your attorney must prove that the landowner owed you a duty, that they breached that duty, and that breach led to your slip and fall. To begin the process of holding a negligent property owner accountable, contact a Palm Harbor slip and fall lawyer right away.
