Were you injured because of dangerous property conditions on someone else’s premises? Property owners in Tampa, FL, have certain responsibilities. If you were hurt on their property, they may owe you compensation. Contact an experienced Tampa premises liability lawyer at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about your legal options.
Our lawyers have over 15 years of experience handling complex injury claims. We’ve helped clients across the Tampa Bay area recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
To schedule your free consultation, contact or call (813) 430-3338 our law offices in Tampa, Florida, today.
How Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help If You Were Injured on Someone Else’s Property in Tampa, FL
Premises liability cases are often tough to prove. That’s especially true if the property owner fixes the danger immediately after you’re injured–as they often do. When it comes to recovering full compensation, hiring an experienced Tampa personal injury attorney can be the most important thing you do.
Our lawyers at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers are passionate about helping our injured clients get back on their feet again. When you hire us, your attorney will be involved in every aspect of your claim. We’ll also be available to answer your phone calls and make sure you understand what’s happening with your case.
Additionally, when you hire us, your legal team will:
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation
- Collect and analyze all available evidence as we build your case
- Locate all parties who share financial responsibility
- Enlist experts who can testify about contested issues in your case
- Protect you from victim-blaming strategies
- Negotiate on your behalf for a full settlement
Don’t wait to get legal assistance. Deadlines exist in every case and, if you were injured, the clock is already ticking. Call our Tampa personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today.
What Is Premises Liability in Florida?
Property owners in Florida have legal duties when they invite others to enter their premises. Whether you’re there by the owner’s express or implied consent, the owner must maintain the property in a reasonably safe condition. You shouldn’t have to constantly try to protect yourself from danger.
When a property owner is negligent and the property becomes unreasonably dangerous in some way, the owner becomes liable for resulting injuries.
What Must I Prove To Recover Compensation in a Tampa Premises Liability Case?
Premises liability is a type of negligence. Property owners aren’t automatically liable for any injury sustained on their premises. You’ll have to prove that the property owner failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution.
In other words, you must prove:
- The owner had a legal duty of care, meaning that you weren’t trespassing
- They breached their duty through some unreasonable act or omission
- The breach caused you to suffer some harm
- The damages you sustained as a result (i.e., medical bills, lost income, pain, etc.)
Many factors are relevant when it comes to determining whether the property owner’s acts were “reasonable,” including:
- The likelihood that an injury would occur
- The difficulty of repairing the hazard or warning others of the danger
- The severity of the injuries that occurred
- Whether the danger was obvious or difficult to spot
The scope of the property owner’s duty of care is also important to understand.
What Is the Property Owner’s Duty of Care?
Property owners have different levels of responsibility depending on why you were on the premises.
Business owners owe a heightened duty to invitees. Invitees include people who visit a property for business purposes and those who enter public property. Whenever you dine in a restaurant, shop at a grocery store, or enter a public park, you’re classified as an invitee.
When it comes to invitees, property owners must:
- Repair unsafe property conditions in a reasonable amount of time
- Inspect the premises regularly to locate hidden dangers
- Provide adequate warning about dangers that can’t be fixed immediately
Private property owners also have legal responsibilities. When you visit someone’s property for non-business purposes, you’re classified as a licensee. While you have permission to be on the premises, you’re there for some type of mutual benefit–rather than to help the owner make a profit.
When you’re a licensee, the property owner must warn you about non-obvious dangers. They aren’t required to take extra steps to inspect the property for hidden dangers.
Trespassers and the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine
Property owners have no obligation to keep their property safe for adult trespassers. However, one exception exists for young children.
Some property features are dangerous yet attractive to young children. The classic example of an attractive nuisance is a swimming pool. The law assumes that property owners should expect that it’s possible for young children to wander onto the premises because they’re attracted by the “attractive nuisance.” So, they’re required to take precautions to keep trespassing children away from the danger.
Our Attorneys Handle All Types of Premises Liability Claims in Tampa
Some examples of the types of premises liability claims our law firm handles include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Falling objects
- Negligent security
- Fires
- Bed bugs
- Cruise ship accidents and injuries
- Parking garage accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Sidewalk accidents
- Poisonings
- Swimming pool accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Escalator and elevator accidents
- Negligent property maintenance
- Construction and workplace accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Building collapse
Slips, trips, and falls are the most common ways to get hurt while visiting someone else’s property. However, premises liability covers any type of injury that occurs due to dangerous property conditions.
What Is My Tampa Premises Liability Case Worth?
Our lawyers will examine multiple factors while we’re assessing your case value.
The most important tend to be:
- The severity of your injury and how it impacts your life
- Whether you lose income during recovery because you can’t work
- Your medical treatment costs
- Whether your injuries will cause any permanent damage
- Damage to your quality of life and lifestyle
- Whether you share any blame
- The evidence that’s available to establish liability
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
Don’t expect the insurance company to hand over a fair settlement without a fight. Enlist the help of our experienced attorneys in Tampa to maximize your compensation award.
What Types of Damages Can Personal Injury Victims in Tampa Pursue?
You can pursue compensation for economic and non-economic damages. In other words, both your financial expenses and personal losses should be included.
Examples include:
- Medical expenses, including future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
Taking the insurance company’s first offer is often a mistake. An experienced Tampa premises liability attorney can assess your damages and calculate their value. Contact our team today to learn more about how we can help with this process.
How Much Does it Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Tampa?
We don’t charge any upfront or hourly fees at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers. Instead, we work on a contingency fee basis. Like most personal injury law firms, we take a percentage of your settlement or verdict once your case is resolved. Before you hire us, you’ll agree to a set percentage.
We’ll make sure you understand the details of this arrangement during your free case review. The important thing to remember is that you only pay if we win compensation in your case.
Can I Recover Damages If I Share Fault for My Own Injuries in Florida?
Under Florida law, you lose your right to damages if you were more than 50% responsible for your own injuries. When you share some, but not most, of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault.
Common Injuries Caused By Unsafe Property Conditions in Tampa
Our lawyers in Tampa represent injury victims in all types of premises liability cases, including those involving:
- Broken bones
- Severe cuts and disfigurement
- Nerve damage
- Broken hips
- Dislocations
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Don’t hesitate to reach out for legal assistance today. Even if you’re still dealing with a painful recovery, our lawyers can get the ball rolling and start collecting evidence to prove your case.
What Is the Deadline To File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Florida?
The statute of limitations in Florida is two years. In most personal injury cases, you have two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year clock starts running on the date you knew or reasonably should have known about the injury. Typically, that’s the date your injuries occurred.
Contact a Tampa Premises Liability Lawyer To Arrange a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal rights after an injury? At Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers we offer a free case evaluation. During that time, we’ll discuss your case and help you understand your options for recovering compensation. If you were hurt on someone else’s property, call an experienced Tampa premises liability attorney to schedule your consultation today.
