Whenever you set foot on someone else’s private property, you voluntarily assume at least some risk that you might get hurt in an accident, which the landowner could not have reasonably done anything to prevent. However, that does not mean landowners are never legally liable for accidents that happen on their properties or that they have no duty whatsoever to keep their premises in safe condition for you and every other lawful visitor.
If you were recently injured due to a dangerous property condition that you believe an owner should have done more to correct, you should speak with a Lake County premises liability lawyer sooner rather than later about the possibility of filing a civil suit. These types of cases can be complicated even by the usual standards of personal injury litigation, but with a dedicated attorney on your side, you will be able to more effectively enforce your rights and demand fair restitution for the harm you unfairly sustained.
What “Duties of Care” Do Landowners Owe to Visitors?
As with most other types of personal injury lawsuits, the foundation of most “premises liability” lawsuits is an allegation made by an injured person that their damages stemmed directly from a landowner violating a “duty of care” they owed them. The extent of this duty, though, changes somewhat depending on why the injured person was visiting the property to begin with, as a Lake County premises liability attorney could further explain.
Broadly speaking, Florida property owners have no duty to protect illegal trespassers from accidental injuries, but they do have a duty to provide advance warning to all lawful visitors about hazards that they already know about. Additionally, if someone is visiting lawfully for the landowner’s financial benefit and is classified as an “invitee,” owners must inspect their property regularly so they become aware of new hazards relatively soon after they appear. This is how landowners can sometimes be liable for injuries caused by hazards they had no direct knowledge of.
What to Do After Getting Hurt on Someone Else’s Land
The priority for anyone who gets injured in an accident on another person’s private property should be to seek immediate professional medical attention. In addition to ensuring any injuries they sustain do not get unnecessarily worse, the physicians who provide treatment to the injured person will produce medical documentation that can later be used to prove a specific injury actually happened in the first place and that it was as severe as the injured person claims it was.
Beyond that, it can also be helpful to do things like:
- Gather contact information from eyewitnesses to the accident
- Take photos/videos of the place where the accident happened, as well as of resulting injuries or property damage
- Make note of surveillance cameras that may have captured the accident as it happened
- Preserve all clothing, especially shoes, worn during the accident
This can produce invaluable evidence that a property liability lawyer in Lake County can use to factor into a civil claim later on.
A Lake County Premises Liability Attorney Could Help
Premises liability law can be challenging to navigate even if you have past experience with personal injury litigation, and especially while you are still dealing with the physical and psychological effects of a serious injury. For that reason, among many others, you should prioritize seeking help from seasoned legal counsel after getting hurt by a landowner’s negligence.
You have help available from a Lake County premises liability lawyer who will take on your case personally and provide the tireless support you need to pursue compensation more effectively. Call Largey Law Firm today to schedule a consultation.
