Owners and managers of convenience and grocery stores or other commercial properties have a responsibility to ensure that customers entering the premises are safe from hazards. Premises liability is an area of personal injury law that covers a range of cases, including slip and fall and inadequate security lawsuits.
The statutes are complex, and successfully navigating the process and proving commercial premise liability is challenging, which means you need an experienced premises liability attorney. Schedule a consultation with a seasoned Lake County commercial property liability lawyer if you need help with a case.
Example Causes of Premises Liability Cases
There are many causes of commercial premises liability lawsuits that your Lake County lawyer could handle. Some examples include:
- Falling due to a slippery floor at a grocery store
- Falling down stairs because of insufficient lighting
- Injuries resulting from elevator or escalator defects
- Tripping hazards, such as loose or torn rugs and mats
- Parking lot potholes, cracked pavement, and other walkway defects
- Violent attacks because of inadequate security in areas with higher crime rates
- Burn injuries from defective wiring or failure to remove hazards blocking escape routes
Establishing liability requires showing the court that the defendant knew or should have known of the hazard and failed to warn you or take prompt steps to correct the issue.
Visitor Categories
To obtain damages after avoidable accidents on commercial properties, it is an essential component of legal action to establish your visitor category. The owners’ legal obligation depends on which visitor group you belong to.
Invitee
The property owner owes invitees the highest level of duty to ensure they are not at risk of harm from foreseeable accidents. Invitees are typically patrons of businesses, including stores or malls. The owner’s liability is significant because the invitee enters for reasons mutually beneficial to both parties. The person responsible for the property must regularly maintain and inspect for defects, repair them promptly, and warn customers until the work is complete.
Licensee
This second group enters the premises for personal benefit, such as a neighbor arriving for a social visit. The owner has a legal duty to warn them of potential risks. If they fail to warn licensees and there is an accident, the court could hold the owner financially responsible.
Trespasser
Trespassers are anyone who enters another’s property without permission, and the civil statute does not make the possessor accountable for their safety. However, they cannot set traps or intentionally cause harm to trespassers without the possibility of civil liability.
Your commercial property liability attorney could review the Lake County rules and regulations and determine which visitor category you belong to.
Deadline for Filing the Claim
The statute of limitations determines the length of time you have to pursue monetary damages in personal injury claims. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11, the petitioner must file the case within two years of the day the accident happened. Quick action ensures that the evidence is available during the investigation and provides the required time to build a powerful case for damages.
Therefore, getting started promptly after suffering injuries is essential. During the consultation, our commercial property liability attorney in Lake County could answer questions about the court procedure and offer advice and guidance.
Speak to a Qualified Commercial Premises Liability Attorney in Lake County Today
Property owners, managers, and possessors must regularly inspect their properties for defects that could increase the risk of harm to visitors. They must also complete regular maintenance to ensure the area is free of hazards that could harm visitors in an avoidable accident.
You have the right to pursue payment if a negligent landowner caused you harm. Meet with our hard-working and knowledgeable Lake County commercial property liability lawyer soon to review your case and options. Contact us for your free consultation.
