Tallahassee Premises Liability Attorney for Claims Against Negligent Property Owners

When you get injured on someone else’s property, filing a premises liability claim can be a critical step on your road to recovery. In Tallahassee, property owners and tenants have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition; and, when they fail to do so, the law holds them legally and financially accountable. In order to protect your legal rights, it is important that you speak with a Tallahassee premises liability attorney as soon as possible. 

Located in the historic Towle House on Calhoun Street, our firm represents clients who have suffered serious injuries in premises-related accidents in Tallahassee and the surrounding areas of North Florida. Our attorneys in Tallahassee include James Gustafson, Jr., Cameron Kennedy, and Carter Scott. Combined they bring many years of  experience to fighting for our clients, and we have a long-record of success in premises liability claims and litigation. Similar to other types of personal injury claims, most successful premises liability claims result in insurance settlements. But, while we seek to quickly settle our clients’ cases whenever possible, we are also well-known for our ability to secure substantial verdicts in the Florida courts.

You Can File a Florida Premises Liability Claim for Accidents on Private and Public Property

Premises liability claims involve accidents occurring on someone else’s property. Whether you or your child suffered an injury at someone else’s home, a community space, a government office building or a place of business, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our attorneys handle premises liability claims involving injuries suffered on all types of public and private property, including:

• Single-family homes, condominiums, apartment buildings and retirement communities
• Nursing homes, hospitals and other medical facilities
• Public and private schools and universities
• Parks, beaches, boardwalks and other public spaces
• Neighborhood and community pools, sidewalks and playgrounds
• Government buildings
• Malls, shopping centers and retail stores
• Sports and entertainment venues
• Office buildings, factories, warehouses and other business premises
• Residential, commercial and industrial construction sites

Claims Your Tallahassee Premises Liability Attorney Will Fight

When faced with premises liability claims, a type of personal injury lawsuit, property owners and insurance companies will typically assert a variety of different defenses. In many cases, this will include blaming the victim for his or her own injuries. With our attorneys’ substantial experience handling premises liability claims in Tallahassee and throughout Florida, we are intimately familiar with these defenses, and we know how to overcome them in order to secure just compensation for our clients. We have secured just compensation for clients injured in premises-related accidents including:

Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Slip and trips can lead to serious injuries. If you slipped and fell or tripped and fell at a business, government property or private residence, you should speak with a Tallahassee premises liability attorney about your legal rights.

Falls from Heights

Falls from heights can result in various types of severe injuries, including bone fractures, organ damage, spinal cord injuries, concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These injuries can often have long-term effects; and, when they do, they can lead to significant financial and non-financial losses.

Accidents Involving Inadequate Property Maintenance

Maintenance issues, including failure to replace worn flooring materials and failing to prevent pedestrian access to recently cleaned floors, can lead to slip, trip and fall accidents. Property owners and tenants can be held liable for safety hazards caused by maintenance issues, just like other hazardous premises conditions.

Assaults Resulting from Inadequate Security

If you were assaulted at a business (i.e., in a parking garage, in an alley or in front of a nightclub), the owner of the business may be liable for providing inadequate security. A Tallahassee premises liability attorney can assess your legal rights and help you recover just compensation.

Elevator and Escalator Accidents

Elevator and escalator accidents can result from various causes, and they can lead to various types of severe traumatic injuries. Some of the most common causes of these accidents include failure to conduct necessary maintenance, failure to prevent access to elevators and escalators in need of repair, and failure to limit the number of people who can enter an elevator or escalator at any one time.

Door and Window Malfunctions

Door and window malfunctions can also lead to various types of injuries. If an electric door closes suddenly and unexpectedly, if a manual door slams closed or an open window falls shut without warning, these are just a few examples of situations in which it may be possible to recover financial compensation.  

Defective Premises Design and Construction 

Design and construction issues can lead to slip, trip, fall and other premises-related accidents. This includes matters ranging from improperly designing stairways and handrails to improperly pouring cement or installing flooring materials.

Dangerous Merchandise Displays

Dangerous merchandise displays can lead to accidents, including falls, collisions with other shoppers and injuries from falling objects. When displaying merchandise, store owners and managers must ensure that their displays do not obstruct walkways and or otherwise present risks for injury.

Missing and Broken Handrails

Building codes require handrails to be correctly installed on stairs, raised landings and other areas. If a handrail is missing or broken, this can create a hazardous situation, and the property owner can be held liable for any accidents that occur.

Other Near-Death Accidents

Fires, electrical malfunctions and dangerous access to water are common causes of premises-related accidents. If you, your child or any other member of your family has been injured in any of these types of accidents, we encourage you to contact us promptly for a free consultation with a top Tallahassee premises liability lawyer.

Determining Fault in Florida Premises Liability Cases

A critical element of your claim is how your Tallahassee premises liability lawyer will show that the other party may be considered at fault. No matter how obvious it may be that the property owner is to blame for the accident, you have to prove that they are at fault. As a result, this is a critical step in the process – your attorney will not be able to proceed with your case unless they believe that they can prove to the insurance company or a jury that the other party is at fault. 

That said, even if your lawyer believes that the other party is at fault, that does not mean that the other party or their insurance company will agree. The other party may not be willing to accept responsibility for their actions. The insurance company may not want to pay your claim and therefore refuse to accept liability for purely economic reasons. 

Determining fault will involve a careful review of the facts gathered during the investigation and require extensive knowledge of the law. Your lawyer will be able to apply the law to the facts and determine whether the other party may be held liable for your injuries. This is why you should consult with a Tallahassee premises liability law firm with knowledge and experience necessary to make an accurate assessment of your case.

What To Do After a Premises Liability Accident

When you are injured in a premises liability accident, you may be confused about what you should do next. Our Tallahassee premises liability lawyers are here to help. 

Seek Immediate Medical Help

If possible, you should seek immediate medical help for your injuries. This may mean calling 911 or having another individual transport you to the hospital. It is essential to follow the advice and instructions of your doctor or other treating medical professional. Failure to do so may prevent you from recovering full damages in a future lawsuit.

Document Everything About Your Fall  

You must document the scene where the fall occurred as thoroughly and accurately as possible. This will help you a great deal when proving fault. Some of the ways to best document the scene include the following:

Take Photographs

Fortunately for these scenarios, most people in today’s society own a cell phone capable of taking a multitude of clear pictures. If you can safely do so, photos should be taken of any injuries sustained, as well as the exact scene where the fall occurred. If there are any contributing factors to the fall, it is necessary to photograph them as well in case they are remedied later. For example, if a loose step in a ladder caused your fall, photograph it so that subsequent repairs cannot be used as a defense to your lawsuit.

Record Witness Information

Record the names and contact information of any witnesses to your accident. Your Tallahassee premises liability lawyers will want to speak with them at a later date.

Make Detailed Notes

Write down everything that happened leading up to the accident, as well as anything else you can remember about the actual accident. Recovering damages in an accident can take months or even years, and your memory of the events may fade.

Preserve Clothing

Preserve whatever clothing and shoes you were wearing in a safe place. They may need to be examined and used as evidence by your Tallahassee premises liability lawyers at a later date.

Report the Accident to the Proper Authorities

Be sure to report the accident to whoever is responsible for the property where the injury occurred. For example, if a fall occurs in a department store, report it to the manager on duty. Make sure they give you a copy of their incident report. 

Keep Quiet

Do not speak about the accident with anyone from the insurance company or their attorney. Instead, refer them to your Tallahassee premises liability attorney. Also, do not post about the accident on any social media accounts. Finally, do not state to anyone that you are to blame for the incident. 

Speak with a Tallahassee Premises Liability Attorney for Free

If you would like to speak with a Tallahassee premises liability attorney about seeking financial compensation for a premises-related accident in Florida, please call 800-780-8607 or contact us online. We will schedule your free initial consultation as soon as possible.