Clearwater Premises Liability Attorneys

Suffered an Injury Caused by Dangerous Conditions on Private or Commercial Property?

Property owners have a duty to keep their property safe. If you were injured on someone else’s property in Clearwater, Florida, you might be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A Clearwater premises liability lawyer at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can fight to protect your legal rights. 

Since 1955, our legal team has worked tirelessly to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our injured clients. We’d be proud to fight for you.

At Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of premises liability claims, including those involving:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Negligent security
• Assault
• Sexual assault
• Swimming pool accidents
• Broken elevators and escalators
• Negligently maintained sidewalks and parking lots
• Playground accidents
• Amusement park accidents
• Hotel accidents
• Bed bugs
• Electrocution 
• Cruise ship accidents
• Building code violations
• Dog bites and animal attacks

Would you like to learn more about our experience and proven results? Contact our law offices to schedule a free consultation today at (727) 591-3354.

What is Premises Liability?

Premises liability refers to a property owner’s legal responsibility to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. If a visitor is injured due to unsafe or hazardous conditions, the property owner or manager may be held liable for the harm caused.

Premises liability cases are more common than many people realize. They can arise from everyday accidents such as slipping on a wet grocery store floor, tripping over uneven sidewalks, or being injured due to inadequate security in a parking garage. Property owners in Clearwater have a duty to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable harm. When they fail to do so, victims may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries.

At Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers, our Clearwater premises liability lawyers represent individuals who have been injured on private, commercial, or public property. We fight to hold negligent property owners accountable and help victims recover the compensation they deserve.

Florida Premises Liability Laws

In Florida, premises liability laws are based on the concept of negligence. All negligence claims involve four basic elements, including:

• A legal duty of care
• Breach of duty
• Causation 
• Damages 

In other words, to hold another party responsible for damages, victims are required to provide evidence about the property owner’s duty of care and how the breach caused their injuries. The specific duty owed depends on the legal status of the injured visitor:

• Invitees – These are individuals invited onto the property for business purposes, such as customers in a store. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, including regularly inspecting the premises, repairing hazards, and warning about potential dangers.
• Licensees – These are social guests or individuals who enter the property with permission but not for business purposes. Property owners must warn licensees of known dangers but are not required to inspect the property for hidden risks.
• Trespassers – Generally, property owners do not owe a duty of care to trespassers. However, there are exceptions, particularly in cases involving children and what is known as the “attractive nuisance doctrine.” For example, if a child wanders onto a property and is injured by a poorly secured swimming pool, the property owner may be held liable.

Florida also follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning that if the injured party is found partially at fault for the accident (for example, ignoring a warning sign), their compensation may be reduced proportionally.

State law generally allows two years from the date of the accident to file a premises liability lawsuit.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims in Premises Liability Cases?

An unexpected accident can cause significant damage. Victims are entitled to recover compensation to account for all the damage they’ve suffered. Plaintiffs in a premises liability case are generally entitled to recover economic damages and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages represent your financial losses after the accident. They include your out-of-pocket cost for:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Past and future lost wages
• Diminished earning potential
• Rehabilitation
• Property damage

Injuries are also psychologically and emotionally damaging. Non-economic damages compensate the victims for these subjective losses. 

Examples of non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Diminished quality of life
• Disfigurement, scarring, and physical impairments
• Loss of consortium

If you were injured, our attorneys in Clearwater would be happy to review your case and discuss the types of damages that may be available.