A hazardous condition is an unreasonably safe condition on a property. For example, a bounce house might not have the most stable floor but when you’re shopping in a grocery store, you expect the floor to be stable and clear of debris. Who’s responsible for that is the building owner or premises owner and property manager. They have a duty to keep visitors to their property safe.
Common Florida Premises Liability Lawsuits
When a person files a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against a negligent property owner, it is often called a “premises liability lawsuit.” Many different types of accidents fall into this category. They include:
- Dog bites and animal attacks – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 4.7 million dog bites occur each year. About 800,000 of those dog bites require medical attention. The very young and the very old are the most common victims. Unrestrained dogs on the owner’s property cause 58 percent of dog-attack deaths, the CDC says. A dog bite can leave both physical and emotional scars that may last for years.
- Slip and fall accidents – More than one million Americans suffer slip-and-fall injuries each year, the CDC reports. These injuries can range from mild to deadly. Slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can require medical attention for the victim’s lifetime. Common hazards or safety issues that can lead to a slip-and-fall accident include: broken or uneven sidewalks, floor tiles, decking and steps; obstructed walkways, sidewalks, store aisles or stairways; inadequate lights in parking lots, entryways, hallways, stairways and stairwells; broken handrails and stair treads on stairways; malfunctioning doors, windows, elevators and escalators.
- Swimming pool accidents – Ten people die in the U.S. each day from unintentional drowning. The CDC says that drowning is the sixth leading cause of unintentional injury deaths overall. It is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 14. Because South Florida and Treasure Coast residents enjoy their swimming pools year around, the risk of suffering a swimming pool accident or death is even higher.
