The first thing you should do is notify the owner or the manager that they have a dangerous condition to give them an opportunity to correct it. The second thing you should do is gather evidence. If you can, take photos or video of the dangerous condition and the surrounding areas, get the names and contact information of anyone who could potentially be a witness in your case. Finally, if you’re injured as a result of somebody else’s property being dangerous, go see a doctor and get treated.
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.
