Broward County Premises Liability Lawyer

If you or a loved one was hurt while on someone else's property in South Florida, you may be able to obtain compensation for your pain and suffering. Property owners in Florida have a legal duty to protect people who are legally on their property. This duty requires them to ensure that their property and the buildings on it are reasonably safe.

When property owners fail to uphold this duty, visitors can be seriously and sometimes fatally injured. If negligence by a property owner leads to your injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and the pain and suffering you have endured.

At The Cochran Firm South Florida, our experienced premises liability lawyers are diligent and dedicated to holding property owners responsible for their negligence. Our team honors the legacy of our founder, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., by fighting for all our clients to ensure they are fairly and fully compensated for their suffering.

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What is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is the area of law that governs the rights, responsibilities, and duties of property owners when a person enters their property and is injured.

Both residential and commercial property owners in Florida are responsible for maintaining safe property conditions to keep their guests, customers, and others safe from the risk of injury. Under Florida law, property owners have a duty to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn of any potential dangers on the property. If they fail to do so and someone is injured as a result, they may be held liable for the victim's damages.

Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle

Our premises liability lawyers represent people who have suffered serious injuries in a wide variety of cases. These often involve:

• Slip and fall accidents in grocery stores, malls, restaurants, or parking lots
• Trip and fall incidents due to broken sidewalks, uneven flooring, or loose rugs
• Negligent security claims involving assaults or attacks on poorly secured premises
• Swimming pool injuries, including drownings
• Injuries in apartment complexes, hotels, or rental properties due to poor maintenance
• Retail store accidents, including falling objects
• Accidents on public property, such as parks, playgrounds, or government buildings
• Amusement park accidents
• Workplace and construction site accidents
• Failure to warn claims 

Proving Your Premises Liability Case in Florida

To succeed in a premises liability case in Florida, you must prove the property owner was negligent. Our legal team will immediately begin a crucial investigation to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and determine who is at fault.

The key elements required to establish liability generally include:

1. A Dangerous Condition Existed: You must first prove that a hazardous condition on the premises posed an unreasonable risk of harm.
2. The Owner Knew or Should Have Known: You must prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. This can be shown in two ways:
   • Actual Knowledge: The owner created the condition or was directly aware of the hazard.
   • Constructive Knowledge: The hazard existed for a long enough time that the owner should have discovered it through reasonable maintenance and inspection.
3. Failure to Warn or Repair: You must show that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to correct the dangerous condition or warn visitors about it.
4. Causation: You must prove that the hazardous condition directly caused your injury and that you suffered damages as a result.

Common Defenses in Premises Liability Claims

Insurance companies and their defense attorneys will fight to minimize their liability. They often use common defenses, including:

• Comparative Negligence: In Florida, the defense may argue that you were partially at fault for the accident. They may allege you were not looking where you were going or failed to notice an obvious hazard. Under Florida's comparative negligence rule, your compensation can be reduced by the percentage you are found to be at fault.
• "Open and Obvious" Doctrine: The defense may argue the condition was so "open and obvious" that a prudent person would have seen the danger and avoided it.
• Lack of Notice: The owner will often claim they did not know about the hazard and could not have been expected to know about it.

If you have already been approached by the property owner's insurance company, do not agree to any settlement without talking with one of our attorneys. The insurer's first offer is likely an unfair one designed to mitigate its own liability.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

Our South Florida premises liability lawyers will aggressively pursue your claim to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses. You may be entitled to recover damages for:

• Past and Future Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Future Lost Income or Loss of Earning Capacity
• Pain and Suffering
• Emotional Distress
• Disabilities
• Scars and Disfigurement
• Loss of Consortium for your spouse

Why Choose The Cochran Firm South Florida?

Premises liability cases can be extremely complex. The success of your case will depend on the skill and experience of your lawyer. The Cochran Firm has a national reputation for excellence and a history of securing justice for those injured by a property owner's negligence.

• We Honor a Legacy of Justice: Our attorneys work every day to provide a level of service that honors the high standard set by our founder, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr.. We are passionate about ensuring you have access to the funds needed for a complete physical, financial, and emotional recovery.
• We Are Not Afraid of Insurance Companies: We have never been afraid to take on the largest corporations or insurance companies. We know their tactics and will aggressively pursue your claim to hold them accountable for causing preventable, life-altering injuries.
• No Fee Unless We Win: We handle all premises liability cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability Cases

How much does it cost to hire a premises liability lawyer in Broward County?

At The Cochran Firm South Florida, there are no upfront costs. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means we only get paid if we win your case, and our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you.

What should I do immediately after being injured on someone's property?

First, your priority is to seek medical attention. If you are able, report the incident to the property manager or owner. Use your phone to take pictures and videos of the hazardous condition that caused your injury. Finally, contact our attorneys before speaking to any insurance adjuster.

How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Florida?

In Florida, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is limited by law. It is critical to act quickly. You must contact our firm immediately so our premises liability lawyers can begin investigating your case right away, before important evidence is lost or destroyed.

What if the property owner had a "Wet Floor" sign up?

A warning sign does not automatically protect a property owner from liability. The sign must be placed in a reasonable location and be clearly visible. Our team can investigate whether the warning was adequate or if the hazard existed for an unreasonable amount of time.

Contact Our Broward County Premises Liability Lawyers Today

If you have been injured on another's property, do not suffer in silence. Let our experienced legal team at The Cochran Firm South Florida give you a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.

We will answer your questions and clearly explain your rights. Contact us today to see how we can help. Call 1-800-THE-FIRM or fill out our online form for a Free Consultation.