Fort Lauderdale Premises Liability Lawyer

With its stunning beaches, premiere shopping centers, and scenic waterfront parks, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a vibrant and popular coastal destination for residents and tourists alike. But what happens when an unexpected slip or trip turns a fun day into a painful mishap?

Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises safe for visitors. When they fail and someone gets hurt, they can be held accountable. Premises liability cases cover injuries that happen on someone else’s property due to dangerous conditions, poor maintenance, or inadequate security. If you were injured on private or public property in Fort Lauderdale, you may have a legal claim for compensation.

The Bald Injury Lawyers manage premises liability cases throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Our attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers, and we know exactly how property owners and their insurers fight these claims. We use that insider knowledge to build stronger cases and push for full compensation. We handle the legal battle fully so you can focus on healing.

What Is Premises Liability in Florida?

Premises liability is a legal concept that allows you to hold property owners accountable when their negligence causes injuries.

Florida law is clear: property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe and warn visitors about existing dangers. When they ignore hazards or fail to fix dangerous conditions, people get hurt.

If you were injured because a property owner cut corners or looked the other way, we hold them accountable for your damages and make them pay.

Am I Eligible to File a Premises Liability Claim?

Florida law requires you— or your attorney — to prove four legal elements.

• First, the property owner owed you a duty of care based on your status as a visitor.
• Second, the property owner violated that duty by failing to maintain safe conditions or warn you of known dangers.
• Third, that breach directly caused your injury.
• Fourth, you suffered actual damages such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

Your eligibility also depends on whether you were legally allowed on the property when the accident occurred. Florida law categorizes visitors into three groups, and each category determines the level of care the property owner owed you.

How Do I Know if I’m a Legal Visitor in Florida?

Florida law categorizes visitors into three groups, and each category determines the level of care the property owner owed you. In Florida, those three categories of visitors include:

Invitee

You are an invitee if you entered the property for business purposes or mutual benefit, such as store customers, restaurant patrons, hotel guests, and concert attendees.

Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. They must actively inspect for hazards, fix dangerous conditions, and warn you about risks that are not obvious. When they fail, we hold them accountable.

Licensee

You are a licensee if you had permission to be on someone’s property for your own reasons. Social guests, friends visiting a home, and some delivery drivers fall into this category.

Private property owners must warn licensees about hidden dangers they actually know about. They do not have to inspect or fix problems they are unaware of. But if they knew and said nothing, that is negligence.

Trespasser

You are a trespasser if you entered a property without permission. Property owners owe trespassers only a minimal duty. They cannot intentionally harm you or set traps, but they generally do not have to warn you or maintain safe conditions.

What if the Trespasser Was a Young Child?

Florida makes an exception for young children through the “attractive nuisance doctrine.” Property owners can be held liable if a child gets hurt by something dangerous that naturally attracts kids, like swimming pools, trampolines, construction sites, or abandoned equipment.

To hold the owner responsible, we must prove they knew or should have known children might trespass, such as by establishing:

• The owner failed to eliminate the hazard or block access.
• The dangerous condition posed serious risk of injury or death.
• The child was too young to understand the danger.

How Much Could My Case Be Worth in Fort Lauderdale?

In an accident or injury on a property in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the question of who bears responsibility can often be more intricate than it first appears. Liability lines can get tangled, especially when multiple parties are involved in the property’s ownership, operation, or maintenance. Working with a skilled attorney who knows who to hold accountable in a premises liability lawsuit is crucial to ensure rightful compensation for victims.

You may be able to recover compensation for:

• Medical costs – both current and future medical costs related to the incident.
• Property damage
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment
• Pain and suffering
• And more

Types of Premises Liability Cases We Manage in Fort Lauderdale

When property owners fail to fix hazards, clear spills, or maintain a safe environment, they put their visitors at risk and may be held financially responsible for your damages.

Types of negligence on private and public properties include:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: No visible warning signs where there are wet floors, uneven surfaces, torn carpeting, or debris in walkways.
• Trip and Fall Accidents: Common tripping hazards include broken sidewalks, cracked pavement, potholes, exposed cables, uneven flooring, and poorly maintained stairs.
• Inadequate Security: Assaults, robberies, or attacks in parking garages, apartment complexes, hotels, or businesses with no security cameras, poor lighting, or broken locks.
• Swimming Pool Accidents: Unsecured pools, missing safety equipment, or a lack of proper fencing that leads to drownings, near-drownings, or diving injuries.
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Injuries from dogs or other animals when property owners knew the animal was dangerous and failed to restrain it.
• Negligent Maintenance: Deferred maintenance resulting in collapsed balconies, falling objects, broken elevators, malfunctioning escalators, or other structural failures.
• Toxic Exposure: Mold, asbestos, carbon monoxide, or chemical exposure due to poor ventilation, leaks, or failure to address known hazards.
• Fire Safety Violations: Injuries or deaths caused by locked exits, broken fire alarms, missing sprinklers, or other code violations.

Common Injuries That Occur in Premises Liability Accidents

Premises liability accidents can cause serious injuries that permanently change lives. A simple fall can fracture bones or cause a traumatic brain injury. Poor security can lead to a violent assault. Negligent pool maintenance can result in drowning or permanent brain damage. These injuries require extensive medical treatment, time away from work, and long recovery periods. We see the full impact of these accidents every day.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Falls on hard surfaces often break wrists, arms, hips, ankles, and legs. Elderly victims face higher risk of complications and longer recovery times. Some fractures require surgery, metal plates, or pins. Healing of these injuries can take months, and some victims never regain full mobility.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head injuries from falls or falling objects can cause concussions, skull fractures, or traumatic brain injuries. Symptoms include headaches, memory loss, confusion, dizziness, and mood changes. Severe brain injuries cause permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, and lifelong disability.

Spinal Cord Injuries

When people fall down a flight of stairs or from significant heights, they can suffer severe spinal damage, including partial or complete paralysis. Spinal cord injuries often require emergency surgery, long hospital stays, and extensive rehabilitation. Many victims face permanent disability, secondary complications, and need lifelong medical care.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and muscle damage are common in slip and fall accidents. These injuries cause chronic pain, limit mobility, and may require physical therapy or surgery. Some soft tissue injuries never fully heal.

Lacerations and Scarring

Broken glass, sharp edges, or rough surfaces can leave victims with deep cuts that require stitches or surgery. Facial lacerations leave permanent scars that affect a victim’s appearance and self-esteem. Large scars may require painful plastic surgery or skin grafts.

Wrongful Death

When property owners ignore safety, it can lead to fatal premises liability accidents, such as drownings, falls from heights, violent assaults, and fires.

When victims suffer severe injuries or families lose loved ones to preventable tragedies, we work tirelessly to hold negligent property owners accountable and secure compensation.

Evidence You Need to Support Your Premises Liability Claim

We know how insurance companies operate because we used to work for them. They deny claims by blaming victims, claiming hazards were obvious, or arguing the property owner did everything right. We fight back with evidence that proves otherwise.

Strong proof shuts down insurance company excuses, so they pay what they owe. Here is the evidence we gather to build your case and make them accountable.

• Copy of accident report
• Photos of the accident scene, the hazard that caused the accident, and your injuries
• Statements from credible witnesses.
• Medical records
• Detailed injury journal

Seek legal help right away so your attorney can gather evidence and begin protecting your rights from day one.

Common FAQs People Have About Premises Liability Claims

Still feeling unsure? More questions? These might help!