If you have suffered an injury on another person’s property in central Pinellas County, you could be entitled to financial compensation. Property owners have a duty to protect their visitors from harm, and their failure to will leave them liable for any damages that occur.
Pursuing legal action against a property owner can be challenging. Frequently, these owners have the support of both insurance adjusters and attorneys. A Pinellas Park premises liability lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you hold that property owner accountable for their negligence.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Injuries
There are different types of monetary damages that could result from a premises liability accident. These forms of compensation exist for different reasons. Economic damages are intended to return you to the financial position that you were in prior to your accident.
Non-economic damages are a form of compensation for the hardships you suffered due to your injuries.
Economic Damages
Economic damages could help you recoup your out-of-pocket losses following a serious injury. However, these damages often cover your expenses even if you never pay for them directly. For example, hospitals will typically hold off on collection efforts and await payment from the insurance companies instead of pursuing you directly.
The benefit of economic damages is that these losses are quantifiable. Because you are attempting to return yourself to the financial position you were in prior to your injury, you could identify down to the dollar what you are owed.
Should your case go to trial, there is a variety of evidence that could be used to prove your economic damages. These include pay stubs, canceled checks, invoices, or receipts. Some common examples of economic damages include lost wages or medical bills.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages have nothing to do with returning you to your previous financial position. Instead, this form of compensation is intended to provide you with damages for the other losses you suffered due to your injuries.
These losses are generally subjective, making it difficult to identify an exact dollar value for your case. Some of the most common examples of non-economic damages include the loss of consortium, pain and suffering, or mental anguish.
Liable Parties in a Pinellas Park Premises Liability Case
Like with any injury case, one of the early steps of a premises liability case is to identify the individuals or entities responsible for your accident. This can require an in-depth investigation, as the responsible party might not always be obvious.
It is worth noting that there could be multiple parties liable for your injuries. While you have the right to pursue each of them, it is worth considering which parties have the assets available to cover your losses.
Property Owners
The most common defendant in a premises liability lawsuit is the owner of the property in question. Owners of private residences, businesses, or even government buildings have a duty to protect their visitors from unreasonably dangerous hazards.
Renters
The renter of a commercial or even residential property could be on the hook for damages following a premises liability accident. The terms of the lease will play an important part in determining if the renter or property owner was responsible.
Business Owners
The owners of a business could be responsible for an injury that occurs at their place of business—even if they do not own the property. As such, you have the right to pursue the owner or operator of the property depending on who oversees the property.
Property Managers
For larger properties, it is not uncommon for the property owner to hire a manager. A property manager is responsible for every aspect of overseeing the property, including managing security and addressing property defects.
When the property manager is negligent in their duties, they could face liability for any injuries that occur. It is possible in these cases that you could pursue legal action against both the owner and property manager.
Security Companies
In some cases, a security company could be responsible for a premises liability case. If you are the victim of a violent assault and there was a security company hired to oversee the premises, you might be able to hold them accountable for your assault. This is an option when the company’s negligence resulted in your injuries.
The Time Limit to File Your Lawsuit is Limited
There is a deadline – called the statute of limitations – that is in effect for every personal injury lawsuit filed in Pinellas Park. This deadline is governed by state law, and the failure to comply with it could have serious consequences.
The statute of limitations for premises liability cases is governed by Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). According to the statute, you typically have four years from the date of your injury to file your lawsuit. If you do not file on time, the court has the power to dismiss the case entirely.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases
There are countless ways for injuries to occur on the property of another person. Some accidents are the result of bad luck or your own clumsiness. However, many injuries happen due to hazards that the owner or occupier of the property should have addressed. Some common examples of premises liability accidents include:
- Swimming pool accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Exposed wiring
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Animal attacks
- Negligent security
When these accidents lead to serious injuries, the financial compensation could be significant. Before you move forward with a premises liability case on your own, let our team evaluate your claim and guide you through the process.
Get in Touch with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Now
At our firm, our lawyers go the extra mile for those who have suffered injuries due to a premises liability accident in Pinellas Park. Our client testimonials show our dedication to securing justice and compensation for victims of negligence.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. To get started, call 1-800-747-3733, and obtain a free consultation with a compassionate team member.
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