Fort Walton Beach Premises Liability Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured because of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property in Fort Walton Beach, FL?  Under Florida premises liability laws, the property owner may be liable for damages. An experienced Fort Walton Beach premises liability lawyer at Brannon & Brannon can help you fight for compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more. 

Our lawyers have decades of experience in personal injury law. Over the years, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for injured clients in the Florida panhandle.

You probably have questions about your legal options. Contact our law offices in Fort Walton Beach, Florida at (850) 863-5297 to schedule a free consultation today.

How Can Brannon & Brannon Help With a Premises Liability Claim in Fort Walton Beach?

How Can Brannon & Brannon Help With a Premises Liability Claim in Fort Walton Beach?

The legal system can be complicated. Insurance companies understand these complexities–because they handle personal injury claims every day. They also have strategies that can help them pay less money than you’re owed. You deserve a lawyer who can protect you.

At Brannon & Brannon, our Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyers have over 60 years of combined experience. We’ve earned an AV-Preeminent rating from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell rating service. That’s a designation only 10% of attorneys have received nationwide.

Hiring our lawyers means you’ll have a trusted advocate to:

  • Provide sound legal advice and guidance
  • Investigate the circumstances of your accident or injury
  • Locate proof to strengthen your personal injury claim
  • Consult respected experts and specialists as needed
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies to recover the full compensation you deserve
  • Fight for you in court, if necessary

You don’t have to handle a legal battle on your own. Our experienced trial lawyers would be proud to stand up for your family’s rights. Help is just a phone call away, so call for your free consultation today.

What is My Fort Walton Beach Premises Liability Case Worth?

The value of your personal injury case depends on numerous factors. Our legal team will carefully examine the circumstances of your accident and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Examples of the factors that will be relevant in determining how much your injury claim is worth include:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • The duration of your recovery
  • Whether you’ll recover fully or suffer a permanent impairment
  • The cost of your medical treatment and out-of-pocket costs
  • Whether you can continue working during and after recovery
  • The impact of the injury on your emotional wellbeing and quality of life
  • Whether you contributed to the accident 

Every case is unique. Our Fort Walton Beach personal injury attorneys can provide more detailed information about your case value in a free case evaluation. To schedule yours, call Brannon & Brannon today.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Dangerous Property Conditions?

There are two basic types of damages available in a premises liability case: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Your economic damages award may include money for:

Types of non-economic damages include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress, including anxiety and depression
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Disfigurement or scarring
  • PTSD
  • Loss of consortium

Our lawyers at Brannon & Brannon are ready to fight for the full compensation you deserve. To learn more, give us a quick call today.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for My Injuries in Florida?

Under Florida modified comparative fault laws, victims can recover partial compensation if they’re partly to blame for getting hurt. For example, if you’re found to be 20% at fault, you can take home 80% of your settlement or verdict. But that right is eliminated if they are mostly at fault.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries

At Brannon & Brannon, our accident attorneys often represent clients who have sustained:

We’re committed to protecting your right to full compensation for your injuries. To get started, call our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation today.

Our Lawyers Handle All Types of Premises Liability Claims in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

While slips, trips, and falls are common types of premises liability claims, they’re by no means the only type of case we handle. You may be entitled to compensation anytime you’re hurt because of negligent property maintenance.

It’s possible that you may have a valid premises liability claim based on:

  • Negligent security
  • Dog bites and animal attacks
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Amusement park accidents
  • Bed bugs
  • Cruise ship accidents
  • Assault and other criminal activity
  • Fires or explosions
  • Hotel accidents
  • Elevator or escalator accidents
  • Exposure to toxic substances

Of course, slip and fall accidents are extremely common.

Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents in Fort Walton Beach include:

  • Slick or slippery floors
  • Puddles or spills 
  • Broken or uneven pavement
  • Missing guardrails 
  • Unsecured rugs or carpets
  • Potholes 
  • Debris, garbage and other obstacles in walkways
  • Loose cables or wires
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Missing stair treads or damaged stairs

Do you have questions about your legal rights after an accident on someone else’s property?  Call our Fort Walton Beach premises liability attorneys for a free case review today. 

Overview of Florida Premises Liability Laws

Property owners are responsible for maintaining their property and fixing dangerous conditions. However, they aren’t liable for every injury that happens on their property. Instead, the victim must prove that the property owner’s negligence caused the injury.

To recover damages, you’ll have to establish:

  • The property owner’s legal duty of care
  • A breach of the duty of care
  • The breach caused your accident
  • You suffered damages

The property owner’s duty varies from case to case. The scope of the owner’s duty will depend on the purpose for your visit. 

Business Invitees

Business invitees are people who visit property to conduct some type of business. Because the owner stands to make a profit, the owner owes a heightened duty of care to invitees.

The scope of that duty includes:

  • Fixing any known hazards
  • Providing adequate warning about unsafe conditions that can’t be fixed immediately
  • Conducting regular property inspections to identify any hazardous conditions 

If you were hurt while visiting a business, the owner can be financially liable if they knew or reasonably should have known about the danger.

Licensees

Property owners owe a duty of care to people invited onto their property for non-business reasons. These visitors are classified as licensees. 

The scope of this duty is more limited. The property owner isn’t required to conduct regular inspections to keep licensees safe. Instead, owners are responsible for warning guests about known dangers that aren’t obvious.

Trespassers

In most cases, property owners are not liable to trespassers who enter the property without permission.

Exception: Trespassers and the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine

Property owners can be held liable if a child trespasses because of an “attractive nuisance”. An attractive nuisance is something that would naturally attract children, but creates a risk of harm.

A swimming pool is a common example of an attractive nuisance. Property owners can be held liable if a child is hurt because the owner fails to put up a fence or lock gates to keep children out.

Cases involving the attractive nuisance doctrine are, unfortunately, common in Florida. In fact, Florida has the highest drowning rate in the nation for young children. If your child was hurt because of dangerous property conditions, call our lawyers in Fort Walton Beach, FL today. We’ll do everything possible to get the fair compensation your family deserves.

How Do I Prove the Property Owner Was Negligent?

Many different types of evidence can be valuable in proving your negligence claim.

Our lawyers will search for:

  • Evidence about past injuries on the property
  • Video surveillance footage
  • Eyewitnesses who can testify about how long the hazard had existed
  • Inspection and maintenance records
  • Information about the type of business and crime in the neighborhood
  • Expert testimony about ways the property owner could have made the property safe

You have a lot on your plate if you were recently injured. Our experienced lawyers can handle the investigation and legal aspects of your claim. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit After an Accident in Florida?

Under Florida law, you have two years to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit based on negligence. The two-year clock starts running on the date of your accident. If you were injured on public property, you’ll have even less time to take legal action. But you could have more time in certain cases.

To recover damages in connection with the loss of a loved one, you’ll have just two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Timing is important. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to locate evidence to support your claim. To start building your case, contact Brannon & Brannon for a free initial consultation today.

Contact a Fort Walton Beach Premises Liability Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Were you or a family member injured because of hazardous conditions on someone else’s property?  Call a Fort Walton Beach premises liability lawyer for help today. At Brannon & Brannon, we offer free case reviews–so call now.

Our personal injury law firm in Fort Walton Beach, FL also provides: