Articles Posted in Premises Liability

Traveling fairs and carnivals can be a great source of fun for the entire family. Ferris wheels, sweet treats, and an assortment of games are designed to provide relatively inexpensive entertainment to all ages. While most people enjoy these places without incident, the reality is some do sustain preventable injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury at a local fair or carnival, you need to reach out to a skilled Miami premises liability attorney who can help. At our Law Offices, we are committed to getting clients the compensation they deserve for their harm.

According to the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA), an estimated 500 million guests visit carnivals, fairs, and festivals each year. OABA believes that over half of these individuals partake of mobile amusement rides. Given the favorable climate, a number of fairs and carnivals take place in Florida each year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates traveling carnival rides, but it is often understaffed and does not sufficiently monitor the rides for safety. While the risk of injury is relatively low, one in 9 million according to OABA, the reality is some people do get injured. Injuries at a carnival or fair can happen in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:

• • Ride injuries (i.e., on roller coasters, Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, or carousels);

If you or someone close to you has been injured or killed in a preventable accident on someone else’s property, you need to reach out to a seasoned Miami premises liability attorney who can help you understand your legal rights and options.

Earlier this month, a pedestrian bridge collapsed at Florida International University that killed six people and injured nine others. Now, a man who claims he was seriously injured while riding his bicycle under the bridge at the time it collapsed is suing the University for damages. The lawsuit will seek to answer many of the same questions under investigation by federal and state officials. The National Transportation Safety Board is trying to figure out the exact cause of the accident. One of the main issues in the case is if there was reason to know the bridge was in a dangerous condition. There are reports that the lead engineer noticed the cracks on the bridge and called a state official to warn of these cracks, but he insisted there was no immediate cause for concern.

Those injured in the bridge collapse will likely be able to recover compensation through a negligence claim. Negligence law intends to hold individuals accountable who act carelessly with little regard for others’ safety. To show negligence, however, the plaintiff does not need to show that the defendant had ill intent or meant to cause the harm. Instead, negligence takes place when a person or company fails to use the level of care and caution that a person or company using reasonable care would have used in the same or similar circumstances. For example, a company using reasonable care would have taken prompt action to remedy cracks on a bridge, understanding the potential risk of accidents, injuries, and death associated with such cracks.

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Trip and fall accidents can lead to extremely serious injuries, such as broken bones, neck and back injuries, and even brain injuries. If you have been injured at a shopping center, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the property owner. At the Law Offices, our seasoned Florida premises liability attorneys are committed to helping clients pursue the compensation they need for their harm.

A customer who was injured after she tripped over a shopping cart left in an Orlando Walmart aisle filed a personal injury claim against the retail store. The facts of the case were as follows. On February 5, 2016, the plaintiff was at Walmart when she tripped and fell over a shopping cart that was left in the walkway. As a result of this fall, the plaintiff claims she suffered bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, lost wages, and medical costs. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant shopping center failed to use due care to maintain its premises in safe conditions. Specifically, she argues that Walmart failed to properly inspect and maintained the walkway, failed to remedy the hazard, and failed to warn the plaintiff of the hazard.

Shoppers expect a safe environment, free of hazards, when they shop. Property and storeowners are responsible for keeping their premises safe and free of dangers. As a result, if a shopper is hurt in the store, that shopper may be able to hold the property owner accountable through a Florida premises liability claim. Premises liability law makes property owners responsible for certain injuries suffered on the property. The degree of care required from a property owner depends on the type of visitor to the property. Visitors can be categorized in one of three ways:

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Florida restaurants have a legal obligation to keep their properties safe for customers. From the parking lot to the dining spaces, property owners have a duty to make sure that diners are not exposed to dangers. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident at a restaurant, we can help. At our Law Offices, our seasoned Miami premises liability attorneys can evaluate your case and help you understand your legal rights and options. We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns at every step of the way.

Fall accidents in restaurants are more common than you may think. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that there were more than 50,000 reported injuries in the restaurant industry in 2016, a number of which were caused by slip and fall accidents. A number of risk factors, such as spills on walking surfaces as well as rain or mop water on the floors, can lead to slipping hazards that can cause people to slip and fall. In addition, loose mats or rugs, debris, and other hidden hazards can create tripping hazards within a restaurant. According to BLS data, about 15,000 reported nonfatal slip, trip, and fall injuries occurred in the restaurant industry in 2016.

All property owners in Florida have a duty to maintain their property and make sure it is free of hazards in order not to cause injuries to those who enter the land. The specific duty owed by a landowner to a visitor depends on the status of the visitor. For instance, a property owner owes a higher duty of care to a paying customer than a trespasser. In Florida, business owners, including restaurant owners, owe their customers the highest duty of care. These customers are legally categorized as people who are legally known as ‘invitees’ – individuals who are invited onto the property for business reasons. As a result, restaurant owners must protect invitees against known and reasonably ascertainable dangers. For example, if there is a spill on the floor, the restaurant should immediately put a “wet floor” sign to warn customers and then clean up the spill as quickly as possible. If the hazard cannot immediately be remedied, the restaurant should leave signage there or try to block off the area.

By this time of year, students and parents have typically settled into new school routines in their new classrooms. A new school year can be exciting, and parents expect their children to be safe as their children transition into it. Unfortunately, the reality is that many children in Florida and throughout the United States are injured on school grounds each year. If your child has been hurt in a classroom at school, you need to reach out to a skilled Miami school injury attorney who can evaluate your case and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

According to the research conducted by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, an estimated 2.2 million children ages 14 and under sustain school-related injuries each year. While a number of these are unintentional, they are often results of negligence, such as lack of teacher supervision or poorly maintained facilities on a school campus. In fact, lack of supervision causes or contributes to approximately 40 percent of playground injuries.

School injuries can have a variety of causes, including the following:

• Defective playground equipment;
• Failure to supervise;
• Failure to use appropriate safety equipment for a given activity;
• Improper food preparation;
• Lack of emergency preparedness;
• Insufficient maintenance on school grounds (such as not removing asbestos tiles).

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