Premises liability covers injuries resulting from unsafe conditions on another person’s property. If you have been injured on someone else’s property in Melbourne, FL, the property owner—or their insurance provider—could be held accountable for your injuries.
A skilled Melbourne premises liability attorney can help you pursue financial compensation through a claim or lawsuit. You might receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, property damage, and other related damages.
At Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, our dedicated Melbourne premises liability lawyers are here to help you seek total compensation for your losses in Melbourne, Florida. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Melbourne premises liability lawyer and take the first step toward your financial recovery. Call us at (321) 334-3929 for more help.
How Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Can Help After a Premises Liability Accident In Melbourne, FL
Our Melbourne personal injury attorneys have over 75 years of combined legal experience and have recovered tens of millions in damages for our injured clients. We’ve been recognized among the WNY Legal Elite and the Top 50 Upstate New York Superlawyers.
At Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, we promise to use our expertise to help you fight for the best outcome in your case.
Our experienced Melbourne personal injury lawyers will support you through the entire process by:
- Conducting a thorough investigation of the accident
- Collecting and examining all relevant evidence
- Evaluating the full extent of your injuries and losses
- Assessing the value of your case
- Negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance company on your behalf
- Relentlessly fighting for you in court if a fair settlement can’t be reached
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Melbourne, Florida, contact us to discuss your potential compensation and the next steps. We provide your first consultation with a Melbourne premises liability lawyer for free.
How Common Are Premises Liability Accidents in Melbourne, FL?
Over one million people visit an emergency room each year for slip and fall accidents. There were 556,519 emergency room visits reported for unintentional falls in Florida in 2022. Of those, about 18,000 occurred in Brevard County
Dog bites are another common type of premises liability accidents. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 4.5 million people are bitten by a dog each year in the United States. According to the United States Postal Service, 193 post office employees were bitten by dogs in Florida in 2023.
What Are the Leading Causes of Premises Liability Accidents?
Premises liability accidents occur when you’re injured on someone else’s property due to an unreasonably dangerous condition.
Here are some common causes of premises liability accidents:
- Slipping on wet or slippery surfaces
- Dog bites and other animal attacks
- Negligent security resulting in an injury
- Fires
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Broken stair railings
- Inadequate lighting leading to falls or other injuries
- Tripping over uneven or damaged sidewalks
- Faulty escalator or elevator
- Poorly or non-enclosed swimming pools
If you were injured by one of these conditions or were otherwise injured on someone else’s property, contact our experienced Melbourne premises liability attorneys.
What Is My Melbourne Premises Liability Case Worth?
Many factors will influence the value of your premises liability case, including:
- The severity of your physical injuries
- Your total medical costs
- The expected long-term impacts of your injuries
- The extent of your other injuries
- Whether you were partially at fault
- Limits of the applicable insurance policy
Other factors that impact the value of your claim may be present in your case. Our Melbourne premises liability attorneys will diligently review your case to estimate its value.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Premise Liability Victims in Melbourne?
If injured in a premises liability accident, you could recover compensatory damages if the property owner was negligent. Compensatory damages are intended to make up for your injuries; ideally, they restore you to your pre-accident condition.
There are two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the direct financial costs you incurred because of the accident. This could include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and decreased future earning potential.
These damages are measurable. Medical expenses are based on your treatment costs, lost wages are based on normal wages you could not earn, and property damage is based on the cost of repairing or replacing items like a vehicle or cell phone.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the less tangible effects of the accident, such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, reduced quality of life, scarring, and loss of companionship.
While these damages are intangible, their impact is genuine. However, they can be harder to quantify in monetary terms. One approach personal injury lawyers use is multiplying your economic damages by a factor of one, two, or three to calculate non-economic damages.
A skilled Melbourne premises liability attorney can evaluate the full scope of all of your damages.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Premises Liability Lawyer?
Premises liability lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, like most personal injury lawyers. Under this fee structure, you only pay legal fees if your attorney secures compensation for you from the opposing party. Your attorney doesn’t get paid unless you do.
The contingency fee is typically a percentage of the compensation awarded. Most attorneys charge between 33% and 40%. The rate may change depending on the complexity of your case, whether it goes to trial, and your lawyer’s level of experience. You don’t have to worry about a legal fee you can’t pay because it’s always a set portion of your compensation.
Contingency fees align your interests with your attorney’s. They get paid more when you get paid more.
Our Melbourne Premises Liability Lawyers Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
No matter what injuries you incur in your accident, our seasoned premises liability attorneys will fight for you to be adequately compensated.
Common injuries that occur in premises liability accidents are:
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Bruising
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Dislocated joints
- Amputations
Your injuries depend on the type of accident you were in and other factors, such as your age. We’ll fight for full compensation for all of your accident-related injuries.
What if I’m Being Blamed for the Premises Liability Accident?
Florida has a modified comparative negligence law, which allows injured parties to recover compensation if they were 50% or less at fault for an accident. If you are partly at fault and your degree of blame is 50% or less, your compensation will be reduced proportionately. You cannot recover compensation if you are 51% or more at fault.
Thus, being blamed can significantly impact your compensation. Our dedicated premises liability lawyers will defend you from comparative negligence claims if you’re being blamed for an accident.
Premises liability defendants often argue that the plaintiff was at least partly responsible for the accident. If you’re being blamed for a premises liability accident, it can impact your compensation.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Premises Liability Injury in Florida
To succeed in a premises liability claim, you must prove that the opposing party was negligent. To prove negligence in a lawsuit, you must demonstrate four key elements: duty of care, breach, damages, and causation.
Duty of Care
In a premises liability case, the duty of care is a legal responsibility the property owner owes to individuals on their property. Generally, property owners must safeguard visitors from foreseeable dangers on their property. The degree of this duty typically depends on the relationship between the owner and the visitor, such as whether the visitor was an invited guest or an unknown trespasser.
Breach
A breach occurs when the property owner fails to meet their duty of care by not adequately protecting visitors from dangers on their property.
Damages
You must show that you suffered damages in the accident, such as physical injuries or other harm.
Causation
You must show that the defendant’s actions were a direct cause of the accident.
In addition to proving these elements, you may have to defend yourself from claims by the defendant or overcome defenses they raise. You can count on our experienced attorneys to guide you through this process and fight for compensation on your behalf.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Premises Liability Injury in Lancaster?
In Florida, you must file your premises liability case within two years of the accident. You must file your case on time, so don’t delay contacting an experienced Melbourne premises liability attorney.
Contact Our Melbourne Premises Liability Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Did you suffer an injury from a hazardous condition on another person’s property in Melbourne, FL? If so, the property owner may be liable for your medical expenses, lost income, and other costs through a premises liability claim.
At Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, our knowledgeable Melbourne premises liability attorneys are ready to evaluate your case and help you fight for total compensation for your injuries. Contact our office to book your free initial consultation.