Premises Liability Cases

Premises liability cases generally fall into one of three categories: Slip and Fall, Drowning, and Negligent Security.

Slip-and-Fall Cases
Slip-and-fall cases involve a claimant who slips or trips and falls as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition on someone else’s property. Slip-and-fall accidents can occur in various places, including inside or outside of a building and on residential, public or commercial premises. The outcome of any slip-and-fall case depends largely on the type of dangerous condition and the extent of the owner’s knowledge of the condition.

You may have a slip-and-fall claim if you sustained an injury because of any of the following:

  • Dangerous objects in store aisles
  • Uneven steps
  • Potholes (i.e., in parking lots or on sidewalks)
  • Uneven or cracked sidewalks
  • Broken tiles or uneven/torn carpeting
  • Food or other foreign substances on floor
  • Non-compliance with building codes (i.e., codes regarding the presence of handrails and height guidelines on building structures)

What To Do After a Slip-and_fall Accident
Document: Preserve it! Inspect the area where you fell. What caused you to fall? Be sure to take photographs of the scene and the injury and to preserve any other evidence. Remember most cell phones today have a camera and/or video camera.  Regardless of whether the condition that caused your fall is permanent or semi-permanent (for example, ice on a sidewalk), take pictures so a record of the incident is made.

Get a copy of any incident report. If one is not completed, ask the manager, property owner or other appropriate person to create one or otherwise document your fall. Insist that you are given a copy of what is recorded.  Take a picture of the form with your cell phone.

Witnesses: Get the proper information. Did anyone see you fall? Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of anyone in the vicinity of the incident, both those who saw you fall and others who were there after the incident. You may need them later to testify on your behalf.

Even if someone did not actually see the fall, the witness could describe your pain and the conditions of the floor, lighting, faulty conditions, or other circumstances immediately after you fell.

Records: Request a copy of business records. If the incident occurred in a place of business, speak with the manager or supervisor on duty. Ask him or her to make a record of the incident and get a copy of anything prepared by the business representative.

If anyone – especially an employee, supervisor, or manager – makes a comment suggesting that this has occurred before or that they were aware of the condition before your fall, write this down or get the contact information for any witness that may have been a part of this conversation.

As soon as you leave the location of the accident, write down the name and exact comments of any employees and witnesses. Also, make a record of anyone who heard the employee make any statements.

Medical and legal consultation: Seek appropriate help immediately. Contact a legal professional to preserve and protect your rights. Under Florida law, accident claims have a specific time period in which they must be filed.  You should also seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, do not delay in pursuing a claim. You may have a valid claim, but as with most injury cases, slip-and fall claims are subject to a statute of limitations. We invite you to contact the experienced attorneys at the Camerlengo Law Group for a free consultation.

Negligent Security Cases
If you are injured or assaulted in a parking lot, apartment complex, shopping mall, elevator, parking garage or other unsafe location, inadequate security may be to blame. Camerlengo Law Group handles negligent security cases. Common circumstances include inadequate security at:

  • Apartment and condominium complexes
  • Hotels or motels
  • Other commercial premises, including shopping malls, parking garages, convenience stores and others

If you or a loved one has been injured due to inadequate security at or near a business, don’t delay in pursing your claim. You may have a valid claim, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statue of limitations expires. The attorneys at the Camerlengo Law Group are able to offer free competent legal advice about your potential case.

Construction Site Injuries
Often times people are injured on construction sites or as a result of construction repairs being performed. These cases involve numerous potential defendants and require a deep understanding of the local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations governing construction sites and activities. It is imperative that you hire a law firm like the Camerlengo Law Group with experience in investigating and prosecuting construction site injuries.