Jacksonville Premises Liability Attorneys

Premises liability is an area of the law that focuses on the legal responsibility of property owners for accidents that occur on their property. This may sound simple, but the issue becomes far more complex when you begin to explore the many definitions of property, of ownership, and of what it means for someone to “visit” the premises. The truth is that it is not automatic in Florida for a property owner to be held solely liable for an accident that occurred on the premises, even if the visitor was invited and the hazard is explicit.

The law proscribes different definitions of visitors, and each comes with its own legal status, rights, and responsibilities. Invitees, for instance, are exactly what they sound like – individuals such as store customers whose presence is actively sought and encouraged by the owner of the property. Licensees, on the other hand, represent a slightly less explicit form of welcome, including social guests who may be invited, but do not present a commercial relationship. Finally, trespassers are considered the least welcome legal status, and as such may be held far more liable for an injury than either of the prior two categories.

A uniform standard of care is generally applied to property owners and the property they posses, and that means a certain threshold must be met. The owner must continually inspect the property for hazards and either take steps to remove them, or to make their presence plain. Liability arises on the part of the property owner if there is a break anywhere in this chain of reasonable care, such as if the owner was or should have been aware of the hazard, and he or she failed to resolve it or to warn visitors. When an injury results because of such negligence, a Florida premises liability case may result in damages awarded to the plaintiff.

If you or someone you know has been injured on the property of another party and you believe negligence may have been to blame, it is essential to retain and experienced and aggressive attorney to fight for what you deserve. Here at Farah and Farah, we have been winning cases of premises liability for our clients for many decades throughout the Jacksonville, Florida area, and today we are proud to boast an uncommon record of success. Please don't hesitate to contact the Jacksonville premises liability attorneys of Farah and Farah today for a free consultation.