Premises Liability

Dedicated Attorneys for Accident Victims in the Gulf Coast

If you are hurt on somebody else's property in the Gulf Coast, you may be emotionally distressed about your injury and concerned about medical bills. A premises liability lawsuit can be a useful way to recover compensation for losses that you suffered because a property owner or occupier did not keep the premises in safe condition. However, your ability to recover in Florida, for example, depends on the cause of your injury and your legal status as a visitor to the property. Not all property owners or occupiers have the same types of liability. Whether you are hurt in a slip and fall or because a portion of the building collapses, the Gulf Coast lawyers at Milam & Milam can evaluate your premises liability case and bring a lawsuit on your behalf.

Hold Negligent Florida Property Owners Accountable

There are five different categories of visitors in Florida. These are public invitees, business invitees, licensees by invitation, uninvited licensees, and trespassers.

The highest duty that a landowner or occupier owes is to public invitees, business invitees, and licensees by invitation. A public invitee is somebody invited to enter land as a member of the public in connection with the purpose for which the land is open to the public. A business invitee is somebody invited to enter the land for a business dealing with the owner or occupier of the land. A licensee by invitation is a social guest. To these three groups, an owner or occupier owes the duty to warn or protect against any dangers that the owner or occupier knew or should have discovered by using reasonable care. This duty applies where the visitor cannot know about the hazard, even using reasonable care. It also includes a duty to guard against foreseeable third-party crimes.

For example, if you are at a retail store and lose your footing on a substance that the store should have cleaned up, you may have a slip and fall claim. Similarly, if you are assaulted in a mall parking lot, a negligent security lawsuit might be an option. In this situation, your ability to recover from the owner of the mall may depend on whether there have been other similar crimes in the parking lot beforehand that would give rise to a need for the mall to provide security.

An uninvited licensee is somebody who enters the property solely for his or her convenience without any implied or expressed invitation. A trespasser is somebody who intrudes upon a property for his or her own purpose and has no invitation, license, or any other right to be there. Property owners and occupiers owe invited licensees and trespassers only the lesser duty of refraining from willful or wanton injuries, such as removing concealed, previously known traps. There is no duty to guard these types of visitors from third-party crimes.

Seek Compensation with the Assistance of Alabama and Florida Lawyers

If you are hurt on somebody else's property, you may be able to hold a negligent owner accountable. Since these cases can be complex, it is important to consult injury attorneys that have experience in these types of claims across Alabama and Florida. At Milam & Milam, we understand the challenges associated with premises liability cases and have had success securing compensation for victims hurt on other people's property. We are located in Fairhope in Baldwin County, Alabama on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. We use our 25 years of combined experience to serve clients in Florida and Alabama cities including Pensacola, Panama City, and Montgomery with cutting-edge technology, clear communication, and ethical strategies. Contact us by calling 251-928-0191 or request a consultation through our online form.