Boynton Beach Premises Liability Lawyers
When people go out in public, they have a reasonable expectation of safety. Whether buying groceries, picking up the kids from school, or meeting a friend for coffee, you can assume the places you go are free of hazards.
You should still exercise some degree of care when running errands or visiting a friend's apartment complex, though, because if you end up getting hurt, the property owner might argue that you were responsible for the accident. For example, if you start texting while riding an escalator and stumble upon reaching the top, it may be hard to recover compensation for your injuries.
At the end of the day, there are countless ways to get hurt on someone else's property, and there are just as many scenarios in which the owner can claim the incident was your fault. Whether you actually were responsible will depend on a variety of factors, all of which a personal injury lawyer can explain.
If you were hurt on public or private property that was poorly maintained, turn to Donaldson & Weston. Our Boynton Beach premises liability attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident, interview witnesses, and help you pursue the maximum payout possible. Call 561-299-3999 to schedule a free consultation with one of our accident lawyers.
You should still exercise some degree of care when running errands or visiting a friend's apartment complex, though, because if you end up getting hurt, the property owner might argue that you were responsible for the accident. For example, if you start texting while riding an escalator and stumble upon reaching the top, it may be hard to recover compensation for your injuries.
At the end of the day, there are countless ways to get hurt on someone else's property, and there are just as many scenarios in which the owner can claim the incident was your fault. Whether you actually were responsible will depend on a variety of factors, all of which a personal injury lawyer can explain.
If you were hurt on public or private property that was poorly maintained, turn to Donaldson & Weston. Our Boynton Beach premises liability attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident, interview witnesses, and help you pursue the maximum payout possible. Call 561-299-3999 to schedule a free consultation with one of our accident lawyers.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault?
When it comes to awarding compensation in personal injury suits, Florida courts rely on a pure comparative fault system. Under this system, claimants are not barred from recovery even if they were partially liable for the accident that caused their injuries. Instead, the total amount of compensation to which they are entitled is reduced by their percentage of fault.
For example, if you're shopping at a hardware store and need something out of reach, you should find an employee who can help; however, if no one is around and there happens to be a stepladder in the aisle, you might decide to get the item yourself. If you fall and sustain injuries while doing so, the store may argue that you were responsible for the accident.
A strategic premises liability lawyer, on the other hand, might argue that the employees should have been more accessible and the stepladder should not have been so readily available. At the very least, the ladder should always have a chain across it, preventing people from climbing on, and a sign warning customers not to use it.
If the ladder had both, you might be found 100 percent liable for the accident and would therefore be unable to recover any compensation for your injuries. If it had neither, though, and was simply resting in the middle of the aisle, you might be considered only partially at fault. If the court decides you were 25 percent responsible, for example, you could then recover 75 percent of your damages.
For example, if you're shopping at a hardware store and need something out of reach, you should find an employee who can help; however, if no one is around and there happens to be a stepladder in the aisle, you might decide to get the item yourself. If you fall and sustain injuries while doing so, the store may argue that you were responsible for the accident.
A strategic premises liability lawyer, on the other hand, might argue that the employees should have been more accessible and the stepladder should not have been so readily available. At the very least, the ladder should always have a chain across it, preventing people from climbing on, and a sign warning customers not to use it.
If the ladder had both, you might be found 100 percent liable for the accident and would therefore be unable to recover any compensation for your injuries. If it had neither, though, and was simply resting in the middle of the aisle, you might be considered only partially at fault. If the court decides you were 25 percent responsible, for example, you could then recover 75 percent of your damages.
