You may assume that, as a welcomed visitor on another party’s premises, you are entering into a safe environment. But unfortunately, property owners sometimes fail to see the fairly obvious hazards around them, whether willingly or not. This is when a slip and fall accident might occur, with you as its victim. Read on to discover how to prove that a property owner knew about a safety hazard on their premises and how a seasoned Tampa slip and fall lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you get this point across.
What should a property owner do if there is a hazardous condition on their premises?
Regardless of the premises in question (i.e., an airport, restaurant, supermarket, parking lot, sidewalk, stairway, or otherwise), a property owner holds a duty of care. This duty of care means that they are responsible for ensuring that their premises are clear from any potentially hazardous conditions. Further, if they identify a safety hazard, they must promptly remove or rectify it.
There is no exception to this duty, not even feigning ignorance. This is because the argument can be made that a reasonable individual would have noticed the safety hazard and/or known how to quickly fix it.
Ultimately, if a property owner fails to uplift this duty, then one of their visitors may undergo a slip and fall accident, along with subsequent injuries and damages. If this is your case, then you may proceed forward with a personal injury claim.
How do I show that a property owner was aware of a safety hazard?
You carry a burden of proof as the plaintiff of a personal injury claim. Meaning, you must collect and submit a substantial amount of evidence that reveals how a property owner was likely aware of the safety hazard on their premises. In turn, this evidence must lend to your argument that the safety hazard was a direct cause of your injuries and damages. Below are how different pieces of proof may help you make your case:
- Photos and videos of the safety hazard at the scene of your slip and fall accident may reveal that its existence would be relatively obvious to a reasonable individual.
- The police report and/or incident report conducted at the scene of your slip and fall accident may reveal that a property owner admitted to knowing about the existence of the safety hazard.
- Testimonies by employees or frequent customers may reveal that the safety hazard existed on the premises for the days, weeks, or even months before your slip and fall accident.
This is all to say that you must take your personal injury claim seriously. This starts with retaining the services of a competent Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer. Contact Merricks Law Group, P.A. today.
