Many South Florida residents either live in or frequently visit friends at apartment complexes. As a result, we expect these properties to be adequately maintained and free from dangerous conditions. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and apartment complexes are the sites of many serious slip and fall accidents. Victims of these accidents may face substantial medical bills, as well as needing to spend time recovering without being able to do their job. The Miami slip and fall attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon help victims seek financial compensation from those who are liable for their harm. We offer dedicated legal representation from the initial investigation into the circumstances surrounding a slip and fall at an apartment complex until the matter is concluded, always working to serve our clients’ interests.
Our firm represents victims across South Florida, including in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. If you have been injured in a slip and fall and have questions regarding your legal options, contact our office today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your potential claim.
Slip and Falls at Apartment ComplexesUnlike slip and fall accidents that occur at businesses like retail stores or restaurants, social guests, such as those who are visiting a friend at an apartment, are owed a different level of care from their hosts and owners of private property. Private hosts owe their invitees a duty to maintain their property in a reasonably safe manner and repair dangerous conditions, as well as warn visitors of any hazards of which they are aware. Failing to warn guests of unsafe conditions, such as pooling of water or other fall-inducing environments, can give rise to liability.
Under Florida law, when a property owner benefits financially from the presence of another party, a business relationship is created, subject to different standards. Since a landlord financially benefits from a tenant’s rent, slip and fall accidents that are due to a landlord’s negligence fall under this category. If a tenant slips and falls in their apartment complex, including in a parking garage, a lobby, a swimming pool area, or the like, they can recover damages from a negligent property owner.
In these cases, a tenant must show that the property owner knew or had constructive knowledge of a dangerous condition, but they failed to fix the hazard or warn of its existence. Constructive knowledge of a hazard requires a showing by a victim that, given the length of time that the condition was present, an owner exercising ordinary care would have encountered it, or the hazard was foreseeable because it occurred regularly. For example, if a roof leaks every time that it rains, a landlord may be found liable for a tenant’s injuries if they slip in the hallway. Individuals injured in a slip and fall at an apartment complex may be awarded damages for medical costs, lost income, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering, depending on the severity of their injuries.
Hire a Miami Attorney to Bring a Slip and Fall ClaimIf you have been injured in a slip and fall accident while visiting or residing at an apartment complex, it is important to consult an experienced attorney who can help you gather evidence to establish your case. The Miami lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon have extensive experience dealing with insurance companies, landlords, apartment managers, and other parties that are often involved in these types of claims. Slip and fall victims often feel overwhelmed by the legal process. The team take the time to make sure that clients understand what is happening and which options are available to them at each of the stages of the proceedings. If you need legal guidance following a slip and fall accident, call our attorneys at 877.499.4878 or contact us online to see how we can help. We represent people in Miami, West Palm Beach, and the surrounding cities.