Entities that own property like retail stores, shopping malls, grocery stores, and restaurants have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors. The same is true for owners of office buildings as well as those that occupy them. When office buildings are not properly maintained or monitored, people can suffer serious injuries in slip and falls at office buildings. The Miami premises liability attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon assist victims of these accidents in pursuing legal action against those responsible for their harm.
It is not always obvious who is liable in these cases, since owners, lessees, or others may owe differing duties to employees at an office building, or those who are visiting for other purposes. Our firm can determine who may be liable, investigating the cause of your accident as well as the events that led up to creating a dangerous condition. Serious injuries often mean significant costs associated with treating them, and filing a lawsuit or pursuing a settlement may be the only way for victims to be able to cope with their recovery. Our attorneys offer experienced legal representation to clients throughout South Florida, including in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. If you have been injured in a slip and fall at an office building, we are ready to help you assert your rights.
Causes of Slip and Falls at Office BuildingsOffice buildings are generally thought to be mundane places where people go to work, see their accountants, or otherwise walk in and out unharmed. However, when building owners or occupiers fail to inspect the area and engage in necessary upkeep, dangerous conditions can develop, leading to serious injuries. Some common causes of slip and fall accidents that occur at office buildings include:
The presence of any of these hazards often indicates that an office building owner has breached its duty to maintain safe premises for people who enter the property. When this breach leads to an injury, victims can pursue legal action against those responsible.
Holding Responsible Parties AccountableEmployees injured at their office buildings may be able to file a workers' compensation claim if the accident occurred 'within the scope of employment.' In general, an injured employee cannot bring a personal injury lawsuit against an employer if workers' compensation benefits offer coverage for the harm sustained. However, if a third-party non-employer is responsible for the injuries, employees may be able to pursue a claim against that party as well. Meanwhile, visitors who do not work at the office building where they were hurt can bring a premises liability lawsuit against an at-fault owner, occupier, or other party.
Property owners have differing levels of care that they are required to take to ensure that visitors are not at an unreasonable risk of harm when entering their premises. Businesses opening their properties for commercial purposes owe visitors the highest degree of care. They must engage in regular inspections of all areas and fix any hazards in a reasonable time. When dangerous conditions cannot be remedied immediately, commercial property owners must warn visitors of their existence. If these duties are not fulfilled, and a slip and fall at an office building occurs, those responsible can be liable for a victim's damages related to medical costs, time missed from work, and other expenses associated with his or her injuries.
Explore Your Options with a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in MiamiIn the aftermath of a slip and fall accident at an office building, certain evidence must be gathered and evaluated to determine exactly what contributed to your injuries. The injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can assist in the evidence collection process as well as helping clients deal with insurance claims, settlement negotiations, and any necessary litigation so that victims can receive the financial assistance that they need to recover properly. If you have been injured on someone else's property, and you have questions regarding your legal rights and options, call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about our services. We represent victims in Miami, West Palm Beach, and elsewhere in South Florida.