Fort Myers premises liability lawyers

No person visits a store or someone else’s home expecting to suffer an injury. Unfortunately, that’s precisely what happens far too often. In most cases, accidents occur due to the negligence of the property owner or manager.

If this happened to you, speak with a Fort Myers premises liability lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath. We’ll work to help you get the money you deserve for the suffering you experienced. You focus on getting better; we’ll take care of the rest. Please call (561) 655-1990 or contact us online for a free review of your case.

Why work with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath

When you choose a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, you’ll be working with a law firm with extensive experience in cases similar to yours. The following is a brief look at some of the results we’ve achieved.

• $200,000 for a client who suffered a shoulder injury in Palm Beach County.
• $170,000 for a client hurt in a slip-and-fall accident in Lee County.
• $135,000 for a client injured in another premises liability accident in Palm Beach County.

Steps to take if you were hurt on someone else’s property

It’s disorienting to suffer an injury in an accident that comes out of nowhere. For example, you might be walking down an aisle in a grocery store when you suddenly slip. If you can remember to take these steps, however, you’ll have a better chance of making a full recovery and obtaining maximum compensation.

1. Visit a doctor as soon as possible

You might try to convince yourself that your injury isn’t that bad, but please get medical help anyway. You could have a hidden injury that will quickly worsen if you don’t.

Visiting a doctor will also establish the fact you’re injured and need treatment. This will be critical to your chances of getting the money you deserve.

2. Take photographs and gather other types of evidence

If possible, take as many pictures as possible of the accident scene. If you tripped over something, or you slipped on a spill that someone failed to promptly clean up, take a photo.

There also might have been a witness who saw the accident. If so, get their name, email address, and phone number. Your Fort Myers premises liability lawyer will follow up to get their account of what happened.

3. File an incident or police report

You need a record of your accident to have the best chance of obtaining compensation. If the accident occurred in a place open to the public, ask the manager to fill out a report of the accident and make sure you get a copy. Call 911 for medical help, and ask the dispatcher to send a police officer to investigate. The report the officer completes could be a powerful piece of evidence in your favor.

4. Hold on to your medical or expense records

Keep anything that has to do with any accident-related expenses. That means putting all of your receipts in a safe place. Your Fort Myers premises liability lawyer will use them to prove your financial losses.

5. Speak with an attorney

The health of your case is nearly as important as your physical health. That’s why you’ll need to contact a Fort Myers premises liability lawyer as soon as possible so they can investigate the accident.

Types of premises liability cases

There are a lot of different kinds of premises liability accidents. The attorneys with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath have extensive experience in just about all of them. Here are just a few examples:

Slip-and-falls

The grocery store aisle example mentioned above is probably the most common example of a slip-and-fall. But it can happen anywhere someone doesn’t clean up a liquid spill in a timely manner.

Falling merchandise or debris

If you’ve ever been in a big-box hardware store, you’ll see shelves reaching several feet high. When a piece of merchandise falls from that height, it is easy to imagine how badly someone could be hurt as a result.

Faulty elevators or escalators

This is an especially frightening type of premises liability case. Imagine being caught in an elevator that suddenly goes into a freefall, or on an escalator that suddenly stops. The injuries this kind of accident can cause are devastating.

Inadequate or negligent security

There are instances where patrons are attacked coming out of a restaurant, store, movie theater, or some other public place. If the owner knows their property is in an area prone to crime, yet fails to hire security, they could face liability if an attack occurs.

Playground or amusement park accidents

Negligent maintenance of playground equipment or an amusement park ride can have catastrophic consequences. An injury victim will very likely be able to sue the owner of that property.

Swimming pool accidents

Swimming pools are often referred to as “attractive nuisances.” The reason is they attract children who may wander onto a property to swim. If that property isn’t properly secured, the owner could be liable for any injuries that occur.

Dog or other animal bites

When an owner allows a pet to roam without a leash, they could be targeted with legal action if that animal harms someone. Owners must also take steps to ensure their pets can’t escape their property.

Make sure you file a claim on time

In the state of Florida, you have two years to file a premises liability claim. This deadline is known as a statute of limitations.  If you fail to file a claim within that period, you’ll lose your chance to obtain compensation from those responsible for your injury.

Possible damages you could claim

Earlier we mentioned holding on to all of the receipts for your accident-related expenses. These expenses are known as damages. The following are just a few examples.

Economic damages

Your medical bills and lost wages are tangible examples of economic damages. Since you can produce documentation to support them, such as receipts and pay stubs, your attorney won’t have any problem proving them.

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages are completely different since they’re subjective. It takes an experienced Fort Myers premises liability lawyer to prove emotional trauma, pain and suffering, lost quality of life, and more.

We’ll work to obtain maximum compensation

Every member of the Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath team is passionate about the clients we serve. We provide aggressive, skilled representation and we have an extensive track record of success.

Common premises liability injuries

The following are just some of the many examples of severe injuries resulting from negligence in premises liability cases:

• Damage to internal organs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Bone fractures

Who may be liable for your injury

There could be multiple parties that played a role in causing the accident that hurt you. These are just a few examples:

Property or business owner

A property owner, or the owner of the business where an injury occurs, may have been negligent in maintaining a safe environment. They may have failed to warn of potential hazards, or neglected to keep the property safe in some other manner.

Business manager

The manager of the property could also be held liable for not addressing a dangerous situation quickly. Let’s go back to the grocery store example mentioned earlier. If your Fort Myers premises liability lawyer can prove the manager knew there was a spill, yet neglected to direct a worker to clean the area, that manager could be part of a lawsuit.

Landlord

Landlords also have a duty to ensure the property they’re responsible for is safe. Suppose, for example, there’s a walkway leading to an apartment that’s in disrepair. If someone trips and suffers an injury, that victim could likely sue the landlord.

How our injury attorneys prove liability

The Fort Myers premises liability attorneys with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath are skilled investigators and know what to look for to prove a premises liability injury. We’ll collect evidence at the scene, conduct witness interviews, and take additional steps to prove the defendant knew there was a danger yet chose to do nothing about it.

Cost of hiring a premises liability lawyer

You’ll have nothing to lose by working with a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath. The reason is we work on a contingency fee basis. You won’t pay anything unless we achieve a successful result on your behalf.

Our Fort Myers premises liability lawyers are here to help

Please get in touch with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath to learn more about how we can help you get the money you have coming. Schedule a free consultation by using our online contact form or calling (561) 655-1990.