In Florida, landowners, such as retail store owners, are responsible for the safety and well-being of the people who are on their property. This means that retail store owners are responsible for people both inside the store and outside the store in their parking lots.Â
Retail store owners are responsible for ensuring that the inside of their stores are free from hazardous conditions and that the areas outside their stores are properly maintained. They must also ensure that their property is properly secured and free of threatening people and conditions. When this doesn’t happen and injuries occur, victims can seek compensation from negligent store owners. A Tampa retail store negligence lawyer could help you hold a negligent party accountable for their actions that caused you harm. Reach out to one of the experienced Tampa premises liability attorney  at Distasio Law Firm today to get started.
Need a Tampa Retail Store Negligence Attorney?
If you were injured in a retail store, you have the right to seek compensation. Find out what could be next for your case when you schedule a free legal consultation with Distasio Law Firm. To hire a retail store negligence lawyer serving Tampa, call our office.
Dangers of Retail Store Negligence
When retail store owners fail to remove or warn people of dangerous conditions or situations, and someone is injured while on their property, they can be held liable. This is because, in terms of Florida law, the retail store owner behaved negligently by not addressing the dangerous condition or otherwise protecting visitors from it. According to premises liability law, negligence is the failure to act with the level of caution or care another property owner would have exercised in the same situation.
For example, if a customer at a grocery store slips and falls on a wet floor with no warning signs present, they could hold the store owner accountable. Another example would be a person walking across a store parking lot, slipping on an icy spot, and then falling. In both of these instances, the retail store owner could be held liable for the victim’s injuries.
In the state of Florida, all landowners (including retail store owners) are responsible for ensuring that their property is free from hazardous conditions and that the general public is aware of any dangerous conditions that may exist.Â
Recoverable Damages in Premises Liability Cases
If a landowner fails to maintain their property and address hazardous conditions that arise, and another person is injured while on the premises, the owner may have to pay damages. These damages may cover things like the victim’s:Â
- Medical expenses
- Physical injuries
- Lost wages
- Potential lost income
- Lost quality of life
- Pain and suffering
How Florida Shared Fault Laws Could Impact Your Case
Despite the fact that property owners, including retail store owners, have an obligation to maintain safe premises, victims of retail store negligence could share fault for their injuries. However, since Florida follows a pure comparative negligence system, sharing fault will not necessarily prevent you from recovering compensation for your damages (Florida Statutes § 768.81).Â
You will be held accountable for your portion of fault when your injury settlement is reduced to reflect a percentage of liability. For example, if you were found 15% liable for causing your injuries in a retail store, your injury settlement would then be reduced by 15%.
Although you can still recover compensation when you share fault for your injuries, shared liability can have a dramatic impact on the amount of compensation you could be awarded. For this reason, you may want to retain an experienced Tampa retail store negligence attorney who can fight to have liability accurately evaluated in your case.
Statute of Limitations for Retail Store Negligence in Tampa
If you are interested in pursuing compensation from the liable party, you will need to take legal action soon after the incident in question. This is because Florida, like other states, has a lawsuit filing deadline called the statute of limitations. Under Florida law, the majority of personal injury claims must be filed before the two year statute of limitations expires.Â
If the statute of limitations runs out and your claim has not been filed, you will no longer have the authority to pursue your case in the Tampa civil court system. Fortunately, when you have an experienced attorney handling details of your case, you do not need to worry that issues surrounding the statute of limitations will impact your ability to get the most out of your claim.
Calculating the Value of Your Tampa Retail Store Negligence
Your lawyer will be responsible for handling all of the legal details of your case. However, one of the most important steps is calculating the value of your claim. When someone else’s negligence is the cause of your injuries, you have the right to be compensated fully.Â
Every single law should be taken into consideration. With that in mind, some of the different damages you could recover in your Tampa retail store negligence claim include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damages
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
Seeking an Attorney for a Retail Negligence Case in Tampa?
If you have been injured as a result of retail store negligence, you should consult with an experienced lawyer. At Distasio Law Firm, we can discuss your legal options with you and advise you of your rights. We will take the time to meet with you on a one-on-one basis so that we can address your questions and provide you with reliable legal advice.Â
At Distasio Law Firm, we are dedicated to each of our clients and their premises liability cases. You can contact us to hire an attorney today for your retail store negligence case.
The Distasio Law Firm Difference
When you hire a law firm to represent you, you want an attorney who knows Florida personal injury and premises liability law and how to use them to support your case. However, there is more to receiving a positive client experience than that. You also want a lawyer who:
- Has years of experience handling premises liability law
- Is comfortable taking cases to court and fighting for a jury verdict
- Receives the highest ratings and honors from their peers and unbiased rating systems
- Is willing to go the extra mile for you and your case
You can get all that and more when you choose Distasio Law Firm. Scott Distasio has spent over 27 years in the field and is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Trial law—less than 1% of all Florida lawyers can claim this certification. He has also received the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell law Directory. When this team is on your side, you’ll experience the Distasio Personal Touch.
Contact a Tampa Retail Store Negligence Attorney
If you suffered serious injuries in a retail store, and the staff member or company’s negligence is to blame, you have legal options. Because of your injuries, you may be entitled to full restitution for your damages.Â
Find out how to hold the liable party accountable when you contact us to hire a Tampa retail store negligence lawyer from Distasio Law Firm. Our firm proudly offers no-cost, risk-free consultations to injury victims across Tampa and nearby cities. Claim yours when you contact us.