St. Petersburg Premises Liability Lawyer

Pinellas County's First Exclusive Personal Injury Firm, Serving St. Petersburg Since 1955

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers was the first law firm in Pinellas County to limit its practice entirely to personal injury. For more than seven decades, our premises liability attorneys have represented St. Petersburg residents injured by unsafe property conditions, recovering more than $675 million for clients across Tampa Bay. When a property owner's negligence causes your injury, we build your case with the preparation and focus that only a trial-ready team can deliver.

We handle premises liability claims on a contingency basis, which means you won't pay attorney fees unless we secure a recovery. A free consultation is available to discuss your case.

Call our St. Petersburg office today at (727) 591-3354 to schedule your free case review with a premises liability attorney.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability refers to a property owner's legal responsibility for injuries that occur on their property because of unsafe or hazardous conditions. These cases arise when someone is hurt because the property owner or manager failed to take reasonable steps to keep the premises safe.

We handle all types of premises liability cases in St. Petersburg, including those that involve:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Negligent security
• Elevator accidents
• Escalator accidents
• Swimming pool accidents and drownings
• Bed bug injuries
• Hospital accidents
• Hotel accidents
• Cruise ship accidents
• Playground accidents
• Accidents in schools and daycare centers
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Poisonings
• Amusement park accidents
• Assault
• Sexual assault

Every case is unique, but the central issue is whether the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn visitors.

Florida Premises Liability Laws After HB 837

Florida law holds property owners to specific duties depending on the injured person's legal status on the property. These categories determine what you must prove and what the owner was required to do:

• Invitees: Customers or guests invited onto a property for business purposes, such as shoppers in a store or diners in a restaurant. Owners owe invitees the highest duty of care, including regularly inspecting the property and correcting known hazards.
• Licensees: Social guests visiting for personal reasons. Owners must warn them of known dangers but aren't required to inspect for hidden hazards.
• Trespassers: Individuals who enter without permission. Property owners generally owe little duty to trespassers, except not to intentionally cause harm. However, the attractive nuisance doctrine may impose liability when a child trespasses because of an enticing condition like an unfenced swimming pool.

Florida's legal landscape for premises liability changed significantly when Governor DeSantis signed HB 837 on March 24, 2023. The reform introduced a modified comparative negligence standard: if you're found more than 50% at fault for your own injury, you're completely barred from any recovery. Before HB 837, Florida followed a pure comparative negligence system that allowed partial recovery regardless of fault percentage.

HB 837 also shortened the statute of limitations for premises liability claims from four years to two years under amended Florida Statute §95.11. This two-year deadline applies to injuries occurring on or after March 24, 2023, and missing it can mean losing your right to file.

Negligent Security Claims After HB 837: The reform created Florida Statute §768.0701, which requires juries to consider the fault of the criminal actor alongside the property owner's negligence. This can reduce the percentage of liability assigned to the owner. HB 837 also created Florida Statute §768.0706, which established a presumption against liability for multifamily residential property owners who substantially implement specified security measures (cameras, lighting, deadbolts, pool fencing, and other requirements). Plaintiffs must now overcome that presumption to hold the owner accountable.

Compensation from a Premises Liability Claim

Our attorneys calculate both immediate and long-term losses for every premises liability claim we handle. We don't settle for estimates when documentation can prove the full scope of what a property owner's negligence cost you. Depending on your situation, you may pursue compensation for:

• Medical expenses: Hospital bills, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and ongoing treatment
• Lost wages: Income lost while you're unable to work during recovery
• Reduced earning capacity: If your injury limits your ability to earn in the future
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life
• Disability or disfigurement: Permanent injuries that affect your daily living
• Wrongful death damages: If a loved one dies because of a property owner's negligence, surviving family members may pursue funeral costs and loss of companionship

We'll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries

Our attorneys are prepared to pursue full compensation for injuries such as:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Soft tissue damage
• Nerve damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Concussions
• Back injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Burns
• Amputations
• Paralysis
• Catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death of a loved one

How Our St. Petersburg Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers was founded with a single focus: representing people injured by someone else's negligence. We were the first firm in Pinellas County to commit exclusively to personal injury, and that focus has guided how we prepare every premises liability case since. Our attorneys include Bryan D. Caulfield and Lorraine E. Robinson, both Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar, a distinction held by fewer than 2% of Florida lawyers.

We build every claim with the expectation it may go to trial. That preparation strengthens negotiation leverage and signals to property owners and their insurers that we aren't looking for a quick, discounted settlement. After HB 837 shifted Florida to modified comparative negligence, insurers lean harder on blame-the-victim tactics to push your fault percentage above that 51% bar. We counter those strategies with detailed investigation, documentation, and testimony.

What our representation includes:

• Attorney-driven case management: Your lawyer handles your case directly, not through intermediaries
• Thorough investigation: We determine who and what caused your injuries and preserve critical evidence
• Retained professionals: We bring in respected engineers, medical professionals, and safety consultants to support your claim when necessary
• Home, hospital, and workplace visits: If you can't travel after your injury, we come to you
• Contingency fee: You pay no attorney fees unless we secure a recovery for you

Premises Liability Claim FAQs

How do I prove a premises liability case in Florida?

You must show that the property owner owed you a duty of care, that they breached this duty by failing to maintain safe conditions, that the breach directly caused your injury, and that you suffered measurable damages. Evidence like incident reports, photos of the hazard, surveillance footage, and medical records can strengthen your claim.

What should I do immediately after being injured on someone else's property?

Report the incident to the property owner or manager, take photos of the hazardous condition, gather witness names and contact information, seek medical care even if your injuries seem minor, and contact a St. Petersburg premises liability lawyer as soon as possible. Early documentation can be critical to preserving your claim.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Under Florida's modified comparative negligence system, enacted through HB 837 in March 2023, you can recover damages if you were partly responsible, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you're found more than 50% at fault, you're barred from any recovery entirely. This 51% threshold makes it critical to build strong evidence showing the property owner's responsibility.

How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Florida?

For injuries occurring on or after March 24, 2023, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident under amended Florida Statute §95.11. HB 837 shortened this deadline from the previous four-year period. Missing the two-year window can mean losing your right to file a lawsuit.

How much is my premises liability case worth?

The value depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of medical treatment required, lost income, long-term impact on your earning capacity and quality of life, and available insurance coverage. Our premises liability attorneys can assess your claim's full value during a free consultation.

To discuss your options after an injury on someone else's property, contact us for a free consultation. Call (727) 591-3354 to speak with our premises liability attorneys.