Automatic doors are almost everywhere these days. Airports, shopping malls, office buildings, hotels, and supermarkets routinely use automatic doors due to the convenience they offer and the time they save customers. While these doors routinely work without incident, when they do malfunction, they can cause serious harm. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an automatic door accident, you should consult a Miami personal injury lawyer.
Automatic sliding doors and revolving doors are extremely heavy. Thus, if they close prematurely and strike someone, serious and long-term injuries can result. Some possible causes for automatic door injuries may be improper installation, improper maintenance, missing or faulty door sensors, improper timing devices, and failures to inspect on a regular basis.
Business owners have a legal obligation to make sure their premises are safe for their customers. This obligation extends to ensuring that automatic sliding doors are in proper working order. As mentioned above, it is also the business owner’s responsibility to inspect and maintain the doors after they have been installed.
Business owners owe customers an extremely high duty of care. In legal terms, a customer is known as an “invitee,” which means that the person is a paying customer for the benefit of the landowner. Invitees are owed the highest duty of care of any type of visitor, and the business owner must take all reasonable measures to make the property safe. Some of these measures include warning invitees of any known hazards as well as any hidden hazards that could have been discovered through the exercise of ordinary care.
People injured by automatic doors may be able to recover compensation for their injuries if they successfully establish their case. Typically, a plaintiff will be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, therapy costs, property damage, and any other losses stemming from the accident. If you have lost a loved one due to an automatic door accident, you may be entitled to wrongful death damages, including funeral expenses, burial costs, loss of companionship, and more. Wrongful death claims are extremely complex, so it is important to reach out to a lawyer if you suspect you may have a claim.
Under Florida law, personal injury claims must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. A plaintiff has four years from the date of the accident to file a civil claim in court. A failure to adhere to this time limit could mean losing your right to compensation altogether.
If you have been hurt by an automatic door, it is important to seek the help of a Miami premises liability attorney who can investigate the merits of your case. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we tirelessly advocate for the rights of South Florida clients, and we can do the same for you. Time is of the essence, so you should act quickly. To learn more about your legal rights and options, feel free to call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or reach out to us online today.
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