End-of-year sales are here, and that can mean crowds in stores and a greater risk of hazards. Crowded shopping areas can mean a greater risk of slip and fall and trip and fall injuries if stores are not diligent in clearing store areas. It can also mean a greater risk of parking lot accidents in Hollywood as well as assaults, thefts, and crowd-related injuries.
Holiday decorations add sparkle and joy to the end of the year, but decorations also cause an estimated 230 injuries per day across the country, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In California and Chicago, there have recently been a number of smash and grab thefts, involving large, organized group of thieves targeting malls, luxury stores, and shopping centers. Florida and Miami also have seen such crimes in the past and there is often an increase in risk around this time of year.
During Black Friday, huge holiday sales start and while it can be a great way to take care of your gift list, huge crowds at stores can and do cause injuries. Almost every year, people are injured or killed by crowds and violence in stores. In addition, shoppers may be at a heightened risk of parking lot accidents, slip and fall and trip and fall accidents, fraud, and theft due to the crowds at stores at this time of year.
Home décor indoors and out can add curb appeal to your home and make your home look more attractive for yourself and visitors. At this time of year, homeowners are often thinking about decorating their homes for upcoming holidays. However, whether you are a visitor at someone’s home or are decorating your own property, you should be aware that décor items can and do cause serious personal injury and property damage.
When you buy something at a home décor store, you expect it to be safe. With so many products online and on the market, not all products are carefully tested for safety. Just because you can purchase something from an e-retailer or a store, it does not mean it is safe. When you visit homes and even stores which have been decorated in Miami-Dade County, you could be at risk of injury.
Short-term rentals are a popular form of accommodation for visitors to Pembroke Pines and surrounding areas. Local residents set up short-term accommodations on sites such as VRBO and Airbnb, but while hotels must meet certain standards there are usually no inspections of short-term rental properties. Both hosts and guests have been injured through short-term rental situations and in some cases it may be challenging to get compensation for injuries.
Ghost kitchens are popping up everywhere in Hollywood, Miami, and across South Florida. Also known as delivery-only kitchens, these facilities are for the preparation of food for food trucks, take out-only restaurants, delivery-only eateries, caterers, chefs, and others who need a kitchen on a temporary basis.
Companies offer ghost kitchens to multiple users and advertise their facilities are stocked with appliances, counter space, and everything else chefs need to prepare their culinary creations. They may have loading bays for food trucks, kitchens lighted for YouTube cooking channels, and other features to help chefs prepare their food.
Many companies offering these facilities on a time-share basis offer insurance and security features, but what happens if you are injured, either as a customer or a worker in these kitchens? Since this business is still fairly new, getting fair compensation for your injuries may be challenging. You may wish to consult with a Miami premises liability attorney or workplace injury claims attorney.
For many Miami homeowners, their swimming pool is one of the largest concerns when it comes to premises liability. After all, if a guest is injured on the property, homeowners may face legal claims. Even if a child trespasses on the property, the owner may be liable if the child is injured in the pool.
And pool injuries are a concern in Miami. There are many ways people are injured in pool incidents each year. There are drownings and near-drownings where survivors are seriously injured because they are deprived of oxygen for minutes. Head injuries, slip and fall injuries, and spinal cord trauma as well as fractures and lacerations are also common around the pool.
Short-term rentals through sites such as Airbnb are popular in Coral Springs, Miami, and other cities in South Florida. Some travelers like them because they offer less-expensive stays when compared with hotels. Others like the unique properties and home amenities, such as kitchens, available through short-term rentals.
However, there is a trade-off. While hotels and official accommodations are legally obligated to maintain certain standards of safety and cleanliness, short-term rentals are under no such official obligation. Studies and investigative reports have shown that a significant portion of short-term rentals lack safety basics such as first aid kits, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors.
A homeowner’s association (HOA) is an organization with a board of members who oversees the common areas, rules, and compliance of condos, co-ops, townhouses, planned communities, and other living spaces. If you live in a property with an HOA, you pay regular fees to the organization and follow the community rules. In turn, the HOA maintains common areas in the community and creates a pleasant place to live.
HOAs have a duty of care to members, including the members of community who pay their fees and follow HOA rules. They also have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of members of the community.
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