Families Of Loved Ones Killed In South Bay File Wrongful Death Lawsuits Against U.S. Sugar
A pair of wrongful death lawsuits were recently filed against U.S. Sugar by the families of two utility workers killed in an early morning accident along a dirt road near U.S. 27. The suits seek unspecified damages and alleges U.S. Sugar had an obligation to maintain the road where the workers were killed.
The case began in January 2016 when two men working for Florida Power & Light Co. were performing maintenance duties in a bucket truck along an offshoot of U.S. 27 maintained by U.S. Sugar. According to the lawsuit, the road underneath the truck gave way, causing the truck to roll into a nearby canal.
The victims were trapped in the cabin of the truck and drowned in the canal. The victims each left behind wives and one had two children. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s families as they attempt to seek justice in this difficult time.
Premises liability lawsuits
As the entity responsible for the maintenance of the road where the accident took place, U.S. Sugar owed travelers a duty to maintain the property, according to the suit. Known as premises liability, this legal concept holds property owners or those responsible for property maintenance must take reasonable steps to ensure visitors or passers by are not placed at undue risk.
There are a number of reasonable measures property owners can and must take to ensure the safety of their premises. Depending on the type of property, this may include things such as:
- Conducting safety checks;
- Making timely repairs;
- Taking steps to mitigate foreseeable hazards;
- Erecting safety barriers;
- Hanging signage warning visitors of possible hazards;
- Installing adequate lighting; and
- Providing security.
Property owners failing to fulfill their legal responsibilities may be held liable for injuries that take place as a proximate result of this breach of duty. The law gives injury victims legal remedy to hold these negligent property owners responsible by filing premises liability lawsuits.
Plaintiffs filing premises liability lawsuits may be able to recover compensation for their damages as a means to make themselves whole again. Damages recoverable in premises liability lawsuits include:
- Hospital bills;
- Medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress; and
- Funeral expenses and loss of services in cases of fatality.
West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers
If you or a loved one was hurt on someone’s property, it could be because the property owner or company tasked with the property’s maintenance breached their duty to maintain a safe environment. The dedicated West Palm Beach premises liability lawyers of The Pendas Law Firm have the skills and experience necessary to help victims and their families recover the compensation necessary to make things right.
Our office offers injury victims free case consultations and serves clients in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Jacksonville. Strict time deadlines apply when filing personal injury lawsuits so please contact us at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.
