If you fell from a ladder, slipped on a dangerous surface, fell through a weak roof or ceiling, suffered an electrical injury, or were otherwise hurt at someone else’s house, you may have access to insurance benefits—even if you do not have health insurance and even if no traditional company employed you.

The Law Office of Jesse Diaz, PLLC helps injured handymen, day laborers, independent workers, and invited guests investigate claims involving Florida homeowners insurance. We look for every potentially available source of recovery, including Medical Payments to Others coverage and Personal Liability coverage.

You do not need to know the homeowner’s insurance company or have a copy of the policy before calling us. You also should not assume that being paid in cash, working without a written contract, or not holding a contractor’s license automatically prevents you from having a claim.

We strongly recommend that you contact The Law Office of Jesse Diaz for a free consultation before speaking with the homeowner’s insurance adjuster, signing paperwork, accepting a small payment, or deciding that you do not have a case. The consultation is confidential, there is no obligation to hire us, and we can help you understand whether homeowners insurance or another source of coverage may be available.

Free consultation. Hablamos Español. No attorney’s fee unless we make a recovery for you, subject to the written representation agreement.

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The Law Office of Jesse Diaz, PLLC — The HurriClaim Firm
Lake Mary office | Representing injured people throughout Florida

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Injured at someone else’s home? Preserve the evidence before it disappears. Call 689-258-0000.

Yes, it may. Many Florida homeowners policies include two different coverages that can matter when a handyman, worker, or guest is injured:

1. Medical Payments to Others coverage may pay certain reasonable and necessary medical expenses, often without requiring proof that the homeowner was negligent. Limits are usually modest and vary by policy; $1,000 to $5,000 limits are common, although the actual policy may provide a different amount or exclude the claim.
2. Personal Liability coverage may cover a larger claim when the homeowner or another insured person is legally responsible for the injury. Depending on the facts and policy, a claim may include medical expenses, lost income, future treatment, pain and suffering, and other legally recoverable damages.

Coverage is not automatic. Every policy contains definitions, conditions, limits, and exclusions. Worker classification, the type of work, how the accident happened, who controlled the job, and whether an owner-builder permit was used can all matter. That is why the policy and the facts should be reviewed by a Florida injury attorney as early as possible.

Our recommendation: Call us at 689-258-0000 for a free consultation before assuming that the homeowner’s policy will—or will not—cover your injury. You do not need to obtain the policy, permit, or claim number before contacting us.

This page is designed especially for individuals hired directly by a homeowner—not employees sent to the property by an established company with workers’ compensation insurance.

You may fit the type of case we investigate if:

• A homeowner personally hired you for a small repair or improvement;
• You worked alone or brought only your own helper;
• The homeowner obtained an owner-builder permit in the homeowner’s own name;
• You were paid by the day, by the job, through a payment app, or in cash;
• No company provided workers’ compensation coverage;
• The homeowner supplied the ladder, tools, materials, instructions, or access to the work area;
• A dangerous condition at the home contributed to your injury; or
• You are unsure whether you were legally an employee, an independent contractor, or a casual worker.

Common examples include a person hired to:

• Repair roof shingles, soffits, fascia, or flashing;
• Clean gutters or remove debris from a roof;
• Install a ceiling fan, light fixture, television, or security camera;
• Enter an attic or crawlspace;
• Paint, pressure wash, trim trees, or clean a pool;
• Repair drywall, flooring, stairs, fencing, or a screen enclosure;
• Move furniture or appliances; or
• Perform other home maintenance or day labor.

Do not decide for yourself that you have no case because you are “unlicensed” or were paid in cash. Those facts can create legal and insurance issues, but they do not answer every question about negligence, coverage, employment status, or the homeowner’s responsibilities.

An owner-builder permit does not simply transfer every risk to the person doing the work.

Florida’s owner-builder law requires the property owner to accept specific responsibilities. The statutory disclosure states that an owner-builder must provide direct, onsite supervision and may not hire an unlicensed person to act as the contractor or supervise the project. It also warns that an owner-builder may be held liable and face serious financial risk when an unlicensed person or the person’s employee is injured on the property.

The same disclosure warns that homeowners insurance may not cover every worker injury and states that an unlicensed person working under the permit must be directly supervised and employed in compliance with applicable tax and workers’ compensation laws. See section 489.103, Florida Statutes.

These cases are highly fact-specific. We may investigate:

• Who pulled the permit and what the permit authorized;
• Who planned, directed, and supervised the work;
• Who supplied the ladder, scaffolding, tools, and safety equipment;
• Whether the homeowner knew about a dangerous condition;
• Whether the homeowner gave unsafe instructions;
• Whether required inspections occurred;
• Whether the accident location violated a building or safety code;
• Whether the homeowner was acting as an employer;
• Whether any contractor, subcontractor, landlord, property manager, or other party was involved;
• Whether workers’ compensation applies, even if nobody purchased the required coverage; and
• What the homeowners, landlord, umbrella, or other liability policies actually cover.

The name on the permit, text messages about the job, payment records, photographs, and the actual insurance policy may change the outcome.

Because owner-builder cases can involve overlapping premises-liability, insurance, employment, and workers’ compensation questions, we recommend contacting our firm for a free consultation as soon as possible. We can review the basic facts, explain whether the case fits our practice, and identify evidence that should be preserved.

A ladder fall is not automatically the worker’s fault. The ladder may have been defective, improperly placed, too short, supplied without stabilizers, positioned on loose or uneven ground, or moved by another person. A homeowner may also have directed the worker to use an unsafe ladder or concealed a condition that made the work dangerous.

Roof work can involve rotted decking, hidden openings, loose materials, unstable access points, missing fall protection, and unsafe instructions. Photographs of the roof, ladder, access point, damaged materials, and permit records should be preserved immediately.

Someone hired to install a fan, ceiling light, outlet, camera, or appliance may be injured by mislabeled breakers, exposed wiring, improper prior repairs, wet conditions, or a homeowner who unexpectedly restores power.

Attics may contain concealed openings, weak drywall, missing walk boards, poor lighting, exposed nails, damaged trusses, or unsafe access ladders. Evidence can disappear quickly after repairs.

Potential hazards include wet tile, algae, loose rugs, broken steps, missing handrails, uneven walkways, unsecured cords, construction debris, poor lighting, and defects the homeowner knew or should have known about.

You do not have to be working at the home to ask about insurance coverage. Invited guests, family friends, neighbors, delivery visitors, and others lawfully on the property may have a claim when an unsafe condition, negligent act, dog, pool, stairway, deck, balcony, or other hazard causes an injury.

Often called MedPay, Coverage F, or Coverage M, this coverage may pay certain reasonable and necessary medical expenses for a person injured on the insured property. It is commonly described as no-fault coverage because proof of the homeowner’s negligence may not be required for a covered accident.

MedPay may help with expenses such as:

• Emergency-room treatment;
• Ambulance charges;
• Diagnostic imaging;
• Physician and specialist visits;
• Physical therapy; and
• Other covered medical services.

MedPay is not required in every Florida homeowners policy, it does not apply to every person or accident, and its limits are often far lower than the total cost of a serious injury. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation identifies Medical Payments to Others and Personal Liability as standard components found in homeowners insurance, while Citizens Property Insurance Corporation explains that medical-payments coverage pays reasonable and necessary expenses subject to the policy’s terms, limits, and exclusions.

Personal Liability coverage—often called Coverage E or Coverage L—may apply when the homeowner or another insured person is legally responsible for bodily injury.

A liability claim may seek compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses;
• Lost wages and reduced earning ability;
• Pain and suffering;
• Disability or physical limitations;
• Scarring or disfigurement; and
• Other losses allowed by Florida law.

Unlike MedPay, liability coverage generally requires proof of legal responsibility. This may involve showing that the homeowner created a danger, knew or should have known about it, failed to correct it or provide a reasonable warning, supplied unsafe equipment, gave unsafe directions, or otherwise acted negligently.

Being partly at fault does not always end a Florida injury claim.

For negligence claims covered by Florida’s comparative-fault statute, a person who is 50% or less responsible may still recover damages, but the recovery is reduced by that person’s percentage of fault. A claimant found more than 50% responsible generally cannot recover damages in a covered negligence action. See section 768.81, Florida Statutes.

Example: If total damages are $100,000 and the injured person is found 25% at fault, the recoverable damages would generally be reduced to $75,000 before applying insurance limits, liens, costs, and other case-specific issues.

Insurance adjusters often try to blame injured workers for choosing the ladder, accepting the job, failing to use different equipment, or not noticing the danger. Do not give a recorded statement, sign a release, or accept blame before speaking with an attorney.

Our first objective is usually to identify and pursue available insurance coverage—not to create unnecessary personal conflict between you and the homeowner.

When homeowners liability coverage applies, the insurance company generally investigates the claim, appoints and pays defense counsel if a lawsuit is filed, and pays a covered settlement or judgment up to the available policy limits. However, Florida law generally treats the allegedly responsible person—not the liability insurer—as the defendant in a negligence lawsuit. Coverage can also be disputed, limited, or excluded.

We will explain the process honestly before you decide how to proceed. No attorney can promise that a homeowners policy covers a particular accident without reviewing the policy and facts.

The label matters less than the evidence. A residential injury may involve premises liability, negligent supervision, unsafe equipment, negligent instructions, building-code violations, an animal injury, negligent maintenance, or the conduct of multiple responsible parties.

Our investigation may include:

• Locating homeowners, landlord, renters, umbrella, and other insurance;
• Obtaining the owner-builder permit and inspection history;
• Preserving photographs, video, text messages, and payment records;
• Identifying witnesses and everyone who controlled the work;
• Examining the ladder, tools, materials, roof, electrical system, or hazard;
• Reviewing emergency-room records and future treatment needs;
• Investigating prior complaints, repairs, or similar accidents;
• Determining whether a contractor or property manager shares responsibility;
• Evaluating medical-payment and personal-liability coverage; and
• Addressing medical bills, health-insurance reimbursement claims, and liens as part of a potential recovery.

Your health comes first. Delayed treatment can also allow an insurer to argue that the injury was minor or caused by something else. Tell each provider exactly how the accident happened and identify every injured body part.

Take wide and close photographs of the ladder, roof, stairs, floor, wiring, lighting, tools, debris, warning signs, and the condition that caused the injury. Do not alter or discard important equipment.

Keep texts, direct messages, call logs, payment-app receipts, estimates, permit information, names of witnesses, photographs from before the accident, and messages discussing who supplied equipment or directed the work.

Tell the homeowner what happened and ask that the incident be reported to the homeowners carrier. Stick to facts. Do not speculate about fault or minimize the injury.

An adjuster may sound helpful while gathering statements that can later be used to deny coverage or shift fault to you. Speak with a lawyer first.

MedPay paperwork should not necessarily release a larger liability claim. Have any release reviewed before signing it.

Florida generally allows only two years to file a negligence lawsuit, and some claims have different or shorter deadlines. See section 95.11, Florida Statutes. Waiting can still seriously damage a case long before the filing deadline because repairs are made, video is erased, witnesses disappear, and physical evidence is thrown away.

We recommend calling The Law Office of Jesse Diaz at 689-258-0000 for a free consultation immediately after receiving appropriate medical care. Even if you are unsure who was responsible, whether a permit existed, or whether the homeowner had insurance, we can help you determine the next step.

• Free consultation: Learn whether homeowners insurance or another coverage may apply.
• Direct, practical investigation: We examine the permit, the policy, the job relationship, and the accident evidence.
• Insurance-focused experience: Our firm understands how insurers investigate, value, limit, and deny claims.
• Bilingual service: Hablamos Español.
• No attorney’s fee unless we recover: Subject to the written representation agreement; case costs and other obligations will be explained before you hire us.
• Florida representation: Based in Lake Mary and serving clients throughout Florida.

Call 689-258-0000 or request your free case review today.

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Headline: Tell Us What Happened

Intro: Complete this short, confidential form. You do not need the insurance policy or permit before contacting us.

Recommended fields:

• Name
• Phone number
• Email
• Date of injury
• City and county where the injury occurred
• Were you working at the home or visiting as a guest?
• What job were you hired to perform?
• Who hired and paid you?
• Did the homeowner pull an owner-builder permit?
• Who supplied the ladder, tools, or equipment?
• Briefly describe how you were injured
• Where did you receive medical treatment?
• Do you know the homeowners insurance company?
• Upload photographs or documents (optional)
• Preferred language: English / Español

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Form disclaimer: Sending this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not include highly sensitive or confidential information. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after the firm completes its review and both the client and firm sign a written representation agreement.

Possibly. Medical Payments to Others coverage may pay certain covered medical expenses without proof of negligence. Personal Liability coverage may pay broader damages if an insured person is legally responsible. The available coverage depends on the policy and facts.

No. It is commonly included in many homeowners policies, but it is not guaranteed or legally required in every policy. Limits and exclusions vary. The policy must be obtained and reviewed.

Many policies have relatively small MedPay limits, commonly in the range of $1,000 to $5,000, but some provide more, less, or no applicable coverage. Never rely on an assumed limit; request the policy and written coverage position.

Yes, depending on the facts. Important questions include who owned and positioned the ladder, whether it was defective, who controlled the work, whether the ground or access point was unsafe, what the homeowner knew, and whether the policy excludes the claim.

Lack of a license does not by itself answer whether someone negligently caused an injury or whether insurance applies. It can affect the permit, employment, workers’ compensation, credibility, and coverage analysis. An attorney should review the entire situation.

Not automatically. Cash payment can make documentation harder, so preserve texts, call logs, photographs, receipts, witnesses, and any messages describing the work and payment.

An owner-builder permit can be important evidence. Florida’s statutory disclosure makes the owner-builder the responsible party of record and requires direct onsite supervision. It also specifically warns of financial risk from worker injuries. The permit does not guarantee insurance coverage or automatically decide fault.

Maybe. Calling someone a “helper,” “1099 worker,” or “independent contractor” does not conclusively determine legal status. Florida’s rules are especially complex when construction work is involved. Our firm’s target cases are claims against potentially applicable homeowners or liability coverage, but every worker injury should be screened for workers’ compensation issues so that a deadline or benefit is not lost.

Potentially. In negligence actions governed by Florida’s modified comparative-fault law, damages are generally reduced by the injured person’s percentage of fault. A person found more than 50% responsible generally cannot recover; a person found 50% or less responsible may still recover a reduced amount.

Depending on liability, policy terms, limits, and the evidence, it may cover damages such as medical expenses, lost income, reduced future earning ability, pain and suffering, disability, and scarring.

Lack of health insurance does not prevent a liability claim. MedPay may help with some early bills if available, and a liability recovery may include reasonable accident-related medical expenses. You should still obtain appropriate medical care and ask providers about payment options.

When valid coverage exists, the liability insurer generally handles the defense and pays a covered settlement or judgment up to the policy limits. But coverage is never automatic, and the responsible person is ordinarily the defendant if litigation is required. We investigate and explain that issue before filing suit.

Invited guests may have MedPay or liability claims after falls, dog attacks, pool injuries, defective stairs, unsafe decks, poor lighting, or other hazards. Liability depends on the homeowner’s duties, knowledge, conduct, and the guest’s own actions.

You may need to report basic facts, but you should speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement, signing medical authorizations, accepting a settlement, or signing a release.

Florida generally has a two-year limitations period for negligence claims, but exceptions and other deadlines may apply. Evidence can disappear within days, so it is safer to seek legal advice immediately rather than wait for the deadline.

The initial consultation is free. If the firm accepts the case on a contingency basis, no attorney’s fee is owed unless a recovery is made, subject to the written representation agreement. Fees, costs, and responsibilities are explained before representation begins.

If you were injured while repairing, cleaning, installing, or maintaining someone else’s Florida home—or while visiting as an invited guest—let us investigate whether homeowners insurance or another liability policy can help.

You do not need a written contract. You do not need to know the insurer. You do not need to decide whether you were an employee or independent contractor before calling.

We recommend that you contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. There is no obligation to hire the firm, and waiting may allow important photographs, physical evidence, permit information, messages, or witness testimony to disappear.

Call The Law Office of Jesse Diaz, PLLC at 689-258-0000.
Free consultation | Hablamos Español | Serving Florida
DiazLitigation.com

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This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Insurance coverage depends on the wording of the applicable policy and the facts of the claim. Submission of a form or a telephone call does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not delay seeking medical attention or legal advice because of information on this page.