Premises Liability
Some of the cases we are involved in concern "premises liability." I am frequently asked what is meant by the term premises liability. When someone is injured on another's property as a result of unsafe property or building conditions, the person injured may have a right to make a claim against the building owner or property owner. Any injury that occurs on another's property, particularly a commercial establishment, may give rise to liability of the property owner. A common premises liability case is a slip and fall, but many other types of injuries and accidents fall under this category, including:
- Broken glass
- Inadequate security
- Injury from a product falling from a shelf
- Assault in a parking lot
- Fire from a defective heater
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Tripping over a poorly constructed floor
The possible scenarios are endless. An owner has the responsibility to keep the premises safe from unsafe conditions. An owner must use reasonable care to insure the safety of others.
A recent successful case involved a client who was significantly injured after she tripped over a cable left by a large company across a sidewalk. Our client was walking her dog at night, and tripped over the cable. The cable company did not act reasonably with respect to the location of the cable, and the failure to place adequate warnings. A favorable settlement was obtained on behalf of the client.
Any injury that results from the carelessness of an owner may give rise to a premises liability claim. Effective handling of a premises liability claim requires proper investigation and experience in evaluating damages and liability. Call our office right away if you or your family have any questions about an injury that my give rise to a premises liability claim.
