Premises liability is a legal concept that is most frequently associated with personal injury cases where an injury was caused by unsafe or defective conditions on someone’s property.
Landowners and businesses must make their property safe for guests, tenants, and customers. Failure to follow housing codes, national safety standards, or local ordinances can all lead to serious injuries.
Types of Premises Liability Cases
Slip and fall accidents are a common example of premises liability injuries. Injuries may range from bruises to broken bones or even brain and spinal cord injuries. These types of accidents can happen just about anywhere and are often the result of conditions like:
- Uneven sidewalks
- Adverse weather conditions
- Potholes
- Falling objects
- Poorly lit pathways or stairs
- Unbalanced flooring
However, there are a wide range of accidents that are categorized as premises liability. Other types of premises liability cases include:
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Defective conditions on the premises
- Swimming pool accidents
- Dog bites
- Toxic fumes or chemicals
- Amusement park accidents
- Fires
- Water leaks or flooding
Premises Liability Cases
In general, there are three factors in proving a premises liability case:
- The property’s condition was dangerous
- The owner knew (or should have known) that the condition was dangerous
- The owner had a reasonable opportunity to correct or warn of the condition, which was not reasonably open and obvious to the injured party at the time of the accident
In other words, the injured person must prove that the property owner was negligent regarding ownership and maintenance of the property.
Simply being injured on someone’s property doesn’t mean that the owner was negligent. Property rules related to premises liability vary from state to state, so it’s important to contact an experienced local attorney if you have questions about a possible premises liability case.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
