Property owners who should be aware that their premises have dangerous or unsafe conditions can be held responsible for injuries to unsuspecting visitors to the property. Usually these claims must be substantiated by expert witnesses who are familiar with the many codes and ordinances that regulate property maintenance.
Any property owner, renter, or occupier who opens their doors or provides access to their property to the public has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the premises are free of avoidable dangers. Even so, thousands of visitors, shoppers, and invited guests are injured every year by property or business owners that don’t take the proper precautions to provide a safe environment. In most cases, these accidents or injuries are minor. However, there are situations where an accident or catastrophe results in a serious injury, disability, or even death. In these cases, the victim has the right to file a premises liability lawsuit in order to rectify the property owner’s negligence and to receive compensation to cover medical expenses, emotional trauma, or lost wages, or other unforeseen costs as the result of their injuries.
Every state has laws and regulations requiring property owners and/or occupiers to take reasonable care of the premises in order to keep it clear or hazards or debris. This can include the public walkways in front of or leading to their property, broken railings, decks or windows, or other potential hazards. Government agencies, retail and grocery stores, amusement parks, museums, corporate offices, etc., are all beholden to these regulations.
Contact a Bay Area Law Firm if You Feel You Have a Premises Liability Claim
If you feel you have been the victim of property owner or occupier’s negligence, contact the Law Offices of Joseph W. Campbell so we can review your case. Examples of scenarios that result in a premises liability claim include:
- Trip and fall accidents
- Uneven sidewalks, drives, or walkways
- Poorly maintained walkways and paths
- Falls as the result of slippery footing
- Icy steps or walkways
- Poorly maintained stairways
- Inadequately marked landscaping or hardscaping
- Elevator or escalator accidents
- Injury or illness as the result of poor ventilation
Even violent crimes are often covered within the tenets of premises liability law under a legal principle called negligent security. This liability can extend to rental landlords, schools, and employees.
Hire a Premises Liability Lawyer Who Can Navigate the Complexities to Your Advantage
Premises liability claims can be complicated because often the onus of the responsibility falls to more than one entity. It is imperative that you hire an experienced legal team so your case will proceed as swiftly as possible, and will not be dismissed as the result of technicalities. You want to do all you can to ensure the outcome of your case is in your best interests. Contact the Law Offices of Joseph W. Campbell to schedule a free consultation. Our legal team has received positive verdicts and settlements for our clients for more than 40 years. We look forward to representing your case next.