Types of Premises Liability Cases
If a property owner, manager, or another party fails to protect guests, patrons, or friends from dangers on their property, an accident and injury can occur. There are many different types of cases under the umbrella of premises liability, including:
It’s important to hire an attorney that has experience in premises liability cases in general, as well as experience in the type of accident you’ve experienced. For example, if you were injured because of a fire in your apartment complex, you’ll want to hire an attorney that has handled similar cases.
Osborne & Francis has handled many different types of premises liability cases, including all of the above. We have years of experience working diligently to ensure our clients get the compensation to pay their damages.
Commonly Associated Injuries
Because there are so many different types of premises liability accidents, injuries can range from mild to severe. Unfortunately, sometimes, premises liability accidents may even cause fatality. If a loved one has passed away because of a premises liability accident, please contact us as soon as possible so we can assist you in filing a wrongful death claim.
From minor to severe and life-threatening, all injuries are devastating and expensive. Without health insurance, a simple injury like a broken bone can cost thousands—if not more. More severe injuries, like spinal cord injuries or head injuries, can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
Our team of attorneys will take this into account, making sure that you receive compensation for both your past and future medical bills. Your doctor will determine your future treatment plan, and we’ll use that to determine just how much compensation you’ll need to continue paying your medical bills.
No matter your injury, we’re here to help you. Premises liability injuries may include:
Causes of Premises Liability Injuries
Premises liability injuries are caused by a property owner, manager, or another party’s inability to keep guests safe. This is called negligence. Property owners or other parties owe a certain level of care to those who visit (or live at) their property, business, or home. By breaching this duty and allowing an accident to occur, the at-fault party has committed negligence.
Negligence may look like any of the following:
- Failing to clean up a spill or clutter within a reasonable amount of time
- Failing to warn guests of an issue within the home, for example, a loose step or another hazard
- Ignoring maintenance requests within an apartment complex. For example, complaints of black mold, lack of heat/air conditioning, or generally unsafe living conditions within the unit or in common areas
- Lack of a security presence in businesses, bars, clubs, or event spaces
- Poor lighting in parking lots, hallways, or other common areas
- Failure to properly maintain elevators or escalators
- Not posting signage for slippery floors
- Not posting when a lifeguard isn’t on duty
- Not warning guests of a dangerous dog
How to Determine Liability
So, you’ve been involved in an accident, and you believe the property owner (or another party) is at fault for the accident. What steps do you take next? How do you prove that negligence caused the accident to occur? How do you prove that someone is liable and, therefore, should pay for your damages?
To determine liability, you have to prove each step of the following:
- The property owner had a duty to keep their premises hazard-free.
- They breached this duty by acting negligently.
- As a result of their negligence, you were injured.
- Your injuries have resulted in damages.
Property owners have a duty to keep their premises hazard-free within reason. While some hazards are inevitable, it’s their responsibility to ensure that the premises are safe for everyone. If they choose to ignore a hazard, this is evidence enough that they’ve breached their duty.
Pictures of the accident and witness statements can help to prove the existence of the hazard that caused your injuries. Pictures of your injury from the day of the accident and medical reports can prove that their negligence resulted in your injuries.
When you hire Osborne & Francis to represent your premises liability case, we’ll investigate your case thoroughly. We’ll make a record of all evidence that can be used in your claim, such as laws for property owners, photos, videos, statements, and more.