Negligent property owners can be held liable for many types of injuries suffered on their premises.
Property owners have certain responsibilities regarding the safety of their premises. They are expected to take reasonable measures to keep the property free of hazards and prevent foreseeable accidents and injuries. When they fail in this responsibility, it is possible to bring a premises liability claim against them to secure compensation for the person who has been injured on their property.
Here are 3 possible scenarios that could lead to a premises liability claim.
Slip and Fall Accident Injury
When people think of premises accidents, slip and fall accidents are typically the first type of incident to come to mind. Slip and fall (or trip and fall) accidents can result from any number of defects in a property, from inadequate maintenance of sidewalks and driveways to poorly lit stairwells and halls to unsigned wet floors. When it comes to slip and fall injuries, it is important to prove that the property knew about the condition (or should have known about it) and yet did not address the problem. So, while a supermarket owner would not be responsible if another customer dropped a jar of pickles and you slipped in the juice 2 minutes later, they would be responsible if the jar was dropped 2 hours ago, because given more time they should have noticed and corrected the hazard.
Dog Bite Injury
Dog bites are not commonly considered a premises accident injury, but there are some cases that will fall into this category. For example, a dog can be considered a “hazard” or “dangerous condition” of a property when it is known to be dangerous and confined in a yard. If the fencing or chain restraining the dog is faulty and the dog escapes and injures someone both the owner of the dog and the owner of the property could possibly be liable. In order for a property owner (such as a landlord) to be liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog, they must generally have known the dog was dangerous and allowed the tenant and the dog to remain despite having the power to remove them.
Criminal Assault Injury
One final type of premises liability you might not have thought of is “negligent security.” In areas with significant criminal activity, property owners should take measures to help protect visitors to their property from harm, such as providing adequate lighting at night, installing quality door and window locks, or even hiring trained security personnel. When such measures are not taken despite the fact that criminal activity is reasonably foreseeable in the area, the property owner can be held liable when a visitor becomes injured in an assault, robbery, rape, or other crime.
Need Help with a Premises Liability Claim?
If you have been injured due to a property owner’s negligence, Fernando D. Vargas can help you build a strong case for compensation. Call 909-982-0707 now to get free advice.
