Have you ever seen a spill in a grocery store or an uneven walkway in an apartment complex? These are dangerous conditions; and, while you might not think much of them, they can cause serious injuries. Slipping on a liquid could cause back injuries and tripping on uneven walkways could cause someone to hit their head. People often aren’t able to see these hazards until they’ve suffered an injury as a result of them. Many victims of these accidents are unaware that they can take legal action based on the legal concept of premises liability.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is a legal concept that assigns responsibility to property owners to keep visitors reasonably safe from harm. When property owners neglect this responsibility, they can be held responsible by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Who Does Premises Liability Apply To?

If you own property, premises liability can apply to you. However, most cases of premises liability involved grocery stores, parking garages, apartment complexes, and other commercial buildings. While residential property owners are responsible for keeping visitors safe, commercial building owners and occupiers typically have a much larger number of visitors who visit the properties for a reason that financially benefits the occupants, heightening their legal duty.

What Is Duty of Care?

Property owners are expected to exercise reasonable care in the ownership and maintenance of their property with respect to anyone who might visit the property. This means if any dangerous conditions exist on the property, the property owner has to warn visitors of the dangers beforehand. Property owners can do this by providing warnings and posting the appropriate signs, among other things.

What Kind of Dangerous Conditions Fall Under Premises Liability?

Slip and fall cases account for some of the most common premises liability lawsuits; however, there are many other types of premises liability cases. For example, the owners and managers of structures like apartment complexes and parking garages are responsible for providing adequate security to protect visitors from crime. Also, construction sites are expected to post all appropriate warning signs because visitors could be injured by a variety of hazards like falling objects, live electrical wires, and dangerous chemicals, among others.

Experienced Premises Liability Lawyers

For victims of negligent property owners, hiring an experienced premises liability lawyer is the only way to ensure property owners are held accountable. The Glisson Law Firm has helped scores of victims of negligent property owners with their premises liability claims. Call us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.