What is it?
Premises liability occurs when the owner of a property becomes responsible for injuries incurred by persons on their property. Some prime examples of injuries that can result in premises liability claims are:
- Falls
- Animal attacks
- Assault
- Other injuries due to unsafe structures
Premises liability claims can be made against owners of commercial, public, or private property, including:
- Retail establishments such as malls and supermarkets
- Hotels and motels
- Public areas like stadiums, walkways, or parks
- Parking lots
- Homes
What causes it?
In order for an owner to be liable, they must be shown to be negligent. In other words, they must have been aware of a hazardous situation and not taken steps to correct it.
Building owners are responsible for alerting the public to unsafe conditions. The existence of signage and other warning and protective measures are a key factor in determining whether or not an owner is negligent. It is also important to understand how long the dangerous condition has been present and whether or not it is reasonable to consider the owner at fault for not correcting it.
In cases of assault, a claim could be made against the property owner if they have not taken steps to insure their property is well lit or has proper security.
Why Jacobs and Goodman?
We have extensive experience with premises liability cases. Unlike a motor vehicle collision, police rarely show up at the site of a property liability injury – there are few witnesses, and little official record. We know the issues involved, which often have to do with unexpected changes in the walking surface, how long the hazard existed, and whether or not a property owner alerted pedestrians to its dangers.
We’re experienced trial lawyers. We approach each case as though we’re going to trial. While many of our cases settle out of court with satisfactory financial reward for the client, it’s only because the defense knows we can take it to trial effectively.
At Jacobs & Goodman:
- You always get an attorney, never a case manager like at other firms.
- We take a personal interest in your case, and help you through every aspect, including helping you deal with medical leins and debts.
- We work on a contingency basis, which means if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay.
If you think you or a loved one has been injured as the result of the negligence of a property owner, contact us for a free consultation.