Premises liability is a legal concept that comes into play in cases of personal injury. In premises liability cases, the owners of properties are held accountable for any form of injuries that someone may incur while on the property. In such a case, the owner can be taken to court. The reason is that property owners are required by law to make sure that they maintain a safe environment so that no harm comes to individuals on the property.
Forms of Property Liability Cases
Several personal injury instances fall under the criteria of premises liability. They include:
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Injuries arising from inadequate maintenance of premises
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Injuries resulting from defective conditions on the premises
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Slip and fall incidents
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Injuries arising from insufficient security or assault on the premises
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Snow and ice incidences
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Swimming pool, amusement park, dog bite, elevator, or escalator accidents
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Fires, leakage, or chemical-related accidents
Facts about Premises Liability Cases
To begin with, not every state shares the same regulations when it comes to the issue of who is to be held accountable for injuries obtained on a property. To determine is the liability case is appropriate, victims are categorized into three.
Invitee – This is an individual that has been granted permission to enter the property. If such a person gets injured on the premises, then the owner can be held accountable as it is his or her responsibility to ensure the safety of guests.
Licensee – This is a person that has been granted access to the property. In such a case, the licensee’s business on the property has nothing to do with the owner. An example is a salesman. Here, the property owner has to inform the licensee of any impending danger that is known to the owner or one that the licensee is not likely to discover. Failure to which, a premises liability case may be appropriate.
Trespasser – Someone with no authorization to be on the premises. Here, the owner has no duty to protect the trespasser.
Several variables come into play when determining the person responsible for an accident on a property. Hiring the best lawyer would be the best course of action in such a situation.
At Smith and Lee, Lawyers, we provide the best attorneys with the right qualifications to take you through such a case.