Whenever you visit someone’s home, run to the mall or meet friends for dinner at a restaurant, the last thing you might expect is that an otherwise routine trip could end with serious injuries. Unfortunately, this is the exact situation that many people find themselves in when they are victims of unsafe premises.
Property owners are expected to keep premises safe for people who are legally allowed to be on a site. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen and people get hurt because a hazard was not properly addressed. In these situations, victims may have grounds to pursue a premises liability lawsuit. If you have recently been injured on someone else’s property, you should understand what types of incidences commonly lead to legal action.
As noted in this article, premises liability is the legal theory that property owners are liable for accidents that happen on their property because of ignored or unresolved hazards. Dangerous conditions that can be a threat to others include:
- Slippery floors
- Turned up or torn up carpeting
- Poorly lit hallways or stairwells
- Potentially dangerous and/or unrestrained animals
- Improperly secured pool entrances
- Inadequate security in areas that may be unsafe
- Blocked emergency exits
When these and similar hazards lead to an accident, the potential for injuries is very real. Falling, getting bit, being assaulted and being trapped can lead to broken bones, burns, lacerations, back and neck injuries and even brain trauma. Further, there is the potential for emotional damages including anxiety and depression.
For these reasons, property owners are expected to minimize the threat of dangerous conditions including those we mentioned earlier. If property owners know about an unsafe situation or should know about one but fail to do anything to warn people about it or remove it, they can face civil penalties for negligence.
If you have been injured as a result of unsafe property, you can take steps to explore your legal options and rights with the help of an attorney.
