Understanding Premises Liability Cases and the Initial Steps to Take When Injured as a Result of Slipping or Tripping at Someone Else’s Property

Premises Liability cases are claims brought by people who are injured as a result of dangerous conditions existing on the property of another. These cases are unsafe property claims.  Individuals who own or occupy property are referred to as possessors of land.  Possessors of land have a legal duty or responsibility to keep their property in a safe condition for others who come to their property for different reasons.  The extent of the legal duty of a possessor of land to take steps to keep their property safe for use by others varies depending on the reason why the injured person was on the property.

Those who allow their property to be used for business purposes have the highest degree of responsibility or duty to keep their property safe for those who are expected to be there for business purposes. Essentially, if you possess property and profit from activity on the property, you have a responsibility to perform reasonable inspections of the property to discover any dangerous conditions that may not be visible to those using the property.  You also have the duty to take the necessary steps to remove and/or repair the dangerous condition.  If the dangerous condition cannot be repaired or removed, then the possessor must warn potential customers of the unsafe condition so they are able to avoid being harmed by it.

Many people get injured as a result of business owners failing to follow the rules of property safety. These injuries often occur when people slip or trip on undetected defects on the floor or grounds of the business property.

When you are injured due to unsafe property conditions, you should take the following steps:

• Seek assistance from the owner or manager of the business where the fall happened;
• Ask for immediate medical attention;
• Make a visual observation of the unsafe conditions that caused you to slip or trip; i.e. undetected patch of ice, wet floor due to a foreign substance on it, etc.;
• Either you or someone with you should take photographs of the scene of the accident, particularly the area that was unsafe and dangerous;
• Ask the manager to provide an incident report detailing the events leading up to your fall;
• Ask the property owner if there are surveillance cameras in the vicinity;
• Save and photograph the shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall; and
• Follow through and get all necessary medical treatment for your injuries.

If you were seriously injured due to an unsafe property condition, you may incur medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and a loss of quality of life for which you deserve to be compensated. The premises liability attorneys at Bruno Law can provide you with the legal representation to pursue an unsafe property claim against the business property owner or operator of the business who should have taken steps to make the property safe.  Our lawyers have the experience needed to ensure that your case is successful so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries and trying to get your life back to normal as soon as possible.

If you were injured in an unsafe property claim, we will investigate and pursue your claim for fair compensation for all losses you have sustained. To schedule a free personal injury consultation and evaluation of your case, please contact us at 610-258-4003 or fill out the Contact form.