Owning a property comes with a degree of liability. Businesses and individuals have a duty of care to maintain physical spaces in reasonably safe condition. They should provide notice of unsafe property conditions or address safety hazards promptly to mitigate that liability.
If people get hurt at unsafe properties, then legal action may be necessary to hold businesses or individual property owners accountable. The three scenarios below are among the most common reasons for premises liability lawsuits.
1. Animal attacks
When people don’t keep their animals restrained or train them properly, they can become very aggressive. Dogs or other animals can injure people. Premises liability lawsuits against animal owners can help compensate people for medical expenses, lost wages and property damage costs related to an animal’s aggressive conduct.
2. Preventable criminal incidents
Many premises liability lawsuits begin with claims of negligence. After a crime on private property, the victim of the crime might hold a business or property owner accountable by asserting negligent security practices. Failing to exclude the general public, foregoing security systems and leaving high-traffic areas dark at night are all examples of negligence that can contribute to criminal activity.
3. Slip-and-falls
Slip-and-falls and trip-and-falls are perhaps the best-known source of premises liability. When businesses don’t keep their spaces safe and clean, visitors can fall and sustain serious injuries. Fractures and brain injuries are among the most costly and serious injuries associated with slip-and-fall incidents.
Pursuing a premises liability lawsuit against a business or property owner can lead to compensation. Injured people often need to review their cases with legal professionals to determine if they’ve experienced actionable negligence and who is likely liable for the situation.