Poorly maintained properties can cause injuries to guests. If you have injuries due to a property owner’s negligence, contact Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A. for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Serious injuries can happen anywhere, at any time, whether you’re at school or work, going about your daily activities, or visiting friends at their home or apartment. No matter where you go, you are on someone’s property.
When property owners neglect to maintain their property or at the very least warn individuals of potential dangers, they may be held liable for any injuries that occur. If you experience injuries in an accident on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover compensation.
Property owners are responsible for maintaining a safe environment for their guests. When they fail to do so, accidents can happen. The Jackson, Mississippi, premises liability lawyers at Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A. can help you file a claim and get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a FREE consultation to review your premises liability claim.
What Are Examples of Premises Liability Claims?
Unfortunately, visitors are regularly injured on poorly kept properties. Read about examples of unsafe conditions that could cause injuries below.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and falls are one of the most common premises liability accidents. One cause of slip and fall accidents is the weather. Ice and snow can form on any surface, including walkways, and cause a fall. For example, a fall might happen when a homeowner fails to clear their driveway of ice and snow. Or a restaurant employee might forget to clean up a spill. Unmarked steps and changes in floor level can also lead to falls. Falls can lead to serious injury, including brain damage, strains and sprains, broken bones, and neck and back injuries.
Dog Bites
Dog owners have a duty of care to protect other people from their dogs. Unrestrained dogs can cause severe injuries to unsuspecting individuals. Deep bites might result in infection, scarring, or disfigurement.
Toxic Exposure
Lead-based paint or asbestos exposure can cause serious diseases. Contact a Mississippi premises liability attorney for a free initial consultation to determine who is responsible for your exposure.
Fires
Improper wiring can quickly result in a fire. In addition, if there are no working fire exits or no functioning fire extinguishers, a person is more likely to be harmed.
Elevator or Escalator Accidents
When a property owner fails to maintain an elevator or escalator properly, it might cause an accident because of faulty doors, missing step panels, or malfunctioning side rails.
Dangerous or Faulty Stairs
Missing or broken handrails, damaged step panels, or unmarked steps can cause users to fall. Serious injuries, even death, can result from a fall down the stairs.
Swimming Pool Accidents
Unfenced swimming pools can be a reason for a premises liability claim. A landowner or manager has a duty to keep the property and structures safe for visitors or invitees, whether for commercial or personal use. Under premises liability law, individuals may file for compensation if they suffer losses on someone else’s property. Under certain circumstances, property owners may be held liable for injuries to children under the “attractive nuisance doctrine.” This doctrine might be applied even if those kids are trespassing when they are hurt.
Other Potential Hazards
Other hazards that might cause a premises liability claim include unsafe windows, doors, or furniture. Uncovered sharp edges can also cause serious injury to a visitor.
What Should I Do if I Have An Accident on Someone Else’s Property?
Landowners are responsible for making reasonable efforts to avoid, mitigate, or warn about hazardous situations so that guests stay safe. If you have an injury due to a property owner failing to maintain their premises take the following steps to help build your premises liability case:
- Seek medical attention: It’s critical to get treatment as soon as possible. While some injuries are immediately apparent, many others may go unnoticed for several days. By getting examined and treated by a doctor quickly, your recovery will be faster, and you will have an accurate record of your injuries.
- Take photographs: Take pictures of the scene while everything is still in the same place and condition as during your accident. The photos will assist you in proving the existence of a hazardous situation.
- Obtain witness statements: Depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident, you may be able to speak to witnesses. Ask them to recall your accident in as much detail as possible.
- Preserve evidence: If there is damage to belongings or the clothes or shoes you were wearing at the time of the accident, those items will be help validate your case.
- File a police report: If the event occurred at a business, notify the owner or manager and report it to local law enforcement. Your attorney will have access to the report.
- Keep all records and receipts: Keep everything related to the accident, including medical reports and bills, transportation expenses, and out-of-pocket expenditures like medicine or medical equipment.
- Contact an experienced premises liability lawyer: The property owner’s insurance company or attorney will contact you after an accident. They may ask you to sign a release or make you a settlement offer. It’s critical to retain the services of an attorney to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Avoid signing anything until you consult with your attorney.
Contact Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A. today for your FREE consultation.
Who Might Be Liable in a Premises Liability Case?
When you are hurt in an accident in Jackson, Mississippi, the first step in filing your claim is to identify the individual or entity responsible for your damages. An experienced Jackson premises liability lawyer will help determine who is responsible. That individual will be responsible for paying your compensation. Typically, the property owner is held accountable for injuries incurred on their premises, even if they were not present at the time of the accident.
However, if the property owner informed you about the hazard, they may not be liable. For example, suppose a wet floor sign warned attendees to stay away from a particular area of the floor. In that case, you might not be able to claim that the company was negligent. You may need to consult an attorney regarding liability in your case.
Can Restaurant Owners Be Responsible For Premises Liability Claims?
Every restaurant owner and operator in Mississippi is legally required to keep customers safe from risk and eliminate hazards on the premises. When a restaurant does maintain its premises, it can lead to hazardous circumstances in the kitchen, dining area, or elsewhere under its control. Restaurant liability can include a restaurant not taking reasonable care to store or prepare food properly. For example, if a customer becomes ill from improperly prepared or stored meat or produce, the restaurant owner is negligent.
When something spills, and no one promptly cleans the mess, the restaurant may be responsible if someone slips and falls and suffers an injury due to the spill. In these situations, it’s a question of whether the restaurant owner had time and opportunity to identify potential problems and whether they took appropriate safety measures.
Contact Richard Schwartz & Associates in Jackson, Mississippi for Your Free Case Review
As the largest personal injury law firm in Mississippi, Richard Schwartz & Associates attorneys have the skills and resources to help clients obtain successful case outcomes. Our law firm has 40 years of experience successfully handling Jackson premises liability cases. It’s no surprise that we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
