Holding property owners accountable for injuries

On Behalf of | Jan 21, 2025 | PERSONAL INJURY - Personal Injury

Dangerous property conditions can put every visitor at risk. Property owners have a basic duty of care to the public, and they should keep their premises in reasonably safe conditions. Signage and efforts to prevent access are important when there are dangerous conditions at a property.

When landlords or businesses don’t maintain properties carefully, anyone who visits might end up injured as a result. Unlit stairwells, slippery flooring, tripping hazards and unstable balconies are all examples of dangerous property conditions that could result in people sustaining significant injuries.

Property owners may be held responsible if negligent security practices lead to a criminal incident. Premises liability lawsuits are how individuals hold property owners, businesses and landlords accountable for creating a dangerous situation.

What is premises liability?

Premises liability is essentially the legal term for the financial and legal responsibility property owners have in the event of injuries. Their failure to properly maintain their premises results in other people sustaining injuries.

The injured parties may then have medical expenses and lost wages to address, as well as property damage costs in some cases. If reasonable people are likely to agree that the property was unsafe, then the situation may involve actionable negligence.

A premises liability lawsuit brought against a business or landlord could result in insurance compensation for the injured party. Most businesses and landlords carry premises liability insurance. Even individual homeowners typically have premises liability coverage on their policies that can cover expenses when visitors get hurt.

Discussing the circumstances that led to an injury can help people determine whether they may have grounds for premises liability lawsuits. Injured people can often hold property owners accountable if they can show that negligent maintenance or security practices led to their injuries.