Common Premise Accidents:   Selections Amusement Parks Animals Buildings Carbon Monoxide Childcare Commercial Liability Construction Dog Bites Drownings Electrocutions Federal Tort Claims Fires Flammable Fabrics Homes Lead Poisoning Lifeguards Machines Malls Nursing Homes Playgrounds Recreational Shopping Centers Slip and Fall Sports Stair Defects Store Liability Swimming Pools Wrongful Deaths Other

Premise liability is concerned with unsafe conditions existing on real property. Liability can involve many theories of responsibility. Dangers on property can be caused by unsafe products, failure to make repairs, the storing of dangerous chemicals, fires, building code violations, engineering problems, architectural errors, electrical hazards, and so forth. Generally, the legal duties of owners or occupiers of property are based upon the legal status of the person injured. There is generally no duty to trespassers who go onto the property of another without any legal right to do so. For a licensee, a person who consensually goes onto the property of another for their own benefit, an occupant must use ordinary care to avoid injury, to make an unsafe condition reasonably safe, and to warn of unsafe conditions. There are increased duties for an invitee, a person who visits a premise at the invitation of the occupant. The premises must be reasonably safe for their visit, and an invitee must be warned of known or reasonably known unsafe conditions. For example, slip and fall cases at commercial sites frequently involve foreign substances on floors, and determination of whether the owner knew or should have known, it was there. Greater duties may exist for dangerous substances or when children are injured.  

Legal claims involving premise accidents can involve complex legal and technical issues. The following are a few important legal, factual and evidentiary matters that should be considered when evaluating a claim.

• When, where, and how did the accident occur?

• Were there any witnesses to the accident?

• Are the any photographs or video of the accident, accident location, or injuries/

• Did the accident occur at a private residence, business, public area, or home?

• Did the accident involve a failure to warn of a unsafe condition?

• Did the accident involve a animal, product, fixture, furniture, or other item?

• Was the accident caused by the acts or omission of an employee?

• Was the action caused by a third party?

• Has a written or verbal statement been given or a release signed?

• What are the nature and extent of all injuries?

• Will future medical care be required?

• Has there been a permanent injury or disability? 

If you or a family member is injured at a business, commercial site, public area, or anywhere, get prompt medical attention and read the suggestions in our accident guide. Call us immediately, for an evaluation of your case. We are here to help. You can call us at (757) 595-8100 seven days a week, 24 hours a day, everyday of the year. We also offer a free legal-infoline service, and you can now contact us on this web site by using our Personal Injury Contact form. We are committed to doing the extra things it takes to help our clients.