What happens if you get hurt while at someone’s home or business? Premises liability is the category of personal injury law that deals with these scenarios.
While accidents can and do happen, when an element contributes to the injury, you may have the right to file a premises liability claim to get help with medical care, among other things. Take some time to learn more about what qualifies for premises liability and some of the most common scenarios you may encounter.
Something led to the incident
Negligence is a fundamental requirement for every personal injury claim. It means that some avoidable element existed on the premises that caused the incident, and that incident caused your injury. The causal relationship between the negligence and your injury must also clearly exist. For example, if you trip over a raised sidewalk and break your wrist, you must establish the following:
- The property owner knew the sidewalk was uneven.
- Had the owner fixed the sidewalk, you would not have fallen.
- If you did not fall, your wrist would not have broken.
Common examples of premises liability
Trips, slips and falls are the most common instances of premises liability. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain the area inside and outside the building. If hazards exist that pose a threat to others, they should fix them. Pet owners must also take responsibility for their animals. Dogs should remain leashed or barricaded, especially if there is the possibility of a bite. Dog bites fall within premises liability on many occasions.
Your injuries need addressing. If the fault lies with another’s negligence, you should receive assistance with recovering from those injuries.