Common Causes of Premises Accidents



Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009

by
Susak & Powell

Premises accidents generally take place on someone else's property as a result of unsafe conditions created by the property owner. A property owner may be a landlord, a home owner, or the owner of a business or company. Regardless of their title, property owners are obligated to protect every tenant, guest or customer who is legally occupying their property. It is their duty to maintain their property in a way that makes it reasonably safe for visitors. In addition, property owners must effectively alert visitors to any possible dangers on their property, like a hole in the floor, a wet or icy walkway and uneven pavement.

Hazards such as unleashed dogs, slippery floors and decaying steps are more common than most people realize. In addition, many businesses and security companies fail to provide adequate lighting and security for their customers. The personal injury claims resulting from these conditions often involve third party assaults and robberies caused by vacant and dimly lit parking garages.

A typical example of a premises liability case might be that you are in a toy store shopping for a birthday present for your nephew. While perusing the aisles you slip suddenly and find yourself sprawled out on the floor. The toy store had recently mopped the floor, but had failed to put any warning signs out to alert customers to the slippery area. You hurt your back in the fall and must take several afternoons off of work in order to see the doctor. This would be reason to seek out a personal injury lawyer.

Here is a list of common premises accident injuries:
- Building fires
- Slips, trips and falls from spills in a grocery store or on broken sidewalk
- Animal attacks and dog bites
- Inadequate security and poor lighting
- Falling merchandise (products falling from shelves in a grocery or department store)
- Staircases accidents (injuries caused by icy or snow-covered stairs)
- Escalator and elevator injuries
- Pool accidents or drowning (in particular involving children)

It is important to realize that property owners are not responsible every time someone is injured while visiting their property. The injured person must first prove that the owner was negligent. It must also be proven that the condition of the property was dangerous, that the owner was aware of the dangerous condition and that the owner had a reasonable opportunity to correct or warn of the condition but failed to do so. In some cases, the landlord or business owner may be in serious violation of national safety codes or local housing ordinances.

If you or someone you know has sustained an injury on someone else's property as a result of the property owner's negligence, you need the help of a personal injury lawyer. If it is proven that the property owner was remiss in the upkeep of their property, and you have been injured, they may be held liable for the damages. A personal injury lawyer can help you force property owners to improve their property and prevent further injuries from taking place, as well as secure you just compensation for your injuries.

 
 
Gary Susak has been a personal injury lawyer in Portland, Oregon for over 35 years. The premises liability attorneys at his law firm, Susak & Powell have over 100 years combined experience. If you think you need to retain the services of a personal injury lawyer, contact our offices for a free initial consultation.
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