Premises liability is a concept that means that the property holders like the renters, and occupants are responsible for the injuries that occur to people in their property due to defects or some hazards.
So, this is the part of the law that shows that the owners are responsible for making sure that the premises are safe for the visitors when they visit. Now, this is mostly associated with the cases of slip and fall as compared to other cases.
But, according to the personal injury lawyer in Houston, there are also a number of cases in which premises liability can play a very important role like pool incidents, dog bites, and security issues leading to harm.
Why Should Owners Take Responsibility?
Owning the property is not the only thing that you need to do, there are a lot of responsibilities that come with it. It is the legal and moral responsibility of the owners to make sure that the premises of the property are safe and hazard-free. This applies to all, whether it is a customer, guest, or trespasser.
Also, this is not just done to stay away from lawsuits, it also makes sure that the standards of care are also kept high.
When such responsibilities are not taken seriously by the owners, injuries occur that impact the people who are present at the property. So there comes the law that can help in finding the right balance between the rights of the public and the responsibilities of the property owners.
Common Incidents Leading to Premises Liability
There are some of common scenarios that can lead to the use of premises liability.
Slip and Fall Scenarios
One of the most common injuries that occur is the slip and fall accidents. These can occur in private homes, shopping malls, and retail stores. These can happen for a number of reasons. Icy pathways, wet floors, and even loose carpeting can make anyone slip and fall.
Now, when a visitor does fall and gets hurt without knowing any of such hazards and falls not knowing what to anticipate then the property owner is the only person who is held accountable for the injury.
Hidden Hazards
These are the circumstances that occur on the property but can cause injury but a lot of times are hidden and cannot be seen. These can be some hidden wires or some issue in the flooring that is not visible to the visitor. This is the duty of the employer as he must be aware of the issues in his property and must pay attention to them.
Poorly Managed Facilities
The responsibility of the property owner is not confined to looking after the immediate dangers occurring just in time. The responsibility for the upkeep of the other facilities is also the responsibility of the owner.
These can be the broken handrails of the stairs, issues with the elevators, or ad flooring in the parking areas.
Dog Bites and Other Animal Attacks
In public and private properties, pets can be a cause of injury. Even if it is told that the pet is not wild in nature and it is the first time biting, the owner will still be held accountable for the bite or the attack.
Poor Security Measures
The poor security issues are mostly seen in the malls and the apartment settings. If a visitor gets into an injury on the premises, the only person responsible here will be the owner. Now, these injuries can be due to the wrong installation of the security cameras, bad lighting on the property, or the malfunctioning of the security system.
All of these things must be in check with the owner of the property in order to stay from injuries affecting the visitors.
How to Maximize Your Compensation?
In cases of premises liability, it is your job to display your injury in a manner that look legit. Don’t try and take advantage, but do consider it as your right to file a claim.
- Try your best to report the incident as soon as it occurs
- Make sure that you are familiar with the policy entirely
- Do not settle for the first settlement that is offered to you
- Just keep yourself away from giving any initial statements to the insurance companies
- Learn to fight for your rights and get the compensation that is enough for you to cover the damages that you have gone through
Conclusion
Premises liability is a legal concept that must be known to people. This can help you a lot in dealing with injuries occurring on someone else’s premises. So, make sure that you have the proper know-how of how it works and then get the compensation that you deserve in place of the injury that you suffer.