What Kinds of Accidents Are Property Owners Responsible For?
As a general rule, property owners owe a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition, or at least to warn of known dangers (for example, by posting a sign in front of a recent spill). When they fail to do so, they can be held financially liable for victims’ medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. This applies to owners of both residential and commercial property, and can even apply with respect to government-owned buildings and lands.
This is the law of “premises liability,” and it protects house guests, customers, clients, patrons, and others who are entitled to a reasonable expectation that they will not get hurt due to a property owner’s negligence. To further illustrate, the following is a list of 10 common types of premises-related accidents that will often justify claims for financial compensation:
- Slips on wet flooring and icy pavement
- Trips on torn carpeting and cracked sidewalks
- Falls from heights due to faulty stairs or railings
- Falls on improperly designed stairs
- Injuries resulting from elevator and escalator malfunctions
- Injuries from physical assaults due to inadequate security
- Being struck by falling merchandise or debris
- Falling into an unprotected or inadequately protected pool
- Colliding with a piece of cleaning or medical equipment in a hallway during a fall
- Weather-related injuries resulting from delayed or inadequate maintenance
Most-Common Premises-Related Injuries: Slips and Falls
Slips and falls are easily among the most common types of premises-related accidents. From spills in grocery stores to waxed floors in office buildings and oil patches in parking lots and garages, all kinds of seemingly “minor” issues can easily lead to significant fall-related injuries. Even places like hospitals and nursing homes that are supposed to ensure visitors’ safety will often present numerous dangerous fall risks that can – and should – be avoided.
In fact, slips and falls can happen just about anywhere. Government buildings, stadiums, condominiums, single-family homes – these are all places where unsuspecting visitors can easily get hurt when maintenance issues and defective designs are not addressed in a timely manner.
Another Common Risk for Visitors and Guests: Attacks By Dangerous Dogs
In addition to the types of accidents listed above, another all too common incident in which property owners can be held liable for victims’ injuries is an attack by a dangerous dog. New Jersey law makes dog owners “strictly liable” for bite-related injuries, which means that victims can seek compensation regardless of whether the owner was negligent in allowing the attack to occur. As a result, if you are invited onto someone’s property and you get bit by their dog (or if a property owner’s dog gets loose and bites you on the street), with only limited exceptions, the law entitles you to a full financial recovery.
Speak with a New Jersey Premises Liability & Dog Bite Lawyer at the Law Offices of Jeffrey Hasson, P.C. Today
If you were injured in fall, dog attack, or other accident on someone else’s property in Bergen County or Hudson County, New Jersey, we encourage you to contact to learn more about your legal rights. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney, please call (201) 928-0300 or request an appointment online today.