Types of Premises Liability Claims
Have you been seriously injured on someone’s property in Colorado Springs? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Slip and falls, trip and falls, sidewalk accidents, dog bites, and many other incidents that cause injuries fall under the area of law called premises liability.
I am Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, an experienced Colorado Springs premises liability attorney. Because these claims are complicated and can be difficult to prove, it is important that you contact me as soon as possible after your accident.
As your attorney, I can help gather evidence and find witnesses. I can determine what caused your accident and whether the property owner can be held liable. Evidence could be lost if you wait too long, so do not delay.
If you were seriously injured on someone’s property in Colorado Springs, call me, Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, today. I am a skilled and compassionate injury lawyer in Colorado Springs, and I will offer you a free, no-obligation consultation.
Common Types of Premises Liability Claims
When property owners fail to maintain their property or to warn visitors of potential hazards, they can be held liable when someone injures themselves on that property.
Common types of premises liability claims include:
- Slip and fall – A slip and fall is one of the most common premises liability claims. Slip-and-fall accidents include those resulting from wet and slippery sidewalks and parking lots, spills in supermarkets and convenience stores, and freshly cleaned commercial floors. Slip-and-fall victims may suffer a hip fracture, a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury.
- Trip and fall – Trip-and-fall accidents include those resulting from broken sidewalks, cracked pavement, torn carpeting and other hazardous walking surfaces.
- Sidewalk accidents – Property owners are required to maintain sidewalks to ensure that pedestrians who use them will be safe and free from injury. Common reasons for negligent maintenance cases include uneven pavement, cracks in the pavement and unnatural accumulations of ice or snow on the pavement.
- Accidents on snow and ice – Snow and ice accumulation can be extremely dangerous. Icy walkways can cause visitors to lose their footing and fall. Snow that is not shoveled and cleared can turn into slippery ice that poses a danger. To prevent visitors from suffering an injury, property owners have a duty to clear walkways and paths of snow and ice.
- Inadequate maintenance – If a building becomes risky due to poor maintenance and upkeep, the owner can be held liable. Fixtures, appliances and other building elements that are neglected can become hazardous. Many premises liability claims deal with inadequate escalator or elevator maintenance. These claims can also result from the building’s safety features, such as a fire suppression system, that fail due to a lack of maintenance.
- Negligent security – When you visit a business’s premises, you have an expectation of safety there. If a robbery or vandalism occurs, the business’s security precautions can be questioned. If these are found to have been inadequate, the business may be liable. For example, security is often lacking in parking garages, and property owners may fail to notify visitors of recent incidents. If you are injured because a property owner did not have adequate security, you may be able to hold the owner accountable.
- Dog bites – Dog owners are responsible for damages caused by their pets. If a property owner’s dog bites or attacks when there is no leash or fence, the property owner may be held liable. Pursuing a claim against the owner can be a difficult and emotionally charged task.
As an experienced premises liability attorney, I can help you with any of these accident and injury claims.
Get Started with your CaseCall Us at (719) 635-1245
Common Places Where Accidents Occur
- Restaurants – When slippery floors are not marked and spills are not cleaned up, unsuspecting restaurant patrons can suffer serious injuries when they slip and fall. Wax or polish that is applied unevenly can result in dangerously slippery floors. Carpets also pose a threat when they are worn or torn.
- Retail stores – When you visit a retail store, you expect a reasonably safe shopping experience. Retail stores are legally obligated to keep their property safe for customers. If you sustain an injury from a hazard on store property, you could have a premises liability claim. Common customer injuries in retail stores include slip and falls from liquids in aisles, merchandise falling from shelves, faulty staircases, and broken elevators or escalators.
- Apartment complexes – Unsafe stairways, loose wiring, rodent infestations, poor lighting and icy walkways are among the many potential hazards that can cause injury at an apartment complex. Apartment complex property managers and owners have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to make sure their properties are safe for tenants.
- Swimming pools – During the summer months, many people in Colorado visit their local public swimming pool or a friend’s pool. Swimming pools carry the risk of slip-and-fall accidents and drownings. If the pool is improperly supervised and an accident occurs, the owner may be liable.
- Grocery stores – Grocery stores are among the most common places where people are injured in slip-and-fall accidents. Grocery stores often have polished, slippery floors. Spilled liquids and food spills are also common occurrences. Store managers and owners must maintain their property and protect customers from injuries and harm.
- Parking lots – Injuries that occur in a parking lot can be covered under premises liability. For example, if you trip and fall in a parking lot or are assaulted because of poor lighting, the property owner may be liable for your injuries.
- Sidewalks – Slips, trips or falls on sidewalks can cause severe injuries. Those accidents often result from factors that are within the property owner’s control. Those factors include building and safety code violations, cracks or holes in the sidewalk, faulty construction, snow and ice accumulation, and uneven sidewalk sections. Depending on where your accident happened, the private property owner or the city of Colorado Springs could potentially be at fault.
- Amusement parks – When you visit an amusement park, you expect that the owners and ride manufacturers have taken precautions to ensure your safety. Unfortunately, carelessness can lead to slip and falls or other serious accidents. Causes of amusement park accidents include faulty or poorly maintained equipment, operator error and the unsafe operation of a ride.
Have You Been Hurt on Someone Else’s Property? Talk to a Lawyer Now
I am Colorado Springs premises liability attorney Jeffrey Scott Lasswell. I have the skills and resources to thoroughly investigate your accident. I can determine whether you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.
If you have been injured in any type of premises liability accident, call me, attorney Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, now. I will schedule a free and confidential consultation.