Premises Accidents

Depending upon the amount of control exerted over a property, a premises owner, manager and or lessor will have a duty to keep the condition of their premises safe for anyone who is on their property. They are obliged not only to keep the premises free of defects, but they also must warn tenants and visitors on the premises of dangerous conditions and to repair those conditions as they arise. Oftentimes, tenants and visitors are injured as a result of slips and falls, ceiling collapses and defective conditions.

Slip and falls can occur when a building employee mops or waxes the floors without adequate signs and barricades. They can also occur if the premises owner/employee knowingly or should have known that a slippery condition, foreign substance or object existed on the floor at the premises. Ceiling collapses will occur when a structural defect at the premises exists. It can also occur because of water damage resulting from leaking pipes and roofs and ceilings at the building. Examples of defective conditions that can cause injuries are broken stairwells, floors and common areas. Crucial to recovery is being able to show how long the defect or substance was there, how visible it was, and how much notice the owner had of the dangerous condition before the accident.

If you are injured as a result of premises owner's inadequate maintenance, failure to prevent unreasonable risks or unsafe repairs of a premises, speedy evaluation and investigation is essential. Photos and sometimes videos, coupled with proper investigation i.e. the use of experts will help ensure the likelihood of success of a lawsuit against the premises owner and/or others.