When building owners and businesses are negligent in caring for their properties, it creates dangerous conditions that can result in people being injured. Collectively, the area of law that deals with these sorts of injuries is known as “premises liability,” and it is by far one of the most common forms of personal injury suits brought in the United States. Here are just seven typical reasons why people sue over premises liability:
- Icy or wet floors
- Those signs that say “Caution: Slippery When Wet” that you see at supermarkets and other stores are not just for show. People constantly injure themselves when walking on floors that are slippery, whether from spills, rain, snow, leaky pipes, or any other reason. Building owners are supposed to clean up these dangerous conditions when they discover them, but they do not always do so as fast as they should, resulting in potential injuries.
- Dangerous sidewalks
- Premises liability does not just include what happens inside of a building. It also includes what happens in the area just outside, including on the sidewalks. Not only can these potentially be slippery from the weather, but people walking around the building are at risk if something falls from the roof or off the wall. That is why building owners are also supposed to ensure the outside of their buildings are properly maintained, and that passers-by are warned about potential hazards like falling icicles.
- Broken or missing floorboards
- There are other potential hazards that people may trip over, including broken or missing floorboards. These hazards are not always immediately apparent, and if someone does not see them, it is easy for someone to trip over and hurt themselves. In the worst case scenario, someone may fall through a damaged floor, sustaining serious injuries as a result.
- Damaged or slippery carpeting
- Carpeting can also be dangerous in its own way. If a carpet is not properly secured to the floor, or if it has become damaged, it could slip from under someone, causing a fall. Like with other forms of premises liability, it is the duty of a building owner to be aware of such hazards and to repair them when they become aware of them. When they do not, that can become a lawsuit.
- Unsupervised or unsecured pools
- Many suburban households have pools in their backyards, which can become fun diversions during the summertime. Unfortunately, though, these pools can easily attract children who want to take a dip during the hot summer months, who can injure themselves or drown while swimming unsupervised. That is why it is the responsibility of every pool owner to ensure their pool is secured against children who might wander in and hurt themselves.
- Insufficient lighting
- In a world where electrical lights are ubiquitous and almost everyone carries a cell phone flashlight in their pockets, it should seem ridiculous that there might be places where there is not enough lighting. And yet, there are a shocking number of building owners that do not put sufficient lighting in certain parts of their building, such as stairwells or hallways. This lack of lighting makes it more likely that someone will injure themselves when they do not see a tripping or slipping hazard until it is too late.
- Lack of security
- It is sad to say, but there are many places where it is simply not safe to walk around, especially late at night. In these areas where crime is a constant concern, building owners are supposed to take measures to protect people in and around their building, with measures like guards or security cameras. If someone winds up becoming the victim of a crime due to a lack of security, that may become a premises liability case.
Fox Law Firm, PLLC is a New York personal injury law practice serving clients throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. With more than three decades of law practice experience, attorney Kevin Fox has helped clients in personal injury cases obtain the compensation they deserve. For more information or to ask for a consultation, call our Riverhead office at 631-779-3400 or visit our contact page.
