Birmingham Premises Liability Attorney
When you go to your friend’s house or visit the grocery store, you don’t expect to get injured. However, accidents can happen. You may slip and fall. You could get bitten by a dog. You could injure yourself in the swimming pool. These are called premises liability cases, and if you can prove that the property had an unsafe or defective condition that caused you to suffer an injury, the property could be held liable. You could file a lawsuit and receive compensation for your damages. Learn more by contacting a Birmingham premises liability attorney.
How Premises Liability Cases Occur
There are many situations in which a person can get injured on someone else’s property. Some common premises liability cases include the following:
- Slips and falls
- Snow and ice
- Inadequate maintenance
- Defective conditions
- Injury or assault by inadequate building security
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Dog bites
- Swimming pool accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Playground or trampoline accidents
- Fires
- Water leaks or flooding
- Toxic fumes or chemicals
Duty of Care in Alabama
Duty of care varies by state. In Alabama, the duty of care a property owner owes you depends on what type of visitor you are. There are three types:
- Invitee. Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. An invitee is someone who is invited onto someone’s property for a personal or commercial purpose. You may be a customer or client of a restaurant, grocery store, or medical office. Property owners have an obligation to inspect the property, fix any hazards, and warn you of possible dangers. If they fail to do so, they are responsible for any injuries you suffer.
- Licensee. A licensee is someone who is invited to a home as a social guest or when you go onto public or private land for recreation. Owners must correct known issues, but cannot be held responsible for dangers they did not know about.
- Trespasser. A trespasser is someone who goes onto someone’s property without their permission. A property owner owes very little duty of care to trespassers. While property owners do not have to keep their property safe, they must warn of dangers. Plus, they are not allowed to set traps for trespassers. Property owners do have a duty of care when it comes to children, though. If there is a possibility that children may be on the property, owners do have to keep it safe.
Contact a Birmingham Premises Liability Attorney Today
Premises liability cases, like other personal injury cases, require proof of negligence. This can be hard to prove if you suffered injuries on someone else’s property. Is the owner at fault? Are you responsible?
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, the Birmingham personal injury lawyers at Goldasich, Vick & Fulk can help determine liability. We will assess your case and help you understand your legal rights. Schedule a free consultation today. Give us a call at (205) 731-2566.
