Taking a stroll down the sidewalk or going grocery shopping should be risk-free. You shouldn’t expect to get hurt in these places—they should be safe. But sometimes, accidents happen because property owners are negligent.
It’s important to know that property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors. Here are some common ways people get hurt on someone else’s property.
Slip-and-fall accidents
Wet floors from spills or rain, icy walkways in winter and uneven surfaces like cracked sidewalks or loose carpeting can all cause slip-and-fall accidents. Property owners must take reasonable steps to prevent these hazards, such as cleaning spills quickly, salting walkways and fixing uneven surfaces.
If they don’t and someone suffers from the property owner’s carelessness, they could be responsible for paying for medical bills, lost income from missed work and other losses of the victim.
Trip and fall accidents
Unlike slips, trips happen when someone catches their foot on something. This can include:
- Obstructions in walkways like boxes or debris
- Poor lighting that makes it hard to see obstacles
- Hidden dangers like potholes in parking lots
Property owners should regularly check their property for these dangers and fix them or warn visitors about them. If they know about a problem and don’t take care of it, they could be held responsible for accidents that happen.
Inadequate security
Sometimes, injuries aren’t caused by accidents but by criminal activity. Property owners must provide reasonable security to protect visitors from foreseeable crimes, especially when they’re in areas with a history of crime. Inadequate security can include poor lighting in parking lots, broken locks on doors or gates or a lack of security guards in areas where they’re needed.
A property owner who doesn’t take reasonable steps to protect people on their property could be held responsible for minor to severe injuries resulting from crimes.
Building code violations
Building codes are rules that set safety standards for buildings. Things like faulty stairs, broken elevators or unsafe wiring are examples of building code violations. Property owners must follow these codes to keep their property safe. If someone gets hurt because of a building code violation, it can be strong evidence that the property owner didn’t take proper care to prevent harm.
If you become a victim of any of these situations, consider seeking a lawyer to recover the compensation you need.