Property owners and occupiers have responsibilities regarding dangerous conditions on their premises.
When someone suffers a serious injury because a dangerous condition was not properly addressed, a premises liability claim may be possible.
Dangerous Conditions Can Take Many Forms
Premises liability cases can involve:
- Wet floors
- Broken stairs
- Poor lighting
- Uneven pavement
- Defective elevators
- Unsafe parking lots
- Falling objects
- Inadequate security
- Dangerous construction conditions
The circumstances of each accident matter.
Notice Can Be Important
A central issue in many premises liability cases is whether the responsible party knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
Evidence may include employee reports, inspection records, maintenance logs, photographs, surveillance video, and testimony.
Serious Injuries Can Result From Ordinary Hazards
A seemingly simple fall can produce a catastrophic injury.
Ponton Law’s premises liability materials identify injuries such as fractures, back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and spinal cord damage among the serious injuries that can result from property negligence.
Businesses May Have Insurance Defenses
Commercial premises claims are often handled by insurance companies.
The insurer may investigate when the property owner learned about the hazard, whether the condition was obvious, and whether the injured person contributed to the accident.
Comparative Fault Can Become an Issue
The property owner may argue that the injured person was partly responsible.
That makes evidence concerning how the accident occurred especially important.
Photographs, witness statements, video, medical records, and incident reports can all help establish what happened.
Catastrophic Injuries Require More Than a Quick Settlement
A serious injury may require years of treatment.
Someone who suffers a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury may face significant future medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation, and changes to daily life.
A claim should account for those long-term consequences.
Ponton Law handles premises liability cases throughout Georgia and emphasizes litigation and trial preparation in serious personal injury cases.
If a dangerous property condition causes a catastrophic injury, identifying who controlled the property, what they knew about the hazard, and what could have been done to prevent the accident can be critical.