Slips and falls are some of the most common types of accidents across the country and are one of the leading causes of personal injury claims. While many of these falls result from slippery surfaces or uneven flooring, inadequate lighting is an often overlooked contributing factor. If your fall was caused by poor lighting, it is important that you understand who is liable and what your legal options are. Continue reading for more information and reach out to a knowledgeable Washington D.C. slip & fall lawyer to secure skilled legal representation.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is the legal responsibility of a property owner to ensure their property is safe for visitors. Under premises liability law, property owners, tenants, or whoever is in legal control of a property are legally obligated to maintain a reasonably safe environment and warn guests about known hazards. This includes performing regular inspections and maintenance of the property, addressing potential dangers, sectioning off or warning people about unsafe conditions, and more.
If an accident or injury occurs on someone else’s property due to their failure to provide a safe space or warn visitors about hazards, the property owner can be found liable, and the injured party may be able to file a premises liability claim to recover damages.
What if Poor Lighting Caused My Fall in Washington D.C.?
Lighting is an important part of property safety. Poor or insufficient lighting can make it difficult to detect tripping hazards, create obstacles, and disguise uneven surfaces or other dangers. If a hallway, staircase, sidewalk, etc. has poor lighting, it can be easy to fall and injure yourself.
Providing adequate lighting is a part of premises liability law. Property owners must consider all potential hazards, including the dangers of not enough light, disturbing glares, flickering bulbs, etc. If the lighting conditions were insufficient enough to constitute a failure on the property owner’s part to provide a safe environment, they can be held liable for an injury that occurs as a result.
How Can I Recover Compensation?
If your fall and injury were caused by poor lighting, it is important that you understand how to pursue a premises liability claim. You will have to establish the property owner’s negligence and demonstrate how their behavior caused or contributed to your injury. Provide evidence of the following elements of negligence.
- The property owner owed you a duty of care to provide a safe environment
- The property owner breached the duty of care by failing to provide adequate lighting or rectify an issue with the lighting
- The poor lighting directly caused or contributed to your fall
- You suffered actual damages as a result of your fall
One of the best things you can do to succeed in your case is work with a skilled personal injury attorney. To learn more about your legal rights and begin building your case, reach out to an experienced lawyer at Trombly & Singer, PLLC today.