Accidents can happen and people can get hurt. Sometimes, they may happen as a result of one’s own clumsiness. Other times, people can get hurt as a result of another person’s property conditions when they are not taken care of. Property owners are legally responsible to maintain safe conditions to ensure that individuals are not injured. Injuries as a result of poorly managed property may result in physical, mental, and emotional trauma. Individuals may be able to seek compensation for any injuries sustained at a property owner’s expense.
Case Examples
There are many ways property accidents may happen. There are certain situations that fall under premises liability law. This may include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dangerous conditions
- Defective security
- Inadequate maintenance
- School negligence
Duty of Care
Many property owners have a duty of care towards an individual who was injured on their grounds. The duty of care is a requirement that property owners have to ensure their property will not cause harm to others. Property owners in Washington D.C. may be held liable for certain injuries sustained on their grounds. This may happen if they fail to do the following:
- Make repairs for a problem they know about. This may include broken elevators, cracked sidewalks, uneven surfaces, etc.
- Warn people about unsafe conditions. This may be failure to put up a slippery floor sign, or not leaving a notice that an elevator is broken.
- Take action to make their property safe. Examples of this may include providing handrails in a stairway or property lighting a parking lot.
- Provide security measures. This is necessary for public places such as schools, hotels, or other locations where illegal activities may occur.
When these standards are not met, the owner is considered to be negligent. In Washington D.C., it is possible to file a lawsuit against a negligent property owner to receive compensation for your injuries. In order to do so, the injured party must satisfy the burden of proof. The burden of proof requires evidence that proves the property owner was negligent. This evidence must prove the owner knew or should have known about the poor conditions of their property and did nothing to fix it. Such evidence may be medical documentation of your injury or pictures of the damaged property.
Challenging a Case
When an individual files a lawsuit against a property owner for negligence, there are a number of things an attorney must prove in order to be successful. One of the most important factors is proving the property owner was responsible for the conditions of the property you were injured on. The next step is showing that the owner did not care for their premises. Lastly, it is crucial to establish that the injury was a direct result of the owner’s inability to care for their property.
Contact our Firm
If you or a family member have been injured as a result of property conditions and are looking to file a premises liability claim, contact Trombly & Singer, PLLC. today.
The experienced personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys at Trombly & Singer, PLLC are prepared to represent clients facing legal matters after being injured due to another person’s negligence. If you require strong legal representation in Washington D.C. or Maryland, contact our firm today to schedule a consultation.
