Premises Liability

Premises Liability Attorneys Help Victims Recover Full Compensation for Injuries Suffered on Another’s Property

Protecting the rights of the injured and holding the negligent accountable for a combined 50 years

Property owners of all types have a duty to ensure that their property is safe and accessible for visitors. Failing to adequately maintain property or willfully ignoring dangerous conditions often leads to significant injuries to innocent victims. At Osborne, Francis & Pettis, we help victims prove their claims and recover maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Whether you’ve been injured in a grocery store, at someone’s home or in a restaurant, we are here to guide you through the legal system to a successful resolution.

Common causes of premises liability injuries

Both commercial and residential properties require substantial attention to condition and must be properly maintained to prevent hazardous conditions. Our injury attorneys help clients that have suffered injuries on another’s property due to:

• Dangerous, slippery substances on floors
• Broken stair handrails
• Uneven or broken steps and sidewalks
• Inadequate lighting in walkways
• Negligently placed merchandise displays and walkway obstructions
• Faulty elevators, escalators, doors and windows

If any of these types of conditions led to injuries, you may be able to recover compensation if you can prove that the property owner:

• Knew or should have known about the condition(s)
• Failed to rectify the problem or warn visitors and
• You suffered injuries and damages due to the dangerous condition

A property owner’s duty of care varies based on a visitor’s classification

There are three different classifications for visitors depending on their purpose for being on another person’s property including:

• Invitees – If a property owner invites someone onto their property for the commercial benefit of the owner, that visitor is considered an invitee. This category covers commercial properties such as grocery stores, shopping malls and restaurants. Property owners must maintain, regularly inspect and repair the property to eliminate dangers.
• Licensees – If you invite a friend, family member or any person onto your property for social purposes such as parties, that person is a licensee.
• Trespassers – Owners are typically not liable for injuries sustained by trespassers unless the owner was aware of the trespasser’s presence and failed to warn him about known hazards.

Children are also owed a higher duty of care that requires property owners to take additional precautions to protect children from dangerous conditions, especially conditions knows to attract children such as swimming pools and trampolines.