Property owners in Birmingham and throughout the State of Alabama are legally obligated to keep their land and buildings relatively safe and free of hazards. Failure to do so can result in innocent victims being seriously injured or killed. If you were harmed due to a property owner’s negligence or suffered the fatal loss of a loved one, you may have a claim for compensation.
The members of our law firm understand that, especially after being injured, hiring a lawyer might be the furthest thing from your mind. Your priority is on recovering and getting your life back. For this reason, we try to make the claims process as easy as possible for our clients. We handle the filing of all paperwork and negotiating with the insurance company so that you can focus on your health.
If you were injured due to the carelessness or negligence of a Birmingham property owner, take your first steps toward financial recovery and contact our premises liability lawyers today to schedule your free case consultation. Call us 24/7 at (800) 477-7510, fill out the online evaluation form, or start a live chat with a representative to get started.
What is Premises Liability?
When you enter a home, business, workplace, or any other property in Birmingham, you shouldn’t have to be concerned about hidden hazards or dangers. “Premises liability” is a legal term used to describe the legal responsibility a property owner owes to authorized visitors, employees, or others with business there – to keep their property in a safe condition. Property owners are also obligated to warn property visitors of any known dangers on their property.
Premises liability laws allow those who were injured due to property owner negligence to pursue compensation for their losses. Slip-and-fall accidents are one of the most common types of premises liability cases.
The personal injury attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers are familiar with Alabama’s premises liability laws. We can help you determine whether you may have a claim for compensation after a slip-and-fall or a similar incident.
Types of Birmingham Premises Liability Cases We Handle
Premises liability refers to any situation where a person gets hurt on someone else’s property. The Norris premises liability attorneys handle a variety of cases, including:
- Hotel accidents
- Apartment building accidents
- Dog bites and other animal attacks
- Injuries from falling objects
- Construction site accidents
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Fire accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Cases involving lead paint
Dangerous Property Conditions That Cause Premises Liability Accidents
There are many different dangerous conditions and safety violations that can endanger the health of people on a property.
Property conditions that may cause harm include:
- Broken stairs or handrails
- Insufficient lighting
- Loose rugs or torn carpet
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Negligent security
- Icy stairs or sidewalks
- Mold or other toxic chemicals
- Poor elevator or escalator maintenance
Premises Liability Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Even a slip-and-fall can result in serious, life-altering injuries. It is important not to underestimate the severity of your injuries after a premises liability accident. The Birmingham slip and fall attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers can accurately estimate the value of your case and help you get the full amount of compensation you deserve.
Premises liability cases often involve injuries such as:
- Broken bones
- Eye injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Wrist and arm injuries
- Leg, knee, and ankle injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
How Does a Lawyer Prove Premises Liability?
In order for your premises liability claim to be successful, your personal injury lawyer will need to provide proof of the following elements: duty, breach of duty, and breach caused injury.
Duty of care
First, your premises liability attorney will need to establish that the defendant owned, leased, or occupied the property where your accident occurred. This is important because it makes that party legally responsible for maintaining the property.
It will then need to be established whether you entered the property as a licensee, invitee, or trespasser. The level of care a property owner needs to exercise towards you depends on what type of visitor you are.
The following is a breakdown of the three types of visitors:
- Invitee: An invitee is usually visiting a premises for business purposes. For instance, you are in a local store or business during regular business hours. Invitees are owed the greatest duty of care since the owner has invited them onto their property.
- Licensee: Typically, a licensee is someone who is visiting a private property for social purposes. For instance, you were invited to your neighbor’s house for dinner or you simply stopped by to say hello. If you are a licensee, the owner has a duty to inspect the property for any dangerous conditions and warn visitors of them.
- Trespasser: A trespasser is on someone’s property without direct or implied permission. Generally, a person will not have a right to compensation if injured while trespassing.
Breach of duty
Next, your premises liability lawyer will need to show that the defendant breached his or her duty of care. Property owners breach their duty of care when they fail to keep property visitors (of any category) safe from harm.
It will need to be shown that a dangerous condition existed, that the defendant knew or should have known about it, and that he or she still failed to act.
As an example of a breach of duty, an owner mopped the floor of his or her store and failed to put up a caution sign. Knowing full well that a wet floor could be a slip-and-fall hazard, he or she still didn’t take the needed steps to protect employees and customers.
Breach caused injury
Lastly, your premises liability attorney will need to offer proof that you were harmed and that your injuries were a direct result of the hazardous property condition.
Evidence presented in these types of cases may include:
- Video surveillance footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Medical documents
- Testimony of medical experts
- Maintenance records
- Photos of the accident scene
- Medical bills
If you are able to prove that the property owner’s negligence directly injured you, then you may have a valid claim for monetary compensation.
Damages Available Following a Birmingham Premises Liability Accident
Our Birmingham premises liability lawyers will help you recover the maximum amount of compensation you deserve, including money for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Temporary/or permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Disfigurement
Contact a Birmingham Premises Liability Lawyer Today
The Birmingham premises liability lawyers at Norris Injury Lawyers have dedicated their practice to helping people who have been injured due to another person’s negligence. We have gained a reputation for giving quality legal representation and obtaining successful outcomes for our clients.
Our compassionate legal team understands it is important for our clients to recover every dollar they deserve for their losses. Let us use our knowledge and experience to build a solid premises liability claim for you, while you focus on what’s most important – your health and recovery.
If you were injured on someone else’s property, contact our law firm today. Our No Fee Guarantee® means you owe us nothing unless you are awarded a settlement.
What’s more, we offer all potential clients a free case review. Schedule yours today by calling us at (800) 477-7510, starting a live chat, or filling out a contact form.
