Property owners in Gilbert owe duties of care to anyone invited onto the property. If you were hurt in a business, public building, or on private land, you might have a valid legal claim. Thousands of people are injured in falls, electrocution, and dog accidents, and they have sky-high medical bills. CLS Law, PLLC, can review your accident and decide if you have a strong enough claim against a property owner for your injuries.

Protecting the public is a big part of what we do. The best way to improve public safety is to hold negligent property owners accountable when their conduct hurts people. We can fight to get fair compensation for all your losses, so don’t hesitate to call a Gilbert premises liability attorney at our firm.

Types of Premises Liability Claims We Handle

Our practice covers all types of accidents on property. Our clients often suffer terrifying injuries because the property owner failed to use reasonable care.

Our firm can help with:

  • Swimming pool accidents. People can get hurt when they slip on a loose tile and fall or are otherwise hurt diving into the water. Young children can accidentally fall into the pool after trespassing if you don’t have a fence or other barrier.
  • Slip and falls. Anyone who slips can suffer major injuries when they land on the ground or go tumbling down the stairs. Various hazards cause people to lose their footing, including trash or ice.
  • Trip and falls. Our clients sometimes trip over boxes, power cords, or uneven floorboards. They suffer traumatic injuries when they land on the ground, including concussions and back injuries.
  • Falling merchandise. Stores should shelve items properly, with heavier and bulkier items going on the floor. Improper shelving can lead to merchandise raining down on a customer’s head. In extreme cases, an entire shelf can collapse.
  • Negligent security. Crime is a foreseeable hazard in Gilbert, so property owners must take reasonable steps to protect visitors. Appropriate security could include cameras, security guards, alarms, and sufficient lighting. Victims might sue if they are attacked, raped, or kidnapped due to inadequate security measures.
  • Dog attacks. Dog bites often send people to the hospital with fractures, nerve damage, and dangerous infections. A dog bite is a common injury, and you might seek financial compensation from the owner under the state’s dog bite statute, ARS § 11-1025.
  • Elevator and escalator accidents. A person could suffer serious injuries when an elevator or escalator suddenly stops. Others are injured when a foot is caught in between the steps on an escalator.
  • Electrocution. A visitor can be electrocuted in someone’s home or a hotel when they plug an item into a socket or touch an exposed wire. Poor wiring and maintenance are often to blame.

How We Analyze Premises Liability Accidents

This is a complicated area of law. Whether you can sue depends on various factors, including:

  • Your reason for being on the property. If you were a business customer, then the owner owes you the highest duty of care. That makes sense, because they have chosen to invite you into their store or business for financial gain. Accordingly, they should ensure the property is free of hazards. If you were trespassing, however, the owner probably owes you no duty of care.
  • The property owner’s actions. The property owner does not have to be perfect or spend millions of dollars on safety. However, they must respond appropriately to hazards. A store that invites customers inside should regularly check their aisles and address a hazard they uncover, like trash on the floor or spilled liquids.
  • The age of the victim. Children are treated differently in Arizona law. A child who is drawn onto the property by an attractive nuisance might have a legal right to compensation even if they were trespassing. For example, a swimming pool will draw the natural curiosity of a child.
  • Your own carelessness. Victims can contribute to their accidents. For example, you might have been distracted by a phone and not seen some trash on the floor. You slip on it and fracture your neck. Because you were distracted, you were partly to blame.

We need to analyze each case based on its own facts. We will be very honest about whether you have a strong claim or not.

Complications with Premises Liability Cases

Not every case is straightforward. For example, there might be questions about who is responsible for keeping the premises safe. The owner might not be occupying the premises. Instead, a tenant might rent the property. In other situations, a property management company has taken over the day-to-day responsibility for maintenance.

Some parking lots are not owned by the businesses nearby; instead, a private company might own it. We will investigate to determine who has legal responsibility for making sure the property is reasonably safe.

Other complications arise if you fall or are hurt in a public building. The city and state have duties to members of the public who come inside, but the process for seeking compensation is different. Where a government is the defendant, you have additional obligations as a victim. Let us handle these types of cases.

What to Do After a Premises Liability Accident

Accident victims will need to move quickly to protect their capacity to sue a property owner. Some issues involve proving that a hazard on the property existed. Without this evidence, the owner might claim you were simply careless and 100% at fault.

Here is a list of things to do:

1.       Take a picture of any hazard, if you can. Imagine if several items tumble off a shelf and land on you, giving you a concussion. It’s helpful to get a couple photographs of the items on the floor, as well as where they were shelved. Similarly, if you slip on a puddle of water, take a quick photo before it is mopped up.

2.       Speak with any witnesses who saw the accident. They provide important testimony about what happened.

3.       Notify the property owner of the hazard, so they can protect other people. If a dog bit you, then make sure to tell the owner.

4.       Get the name of the property owner and their insurer. You might have to ask around. Imagine you slip and fall in a parking lot. You might have no idea who owns the property, but a lawyer can investigate.

5.       Seek prompt medical care. Premises liability accidents often cause serious head and neck injuries. Other common injuries include fractures and infections, especially after dog bites. Make sure to get to the emergency room promptly to receive necessary care.

Settlements for a Premises Liability Accident

We have obtained money damages for different losses for our clients:

  • Emergency transportation to the hospital and medical care
  • Surgery or hospitalization costs
  • Physical therapy and doctor’s appointments
  • Prescription medication
  • Lost income and wages
  • Loss of earning capacity for permanent disabilities
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Mental anguish

How much can you receive for your case? There are many considerations, including the defendant’s insurance and financial resources, as well as the severity of your pain and disability. We also need to factor in if you contributed to your accident at all. Contact us to find out more.

Experienced Gilbert Premises Liability Lawyer

Property-related accidents are a significant part of our legal practice. At CLS Law, we take pride in helping individuals with substantial injuries hold property owners accountable for their negligence. Seek justice today. Contact us for a free consultation, and let’s start working on your case immediately. Call us at (855) 257-9467 to get started.