Premises liability claims involve any accident that happens because of a property defect. At CLS Law, our legal team has handled numerous premises liability cases. Each is unique. Some clients are hurt when they slip and fall due to a floor defect, while others are injured in swimming pool accidents or even by falling merchandise.

Call us after an accident. We can jump in and begin collecting evidence to use in your case. We will also identify the correct defendant. Typically, the property owner is responsible for fixing defects, but in other cases, the correct defendant is a tenant or even a property management company. Let us dig into the factual record to better understand why you were hurt. A Tempe premises liability attorney is available to answer your questions.

Do You Have a Premises Liability Case?

Call our firm if you were injured by any of the following:

  • Slip and falls. Hazards underfoot can send people sprawling. You might suffer a concussion or back injury if you slip on trash, ice, standing water, or unsecured carpets or tiles. The property owner should fix any hazards they know about and, possibly, inspect the premises regularly to find hidden defects.
  • Falling merchandise. Items can rain down on customers when shelves collapse, or the item was carelessly stocked.
  • Swimming pool accidents. Innocent people are injured in all types of accidents, including near-drowning accidents.
  • Electrocution accidents. A person can be electrocuted due to aging or faulty wiring in a building. Electrocution can also lead to fires and burns.
  • Negligent security. A property owner owes a duty to visitors to protect against foreseeable criminal activity. The owner should employ reasonable security measures, such as cameras, proper lighting, and locks or gates. The necessary amount of security will depend on multiple factors.
  • Animal attacks. Someone’s dog could have bitten you when you entered the premises. Arizona Revised Statute § 11-1025 gives victims important rights to hold owners accountable, even when the dog has no history of vicious behavior.
  • Elevator and escalator accidents. When these malfunction, people can be thrown around and suffer traumatic injuries.

This is a short sampling of our premises liability practice. Contact CLS Law today if you were hurt in one of these or a different accident.

Are You Entitled to Compensation?

In most situations, the property owner owes you a duty of care, especially if they invite you onto the premises. A classic situation is a business that opens its doors to customers. As a result, the business needs to fix any hazards it has created or knows about. They also must regularly inspect their premises to find hazards and either fix them or warn customers.

The analysis is different if you entered the premises for your own purposes or were trespassing, meaning you had no legal right to be on the property. Property owners typically owe you fewer duties.

Children are owed a heightened duty of care because they cannot assess risk due to their young age. Property owners sometimes even own trespassing children a duty of care, which means they should fix hazards a child might confront. Property owners who know children are trespassing should be especially careful.

Speak with our Tempe premises liability attorney. We can review the facts to check whether you have a legal right to seek compensation.

How Much Can You Receive in a Premises Liability Case?

You probably suffered painful injuries, including:

  • Concussion or traumatic brain injury
  • Hypoxic brain injury
  • Neck injury, including whiplash
  • Chest injuries, such as rib fractures or collapsed lung
  • Fractures
  • Burns, abrasions, or lacerations
  • Back injury
  • Paralysis

Victims should receive compensation for all economic losses, as well as intangible losses. We calculate the full value of a claim by looking at the following:

  • Medical bills and long-term medical care. You should go to the hospital after an accident to receive treatment. Life-threatening injuries require surgery and nights in the hospital. Other, less serious injuries will respond to shots and other conservative treatment. Meanwhile, catastrophic injuries can require ongoing care. You should not have to pay for any medical care if you are not at fault for the accident.
  • Lost income and wages. Few people can immediately return to work after an accident, so they see their income nosedive. The defendant should cover your lost income/wages.
  • Property damage. Any property damaged in the accident should be fixed or replaced.
  • Pain and suffering. Bodily injuries lead to pain and physical anguish. It’s hard to put a price tag on pain, but we will strive to get the most available under the law.
  • Mental or emotional distress. Like pain, this type of distress is subjective but equally deserving of compensation.

How We Help Personal Injury Clients

If you were injured in a premises liability accident, then reach out to CLS Law today. We can improve your chances of receiving a fair settlement by handling the following tasks:

  • Evidence collection. As the victim, you have the burden of showing the defendant did not fulfill their duty of care. We need solid evidence of how the accident happened. If you fell in a store, then please take a picture of the hazard that caused you to slip or trip. Otherwise, we can also search for evidence, such as security footage of the accident.
  • Coordination and paperwork. Our lawyer will handle all communications with insurance claims adjusters, doctors, and expert witnesses. We can request documentation and prepare written claim forms for the insurance company. Let us handle all these details. You should remain focused on your healing.
  • Case strategy. Each premises liability case is unique. We don’t use cookie-cutter approaches to win cases. Instead, we devise a strategy, especially for your situation.
  • Negotiation. We prepare extensively for negotiation with the defendant and their insurance company. We research other settlements in Tempe and review the strength of the evidence.
  • Mediation. We might attend mediation to try and reach an agreement with the other side. Mediation is often a successful alternative dispute resolution technique.
  • Litigation. We can handle all your litigation needs, including the fact-finding phase called discovery. If you need to attend a deposition, we can prepare you and then sit by your side. We will also file a lawsuit before the deadline to protect your legal rights.

CLS has the experience you need. We have won several premises liability cases, including a $160,000 settlement for a child bitten by a dog, as well as other confidential awards.

Mistakes to Avoid after a Premises Liability Claim

There are some simple errors to avoid:

  • Don’t wait too long to call a lawyer. Arizona has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Typically, you get only two years to file a lawsuit. You should hire a lawyer well before that deadline approaches, or you could lose your legal right to compensation.
  • Avoid leaving the scene without documenting a hazard. Did you slip on some ice on the floor of a restaurant? Use your phone to take a picture before the store cleans up the cubes. Also, try to speak to anyone who witnessed the accident.
  • Remember not to self-diagnose injuries. You should receive proper medical care so that you prove you did everything reasonable to heal.
  • Don’t settle the case quickly without a lawyer’s assistance. The property owner might reach out to offer a settlement. The odds are very high that the proposed settlement is too low. We can get you more.

Contact Our Premises Liability Attorney in Tempe

If you’ve been injured due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property in Tempe, you deserve justice and fair compensation. At CLS Law, our experienced premises liability attorneys are ready to fight for your rights and hold negligent property owners accountable. We understand the challenges you’re facing and are committed to providing personalized, aggressive representation to help you recover. Don’t wait—your time to file a claim is limited. Call CLS Law at (855) 257-9467 to schedule a free consultation.