Did you know that in 2020, 33% of preventable injuries are due to slips and falls?
In Memphis, premises liability law is something that all business owners and homeowners should be aware of. This type of law covers injuries that occur as a result of someone being on property owned or controlled by another person.
If you sustain an injury on someone else’s property, it is important to understand your rights and seek legal help. In our guide, we will discuss each type of injury in detail and provide insights from a premises liability lawyer.
What Is Premises Liability?
In general, premises liability is the legal responsibility of a property owner to ensure that their property is safe for visitors. This duty of care varies depending on the type of visitor, with the highest duty of care owed to invitees.
The next highest duty of care is to licensees, who are allowed onto the property for their own convenience, such as delivery people or repairmen.
The lowest duty of care is generally owed to trespassers, who are people who enter the property without permission. However, if trespassers sustain an injury by a hidden hazard, such as an uncovered pit, they can also sue for damages.
In order to successfully assert a premises liability claim, an injured person must generally show that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to take reasonable steps to correct it.
Types Premises Liability Cases
There are three main types of premises liability cases: slip and fall, dog bites, and assault due to negligent security. Let’s take a look!
Slip and Fall Cases
A slip and fall occur when someone is injured after slipping, tripping, or falling on another person’s property. In order to succeed in a slip and fall case, the injured person must generally show that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to take reasonable steps to correct it.
Common hazards that can lead to slip-and-fall accidents include:
- Wet floors
- Loose carpeting
- Uneven sidewalks
- Icy parking lots
Dog Bite Cases
Under Tennessee law, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs, regardless of whether the dog has a history of biting or attacking people. This means that if you are bitten by a dog, you do not need to prove that the owner knew or should have known that the dog was dangerous.
Assault Due to Negligent Security
If you are sexually assaulted or robbed on another person’s property, you may be able to bring a premises liability claim against the property owner.
In order to succeed in this type of case, you must generally show that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to take reasonable steps to correct it.
Are You Ready to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit
If you have been injured on another person’s property, you may be able to bring a premises liability lawsuit. An experienced personal injury attorney can review the facts of your case and help you determine your best course of action.
At Wright Gray, our Memphis premises liability lawyers have helped many people who have been injured on another person’s property. We understand the challenges you are facing and we are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.