A person who is injured while on premises owned by another person or entity might be entitled to compensation. However, it must be established that the property owner either did nothing to abate a dangerous situation or didn’t take reasonable action in an effort to correct the problem. For instance, it is common to polish, wax or otherwise clean a floor. However, precautions must still be taken to prevent accidents while the floor is wet or otherwise slippery.
To protect against a slip-and-fall accident, property owners should use signs to alert patrons of wet conditions. It may also be worthwhile to treat the entire floor evenly. Property owners must also be aware of any issues on carpeted surfaces or stairs as they could become worn or edges rounded over time, which may increase the risk of slipping or tripping.
If an elevator or escalator is on a premises, the owner of that property may be held to higher legal standards. Injuries could occur if the elevator or escalator stops moving suddenly or stops and starts repeatedly during operation. Injuries could also occur if shoes, jewelry or other personal items are caught between steps or in any part of an elevator. Regular maintenance should be done to ensure that all elevators and escalators are working properly.
When people are hurt in what could be preventable accidents on the premises of another party and they had the right to be there, there may be cause to file a premises liability lawsuit against the owner. An attorney who has experience with this type of litigation can often be of assistance in seeking compensation for the medical expenses and other losses that an injured victim has incurred.