Premises Liability FAQ
Personal injury attorneys serving Waterville, Portland and all of Maine
A premises liability accident can leave you seriously hurt. You need treatment, and the medical expenses start adding up. You may also be forced to miss time from work, resulting in less income coming in. If a property owner’s negligence led to your accident, you deserve financial compensation. You may not be sure what to do next.
At Jabar LaLiberty, LLC, we know that many people have a lot of questions after being injured in a premises liability accident. Our experienced premises liability accident lawyers are ready to help you find answers. We build strong cases to hold negligent parties accountable and can help you recover financial compensation.
Some frequently asked questions about premises liability accidents:
- What is premises liability?
- What dangerous conditions can result in a premises liability accident?
- How do property owners respond to premises liability cases?
- What kind of evidence can be used in premises liability cases?
- What if the property owner had no knowledge of a dangerous condition?
- What kind of compensation can I get in a premises liability case?
- Who can I recover compensation from?
- Why should I hire your law firm to represent me?
If you’ve been hurt in an accident on someone else’s property, contact us to schedule a consultation. You may not even be sure if you have a case, but we can explain your rights. One of our Portland premises liability lawyers can review the details of your accident, go over your legal options and answer any other questions that you have.
In general, premises liability means that owners have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure that their property is safe. When this responsibility is not met, an accident can happen that leaves someone seriously hurt. The property owner can then be held accountable and the victim can seek financial compensation.
A premises liability case can be difficult to prove. Negligent property owners typically deny doing anything wrong and don’t accept responsibility for the accident. Insurance companies may deny liability for the injuries you have suffered. That’s why you need an experienced premises liability attorney on your side.
What dangerous conditions can result in a premises liability accident?
There is a wide range of conditions that can be considered dangerous and likely to result in an accident. Some common dangerous conditions include:
- Wet, slippery floors
- Lack of handrails on staircases
- Unmarked obstacles
- Poor lighting
- Icy walkways
- Torn carpet
- Poorly maintained property
Any of these dangerous conditions could result in an accident that leaves someone seriously injured. Property owners have a responsibility to address these conditions or at least warn visitors about them.
Recovering financial compensation after a premises liability accident can be complicated. Property owners often deny doing anything wrong. That’s why you need an experienced attorney who has handled premises liability cases before. We can investigate your accident and gather evidence to find out what really happened.
How do property owners respond to premises liability cases?
Property owners use many excuses to try to avoid responsibility after a premises liability accident. They may claim they didn’t know there was a dangerous condition. They may claim they fixed the dangerous condition. They may even blame you for causing the accident that left you injured.
In some cases, property owners deny that they even own the property. Or they will claim that someone else is responsible for maintaining it. Our legal team thoroughly investigates your premises liability accident. We gather evidence to build strong cases that hold negligent property owners accountable.
What kind of evidence can be used in premises liability cases?
There is a wide range of evidence that can be used when building a premises liability case. Any evidence that shows a property own knew – or should have known – about a dangerous condition and failed to take action can help your claim. This evidence can include:
- Video footage of the property
- Testimony from witnesses
- Inspection reports that document dangerous conditions
- Photographs of conditions on the property
- Written documentation of dangerous conditions, such as emails
Our attorneys also carefully review your medical records to document your injuries. We know how to build strong cases that hold negligent property owners accountable. Cases that insurance companies can’t ignore. Once they see we have prepared a strong case, we are often able to negotiate a settlement that meets your needs.
What if the property owner had no knowledge of a dangerous condition?
Property owners sometimes claim that they are not responsible for a premises liability accident because they were not aware there was a dangerous condition. That’s no excuse. Property owners also have a duty to regularly maintain their property, so should have known there was a dangerous condition.
Proving liability is complicated and insurance companies will use many tactics to try to limit or deny your compensation. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced premises liability to fight for you. We know where to look for evidence to build strong cases that hold negligent property owners accountable.
What kind of compensation can I get in a premises liability case?
You can seek financial compensation for all damages you suffered in a premises liability accident caused by owner negligence. These damages include emergency medical care, diagnostic tests, needed surgery, hospitalization, medication, physical therapy and follow-up medical care. You may also seek compensation for lost wages if you couldn’t work.
Recovering compensation can be complicated. Property owners typically deny responsibility and insurance companies will challenge your claim. That’s why you need an experienced premises liability attorney to fight for your rights. Our firm has been helping the injured in Maine since our founding in 1979.
Who can I recover compensation from?
Generally, the property owner is responsible for damages suffered in a premises liability accident, and the owner’s insurance company would provide compensation. There can also be other negligent parties. These may include:
- The manufacturer of a defective product that caused the accident
- A repair company or contractor that created a dangerous condition
- A security company responsible for protecting people on the property
Recovering financial compensation after being hurt in an accident can be complicated. Property owners and other negligent parties typically deny responsibility. That’s why we investigate your premises liability accident to get the facts. We identify negligent parties and build strong cases to hold them accountable.
Why should I hire your law firm to represent me?
Our attorneys have been helping the injured since our firm was founded in Waterville in 1979. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients, and we’re proud of the testimonials we’ve received. Our firm is committed to helping people injured because of another’s negligence get the best possible outcome.
We take your premises liability case seriously right from the start and can guide you through the legal process every step of the way. Our legal team investigates your accident. Our lawyers stand up to insurance company attempts to limit your compensation. We can go over your legal options during a consultation.