Montgomery Premises Liability Attorneys

Helping victims of Alabama dangerous property accidents

Business owners and lessees have a legal duty to their customers – as well as others visiting their property – to keep that property in safe condition. Private property owners can also be held legally responsible for injuries that occur due to unsafe premises. This can mean anything from a grocery store or pub to your neighbor’s house or local rec center.

When you’re injured on someone else’s property because of unsafe conditions, you may have what’s called a premises liability claim. At its core, premises liability means that the person or entity in charge of the property were aware of a dangerous or unsafe condition, and didn’t take adequate measures to rectify it.

If you or a loved one suffered injury or wrongful death because of someone else’s unsafe premises, it’s important to understand and apply your rights as a victim. At Mezrano Law Firm, our compassionate Montgomery premises liability attorneys will consult with you about your accident, your injuries, and provide guidance for your future options. We can help.

Common Montgomery premises liability accidents

Many people broadly refer to premises liability accidents as “slip and fall” accidents. This is probably because falls make up the majority of injuries people experience, whether on their own properties or the properties of others. In fact, falls are one of the top three leading causes of preventable injury-related death in the United States.

And, typically, slip and falls account for many premises liability claims here in Montgomery. People can easily slip or trip from loose or uneven flooring, spills, debris in walkways or inadequate lighting. Other types of common premises liability accidents include:

• Amusement park accidents
• Assaults or violent crime due to negligent security
• Construction site bystander accidents
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Falling trees
• Fires
• Elevator, escalator and stairwell accidents
• Sidewalk, parking lot and parking garage injuries
• Slips on snow and ice
• Swimming pool accidents or drownings
• Toxic chemicals and fumes

Typical injuries from unsafe premises

Depending on the nature and severity of your accident, a premises liability accident can range from a twisted ankle to severe physical trauma to, in the worst cases, wrongful death. No matter how minor your injury may seem, it’s always important to document your accident and seek medical attention – after all, many injuries don’t present with symptoms immediately.

Common accidents resulting from premises liability accidents include:

• Chronic pain
• Fractured and broken bones
• Lacerations and abrasions
• Muscle sprains and strains
• Paralysis
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Wrongful death

Negligence and premises liability in Montgomery

If the owner of a property is aware of a dangerous condition but either fails to fix it or warn of the hazard, they can be held liable for any injuries that result. Even if the property owner claims not to have known about the hazard, they can still be liable for neglecting their property and failing to inspect it. In cases of safety issues of a temporary nature, the injured party must prove the condition existed for a long period before the accident, without an attempt to repair or warn customers. The legal team at Mezrano Law Firm can help you build a strong case demonstrating negligence.

Another legal issue in premises liability cases is being able to rebut any allegations that you, as the victim, weren’t paying attention to where you were walking or contributed in any way to your accident. Here in Alabama, if a plaintiff can be assigned any amount of blame, they can be prevented from recovering any monetary damages – a rule called “contributory negligence.” Our experienced premises liability attorneys will fight aggressively for your rights.

Premises liability and duty of care

An important aspect of premises liability law – here in Montgomery and across the state – is the duty of care a property owner owes you as a visitor. And, this can vary based on what type of visitor you are to the property in question. Typically, there are three types of visitors:

• Invitee. An invitee is someone invited onto the property, explicitly or implicitly. This includes people like shoppers coming to a store, guests at a bar or restaurant, or at the office.
• Licensee. Licensees are those invited onto property, but aren’t there for any commercial means. For example, if you’re visiting someone’s home, or a public park for recreational purposes.
• Trespasser. When someone enters another’s property without permission, they’re trespassers. Property owners aren’t legally obligated to safeguard trespassers from injury (but must post warnings of known dangers, and cannot set traps). It’s important to also note that trespassing children are entitled to higher levels of protection, especially around swimming pools.

If you’re injured and suffer losses because a property owner failed in their duty of care, you may be eligible for financial compensation, including:

• Damage to personal property
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages and earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Past and future medical expenses
• Temporary or permanent disability

Talk to skilled Montgomery premises liability lawyers

We understand premises liability cases can be complicated and complex. If you or a loved one suffered an injury or wrongful death due to dangerous property, the attorneys at Mezrano Law Firm can help. We’ll work to establish negligence and put our years of experience on your side. Call us today at 205-206-6300 or fill out our contact form to set up a consultation at our Montgomery office.