Premises Liability (Slips & Falls)

Premises Liability causes thousands of injuries a year, some of which are quite serious. One misstep on a slippery floor or broken step can land an unassuming victim in a wheelchair. A stumble over a manhole cover can cause anything from a broken leg to a permanent spinal cord injury. Premises liability is the law that governs slip and fall accidents and determines who is at fault for them. Premises liability laws vary from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. There is no cut-and-dry way to determine fault in a slip and fall accident. Every premises liability case is evaluated on an individual basis and considers whether or not the property owner took precautions to make the area safe as well as whether or not the victim was careless, thereby contributing to the slip and fall accident. For example, a restaurateur is not necessarily liable should you fall on a wet floor in the restroom if the area was clearly marked with a yellow "caution" sign.

Is the Property Owner Liable for Your Slip and Fall Accident?

That depends. A victim would have to prove the following in order to hold the property owner responsible and have a premises liability case:

• That the property owner caused the unsafe condition and the subsequent slip and fall accident (by spilling something and not cleaning it up, by digging a hard-to-spot hole in a heavily trafficked area, etc.)
• That the property owner knew about the condition but did not try to correct it (by not posting a sign on uneven ground, etc.)
• That the property owner should have known about the danger, because a "reasonable" person would have found the problem and taken steps to prevent injuries caused by the slip and fall accident (This is the most common situation, as it is not clearly defined and is determined based on common sense). 

Of course, only a qualified personal injury lawyer who specializes in premises liability can truly help you determine if you have a case. Attorney Ahearn has helped hundreds of victims. Contact The Law Office of Keegan & Flanagan today for a free consultation regarding your case.