What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability law covers a business or property owner’s legal duty of care to keep an environment safe and take reasonable steps to prevent injuries and accidents. This duty extends to customers and members of the public who use their property, whether indoors or outdoors.
Most premises liability cases involve negligence, where a property has not been responsibly maintained. Business owners must stay within the boundaries of state and federal regulations while taking steps to protect the safety of customers. Our premises liability lawyers represent you when they fail in that duty.
Where Do Premises Liability Accidents Occur in Crown Point, NWI?
Premises liability accidents include a range of incidents caused by unsafe conditions on a property. They can occur in diverse settings, often in locations containing hazards that property owners have failed to address. Common sites for such accidents include:
- Residential Properties: Injuries may result from structural defects, poor lighting, or unsecured hazards.
- Commercial Establishments: Retail stores, malls, restaurants, and hotels are frequent sites of injuries, often due to wet floors or obstructed walkways.
- Public Spaces: Parks, sidewalks, swimming pools, and public buildings can pose risks due to poor maintenance or environmental hazards.
- Workplaces: Offices, factories, and construction sites might have safety lapses leading to accidents.
- Educational Institutions: Schools and universities can be liable for accidents due to inadequate maintenance or supervision.
The laws involving premises liability claims vary depending on the location of the accident. A skilled lawyer can draw on their experience with similar cases to streamline the process of pursuing compensation.
Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle in Lake County
As your premises liability attorney, we’ve seen a wide range of injuries occur because of negligence. We represent those involved in the following kinds of accidents and more:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Slips, trips, and falls are the most common accidents, occurring due to hazardous conditions like wet floors, icy paths, or uneven surfaces.
- Negligent Security: Inadequate security measures can lead to assaults or thefts.
- Dog Bites: Our attorneys take on cases where individuals are bitten or attacked by a dog on the owner's property.
- Elevator and Escalator Accidents: Malfunctions or poor maintenance of these conveyances can lead to devastating injuries.
- Toxic Exposure: Our lawyers protect your rights if you are injured by harmful chemicals or substances on a property.
- Defective Conditions on Premises: These cases include a range of issues, from faulty staircases to collapsing ceilings, that cause injury.
- Fires and Electrocutions: We pursue claims involving improper maintenance of electrical systems or fire hazards.
Our Northwest Indiana premises liability attorneys understand federal and Indiana state regulations inside and out, and we’re ready to put our knowledge to work for you.
Schedule a Free Consultation for Your Premises Liability Accident Case
Common Premises Liability Injuries Caused by Negligent Property Owners
There are certain injuries that a premises liability attorney sees all the time. At Stracci Law Group, we understand that every case is unique. We’re also fully prepared for new cases, thanks to our extensive experience obtaining compensation for the following kinds of injuries:
- Head and neck injuries
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Electric shocks
- Brain damage
No one deserves to suffer because of someone else’s negligence, and our Lake County, Indiana, slip and fall injury attorneys from Stracci Law Group will aggressively pursue justice in the event that you or a loved one is hurt.
Who Might Be Liable in Premises Liability Claims?
In a premises liability case, we must determine who had control over the condition or activity that caused the injury. These parties may be:
- Property Owners: The owner is typically the primary liable party, especially if they failed to maintain the property or did not address known hazards.
- Business Operators: If the injury occurred in a commercial setting like a store or restaurant, the business operator might be liable, particularly if the negligence was related to the operation of the business.
- Property Managers or Maintenance Companies: These entities could be liable if the injury resulted from their failure to properly maintain the property or fix known issues.
- Tenants or Renters: In cases where a rental property is involved, the tenant might be liable if they caused the hazard or if the lease specifies their responsibility for certain types of maintenance.
- Contractors and Subcontractors: During construction or renovation, contractors or subcontractors might be liable for injuries caused by their work, especially if it involved negligence or noncompliance with safety standards.
- Government Entities: If the injury occurred on public property, such as a sidewalk or public park, a local government or municipal agency might be liable, although there are often special rules and limitations for suing government entities.
- Homeowners Associations (HOAs): In communities governed by an HOA, the association might be liable for accidents in common areas or where the HOA is responsible for maintenance.
We’ll sort through the complex circumstances surrounding your injury to determine which party to pursue in your claim. In some cases, more than one party might be held liable for an injury.
Damages You May Be Entitled to in a Premises Liability Claim
In a premises liability claim, the damages you may be entitled to fall into several categories, each designed to compensate for different aspects of your loss and suffering due to the injury. These can include:
- Medical Expenses: This covers the cost of medical treatment related to the injury, including hospital bills, medication, physical therapy, and any future medical care required.
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: We’ll pursue compensation for lost income if the injury prevents you from working. This also includes potential future earnings lost due to the injury's long-term effects.
- Pain and Suffering: You deserve compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury, such as chronic pain, mental anguish, or loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property Damage: If any personal property was damaged due to the incident (such as a broken watch or ruined clothing), this compensation covers the cost of repair or replacement.
- Loss of Consortium: If the injury affects the relationship between the injured person and their spouse or partner, damages for loss of consortium may be awarded.
- Rehabilitation Costs: Some claimants require physical or occupational therapy and other forms of rehabilitation due to the injury.
- Punitive Damages: In cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or reckless, punitive damages might be awarded as a way to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.
- Wrongful Death: In the most tragic cases, the premises liability incident results in death. The victim’s family might be entitled to compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering.
Generally, more severe and longer-lasting injuries result in higher settlements and awards. We’ll work with you to determine a likely value for your claim and relentlessly pursue the full amount you deserve.
Why Choose Premises Liability Lawyers from Stracci Law Group?
Honest Assessment
We will provide a straightforward assessment of each potential client's case in all aspects with regard to duty, liability, proof, causation, and damages. Then, we take on cases where we see recovery is possible or equitable.
Building on Experience
Many of our attorneys cut their teeth as prosecutors and public defenders in the courts of Lake County, Indiana. We build from that experience to aggressively pursue justice in all kinds of injury cases.
Free Consultations
Not sure if you have a case? Our team offers free consultations to determine whether we can pursue justice for you.
We’re a Team
When we assign you a personal injury lawyer, you’re really connecting with an entire team of legal professionals — not just one attorney — invested in your case.
Most law groups work in the same offices, but their attorneys work on individual cases. At Stracci Law Group, it’s the rule and not the exception for our lawyers to collaborate on cases, ensuring we’re tackling it from every possible angle. That collaboration gives you a stronger chance of winning a favorable outcome and full compensation.