One of the responsibilities that come with owning and managing property is ensuring that the premises is safe for all visitors. When a property owner fails to warn visitors about a dangerous hazard or engages in unsafe activities that endangers others, they could be held responsible for any injuries that occur.
If you or a loved one were injured while on another person’s property, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your damages. An Arlington premises liability lawyer could help you understand your rights, legal options, and steps if you choose to file a claim. A seasoned personal injury lawyer could advocate on your behalf to help you recover the compensation you need to move forward in your life.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability holds a property owner liable or responsible for any damages that an individual sustains on their land. Much like other personal injury cases in Arlington, premises liability usually requires the injured claimant’s lawyer to prove negligence on the part of a property owner.
Property owners have a duty to keep their visitors safe and away from harm while on their land. In general, this means that property must be kept in good condition and without any known hazards that may injure a person. When a hazard is unavoidable or a feature of the property, the owner must adequately warn visitors of the potential dangers.
To successfully win a case, the plaintiff’s knowledgeable lawyer needs to prove that a dangerous condition was present on the property, the condition caused the plaintiff’s injury, the owner knew about or should have known about the dangerous condition, and the owner failed to fix the hazard before an injury occurred.
For a free legal consultation, call (817) 775-5364
Classification of Visitors
The owner of a property does not owe the same duty of care to everyone who visits their land. Visitors of a property are classified in several ways, and each type of visitor is owed a different standard of care. A property accident attorney in Arlington could help someone determine under which type of classification they belonged during the time of their injury.
Who Are Invitees?
An invitee is a visitor who is at a location with the owner’s knowledge and permission.
Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees because they are there to provide a benefit to the owner. People who own businesses or stores where the general public is invited must inspect their property for potential hazards and correct them before injuries occur.
Licensees
A licensee is also an invited guest of the owner, but a licensee generally does not provide a tangible benefit to that person. A social guest or family member would be an example of a licensee.
In contrast to invitees, people who invite over licensees do not generally owe them the extra duty of inspecting their property for hidden dangers.
Trespassers
A trespasser is a visitor who enters the property without the owner’s knowledge or permission. Property owners generally do not owe much of a duty to trespassers, but they cannot attempt to injure potential trespassers.
Children
Children do not have their own legal classification of visitors, but property owners have a heightened duty of care to protect children from dangers that may be obvious to adults. For example, property owners may have a duty to fence in their swimming pools to prevent trespassing children from drowning.
Arlington Premises Liability Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Contact an Arlington Premises Liability Attorney Today
If you were injured on someone else’s property, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses. Entrust your case to a team of experienced attorneys who have handled cases like yours in the past. Learn more about your legal rights and options by scheduling an appointment with an Arlington premises liability lawyer today.
Call (817) 775-5364 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
