Premises liability law applies when a person is injured on someone else’s property. Property owners have a legal duty to use reasonable care to prevent accidents from happening and must warn guests of dangerous conditions on their property.

You may be entitled to compensation if you were injured on someone else’s property. The Michigan premises liability lawyers at Muth Law, P.C. can analyze your circumstances, help you evaluate your options, and represent you in your premises liability claim.

What Is a Premises Liability Claim?

Premises liability cases arise when a person is injured by an unsafe condition on someone else’s property. Premises liability law is based on the theory that landowners owe a duty of care to people who come onto their property and are required to maintain their property in a safe condition. To prevail in a premises liability case, you must prove that:

1. The landowner owed you a duty;
2. They violated that duty; and
3. You were injured as a result.

Property Owners Owe Different Duties of Care to Different Categories of Guests

The property owner’s legal duty can vary depending on the nature of their relationship with the guest.

• An invitee is on the property with the implicit or explicit permission of the owner or tenant. The property owner owes an invitee the highest duty of care and must use ordinary care to protect their safety.
• A licensee has the express or implied permission of the landowner to be on the property but is there for their own benefit or pleasure. The landowner owes a duty of ordinary care to a licensee and must provide a warning of hazards they knew or should have known about. Property owners can be liable if they recklessly or willfully injure a licensee.
• A trespasser comes onto someone else’s property without the owner’s permission. Property owners owe a limited duty to trespassers and are only liable if they willfully, recklessly, or wantonly cause harm.

Common Types of Premises Liability Claim

There are different types of premises liability claims. Injuries can be caused by unsafe conditions on the property, such as spilled liquid, an improperly maintained surface, or icy and snowy conditions. Premises liability injuries can also be caused by failure to maintain a swimming pool, poorly maintained stairways and decks, or when a property owner fails to provide adequate security.

Winning a premises liability lawsuit is challenging. Our experienced premises liability lawyers can help determine whether you are eligible to receive financial recovery for your injuries.

Slip and Fall

A slip and fall accident occurs when a hazardous condition causes the injured victim to slip, fall, and suffer an injury. Slips are commonly caused by liquid or a slippery substance on the floor in grocery stores, grease on the floor at a restaurant, or slippery conditions caused by the negligent removal of snow or ice.

Trip and Fall

A trip and fall accident is similar to a slip and fall in that the victim was injured while falling, but a trip and fall accident occurs when the fall is caused by a defective condition on the surface. Trip and fall accidents can be caused by potholes, uneven surfaces, exposed wires, and objects left where people usually walk. Other hazards include cracks, depressions, debris, and tree roots on sidewalks. A property owner can be held liable if they fail to remedy the dangerous condition or did not place proper signs warning guests of the hazardous condition.

Negligent Maintenance

A claim for negligent maintenance arises when someone is injured because the property owner did not take reasonable steps to maintain the property in a safe condition. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries if the property owner was aware or should have been aware of a hazardous condition but failed to perform the necessary maintenance.

Negligent Security

Property owners are required to keep guests safe. This may include providing adequate lighting, door locks, surveillance cameras, and security personnel. Whether the security measures were sufficient often depends on the type and amount of crime in a particular area. You may have a claim for negligent security if you were injured because a business owner failed to take adequate precautions to prevent crime.

Swimming Pool Injuries or Death

You have the right to expect to be safe in a swimming pool, regardless of whether you are in a public pool, a pool owned by a friend or neighbor, or a pool at the gym. When dangerous swimming pool conditions cause injuries or death, you and your family may be entitled to compensation for your losses.

Falling Objects

Falling objects can injure the head, neck, spine, and other parts of the body. A business can be liable if an improperly secured object falls and injures a guest. Common causes of injuries from falling objects include improperly secured merchandise at retail stores, lumber falling at a construction site, or when unsecured tools fall from a balcony.

How a Michigan Premises Liability Lawyer Can Help

Holding a property owner responsible for premises liability injuries can be challenging. The premises liability lawyers at Muth Law can help. We will learn about your situation and your injuries, explain your rights and help you evaluate your options, and fight for the compensation you and your family deserve.

Muth Law is based in Ann Arbor and proudly represents people who suffered premises liability injuries throughout Michigan. Contact us today by calling 734-481-8800, emailing info@muthlawpc.com, or completing our online form. We look forward to helping you and your family.