If you are injured on someone else’s property, you need to be able
to prove that they were negligent in caring for your safety or clearing
up a hazard. To strengthen your premises liability claim, evidence is
key, especially photographs of the area immediately after the accident.
Unless you are a lawyer, insurance adjuster, or professional investigator,
figuring out how and where to collect your evidence might be a bit tricky,
giving an unfair advantage to the liable party. There are, however, a
couple telltale signs that the premises were dangerous when you got there.
Top five telltale signs of dangerous premises are, in no particular order:
-
Upturned carpeting: Very rarely will you enter a new or well-maintained building and find bits
of carpeting sticking up here and there. Landlords and managers who put
adequate effort into keeping their properties safe fix carpeting issues
as soon as they literally arise, or take steps to ensure they never get
that way, for they know it can cause a guest to take a tumble. -
No wet floor signs: Any retail or business location should have wet floor signs
somewhere in the building to use when it rains outside, a spill occurs, or a pipe
leaks. If there are no yellow warning signs to be found anywhere to be
seen, it could also mean that there are unseen slip hazards in tiled or
slick-cemented areas. -
Inadequate lighting: People are less likely to trip over something if they can see it. Seems
like common sense but many homes and businesses still have poorly lit
walkways and backrooms, inviting hazards. Darkness in outdoor areas can
also increase the chances of criminal activity affecting visitors, such
as robberies or assaults. -
Crumbling steps: Staircases can be expensive to repair and maintain when they start to
fall apart. A negligent property owner will not put in the time or money
to address crumbling or otherwise dangerous steps. Be particularly mindful
when ascending or descending any stairs that do not have proper handrails, either. -
Poor layout design: Electrical cords should be kept against or inside walls and ceilings,
hallways should be wide enough for two people to pass abreast, and dining
areas should not be near hazardous storage locations. Sometimes the best
way to determine if a premise is dangerous is to just take a quick look
at the layout of the place.
If you have been hurt on someone else’s property, either as a welcome
guest or patron,
Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci can help you file a premises liability claim. Our Joplin and Springfield
personal injury attorneys genuinely want to see you recover, and we want
to make it clear to property owners that unreasonable hazards on their
land is wholly unacceptable, even if it means we have to take your case
to court.
Contact us today for more information about our services.
