Slip and Fall Accidents and Injuries on Premises

Premises Liability is the liability for a landowner for certain injuries suffered by persons who are present on the premises. Premises liability cases are also known as "slip and fall" cases. Every year, thousands of people in the United States suffer serious injuries due to a "slip and fall accident" or a "trip and fall accident." Landowners are responsible for managing safe conditions on the property they own. These types of accidents can occur inside or outside, at a residence, place of public gathering or a place of business.

Causes of Injuries in Premises Liability

Dangerous conditions on a property can cause injuries due to cracked or even stairways/sidewalks, wet floors, an object on the floor, and snow or ice accumulation.

Injuries and Accidents in Apartment Buildings and Businesses

A recent study of premise security liability in the United States showed that residential apartment building owners and hotel/motel owners make up the majority of lawsuits while the remaining 44% are retail owners, restaurants and bars.

The liability of owners and occupiers of property will vary depending on the legal rules and principles in place in the state where the premises liability injury occurred. There are three different types of legal status of visitor such as invitee, licensee, trespasser or social guest.

Legal Status of Premises Visitors

An invitee is someone who is invited onto the property of another, such as a customer in a store or patron at a restaurant. This invitation should imply that the owner has taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the invitee. A licensee enters property solely for his or her own purpose, or as a social guest, and is present at the consent of the owner. A trespasser enters without any right to do so. In the case of licensees and trespassers, there are no implied precautions for safety set in place.