Minnesota Premises Liability Law Firm

A premises liability accident refers to accidents that occur when either landowners or those occupying a property fail to either maintain a property or keep it otherwise safe, leading to an accident. There are many categories of injuries that fall under this banner. The most common are slip and fall injuries.

If you have been injured on another’s premises due to their negligence, call a premises liability attorney immediately. These types of injuries often need to be investigated as soon as possible. This is why it is important to hire an experienced Minnesota premises liability lawyer. The attorneys at 612-INJURED understand how to properly investigate your injury, deal with insurance companies, and get you the settlement you deserve. Call or text us at (612) 465-8733.

What is premises liability?

Premises liability is a type of personal injury where an injury is caused by unsafe conditions on another party’s property. In order to have a successful premises liability case, it must be proven that the unsafe conditions were caused by negligence of the landowner.

Types of Premises Liability Accidents

There is an array of accident types that fall under the category of premises liability.

Slip and Fall/Trip and Fall Accidents

This is the most common type of premises liability accident we see. This occurs when a person slips on a slick surface or trips over something, both due to the negligence of another party. An example would be someone slipping on spilled liquid in a grocery store and breaking their arm. Slipping on ice in the winter is another common example.

Inadequate maintenance is typically the underlying cause of these accidents. We often hear from people who were injured falling on poorly maintained steps in their apartment building or tripping and falling on uneven sidewalks.

Dog Bites/Animal Attacks

This seems self-explanatory; however, this encompasses any injury stemming from an interaction with an animal. One scenario would be someone visiting a friend and being knocked down their front steps by their overly friendly Golden Retriever.

Amusement Park Accidents

There are several ways someone can get injured in an amusement park or carnival. Improperly maintained equipment, operator negligence, slippery surfaces, and product issues can all turn a fun day around.

Fire Injuries

A fire in a residence or other dwelling can be a terrifying experience. If you find yourself in a fire, burn injuries are just one of the ways you can be injured. Smoke inhalation and oxygen deprivation are potentially lethal. It is the duty of the property owner to make sure that everything from cooking appliances to wiring are adequately maintained and to be cautious with open flames in order to prevent this.

Inadequate Maintenance

Maintenance of property includes care for sidewalks, ensuring steps are even and safe, and adequate lighting. If you are visiting a homeowner, they owe a duty to you to make sure that their premises is reasonably safe. The same goes for an apartment complex or other commercial property.

If you live in an apartment complex, the landowner is responsible in ensuring that you have a safe ingress and egress, can see the stairs and walkways, and stairways are properly maintained. If you were injured because a landlord did not properly maintain a premises, contact us today.

Building Code Violations

Local, state, and federal governments mandate building codes to ensure the safety of those occupying structures. Residences, shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and bagel shops are just a handful of examples of structures to which building codes are applied. If you were injured due to a building code violation, proving the violation can give your claim a significant boost. This is particularly important if these were evident, and the landlord failed to address them.

The idea is that any time a law that was created to prevent a certain type of injury is violated and then that injury occurs, the at-fault person is responsible.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

ADA regulations are not just for accessibility. It is about safe accessibility. Violations can put those with disabilities at risk for falls and other injuries. Missing handrails on steps or bathrooms, lack of a ramp for wheelchair accessibility, uneven or loose flooring, or cracked and uneven sidewalks can all fall under ADA violations, which could lead to an injury. If the property owner was aware of the issues and failed to address them, they can be found at fault for the injury as a matter of law.

Just like with building code violations, these laws were put into place, in part, to prevent a certain type of injury. If a violation leads to this injury, then the at-fault party is responsible for it.

Negligent Security

A negligent security claim is brought against a third party for injuries sustained from a criminal attack. These third-party entities were in a position to take action that could have prevented the injuries that the plaintiff sustained. An example could be security being aware of a potential attacker and ignoring their presence.

Swimming Pool Accidents

Liability for swimming pool injuries falls on the owner of a pool, whether it is public or private. These can occur in numerous ways. Shallow water that is not marked can lead to diving injuries. Inadequately securing your premises can lead to a small child getting hurt. Lack of lifeguard to lead to a drowning.

Trampoline Accidents

Children will often show off when playing on trampolines, which can sometimes lead to spine injuries and broken bones. Even if your child did not receive permission to jump on the neighbor’s trampoline, it might still be possible to bring a claim.

Is premises liability the same as negligence?

Premises liability is not the same as negligence, though they are related. Premises liability claims deal with cases where someone is injured on another’s property. Negligence involves the negligent action of not maintaining a property in such a manner that would keep someone safe.

Types of Visitors and Duty Owed

Visitors to properties fall under differing categories according to their reason for visiting. This has an effect on premises liability claims.

Licensees

A licensee is on a premises for reasons other than business. Basically, they are guests invited to a property for social reasons. House parties, barbecues, and birthday celebrations are all examples of reasons a licensee might be present on another’s premises.

The second highest duty is assigned for licensees. The standard of care for premises in this case is less. The owner should still make a reasonable effort to keep the property safe and warn guest of any potential dangers.

Invitees

An invitee is someone visiting a premises for the purpose of conducting business, which is mutually beneficial for both parties. These are largely people visiting stores, hotels/motels, or restaurants. Someone slipping in a spilled drink and getting injured while returning to their table from the restroom is a good example.

The highest duty owed is assigned to invitees. Care should be taken to ensure that the property is continually safe. This often means that great care should be given to keep watch of the premises and quickly address any issues as they arise.

Trespassers

A trespasser is someone who enters a premises without either the property owner’s knowledge or consent. Since the landowner is unaware of the trespasser, they do not have the ability to warn them of any hazards. In Minnesota, the trespasser might still be able to file a claim, as it is the responsibility of the landowner to ensure that their property is free from these dangers.

There is also the issue of attractive nuisances. These are items that can attract small children onto the property, like swimming pools and trampolines. If an injury or death occurs in relation to an attractive nuisance, the landowner can be found liable, as children are owed the greatest duty of care, though adult trespassers are owed the least.

What if I am injured at a friend’s house?

Some might be hesitant to bring a claim if they are injured at a friend or family’s house. A common issue raised is that they do not want to sue their friend. Most personal injury claims do not lead to court. It is a discussion between your lawyer and their insurance company. Your friend or relative is not even involved. If you have been injured, it is in your best interest to get compensated for it. Those close to you will understand.

Should I hire a premises liability attorney?

Premises liability claims need to be investigated quickly, particularly with slip and fall accidents in the winter. The conditions that led to your injury should be documented before the ice melts or the negligent party can make repairs and claim otherwise. Though it is possible to bring a successful claim later in the process, it is in your best interest to work with a personal injury attorney experienced in premises liability law.

An experienced Minnesota premises liability lawyer can also work to get you fair compensation from an insurance company. Insurance companies maximize their profits by paying settlements that are less than you deserve. Clients who work directly with insurance companies without an attorney can find themselves with less money than what was necessary to even cover their ongoing medical bills.

Why Choose Us

The premises liability attorneys at 612-INJURED have extensive experience with premises liability claims. Our attorneys will listen to your story and quickly investigate the site of your injury, taking photos and documenting everything needed for a successful premises liability claim.

If you have been injured due to a property owner’s negligence on their premises, do not wait. Call or text the lawyers at 612-INJURED at (612) 465-8733.

Premise Liability Accidents

If you have fallen and hurt yourself on someone else’s property, you may be looking at a lawsuit. Ask yourself the following questions to determine whether or not you should contact a lawyer:

• Have you fallen due to an unmarked obstacle?
• Have you fallen due to a wet or slippery area?
• Has your fall caused injuries?
• Has your fall caused you to suffer emotional, physical or mental anguish?
• Have you been put off work because of the fall?
• Have you incurred medical costs because of the fall?
• Have you suffered from a loss of quality of life because of the fall?