Accidents caused by dangerous conditions on someone else’s property can result in severe injuries, including fractured bones (including most typically fractured hips, ankles, and/or wrists), torn ligaments (typically a torn ligament in the knee or ankle, a torn meniscus in the knee, or a torn rotator cuff or labrum in the shoulder), or even sometimes paralysis, traumatic brain injury, or wrongful death. In the case of dog bites, they can also cause severe and significant permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Dangerous conditions can come in a wide range of circumstances. Most commonly, they are found in the form of dangers or defects on walking surfaces such as driveways, walkways, and interior floors and rugs, and can be caused by a variety of things – snow or ice, liquids, uneven surfaces, improper materials, violation of building codes, etc. Dangerous conditions also come in the form of improperly maintained stairs and railings. Additionally, keeping a dog on the premises with a known prior history of dangerous or vicious behavior can give rise to liability if the dog bites a guest on the property.
What Can You Do To Help Your Own Cause
If you are injured in an accident caused by a dangerous or defective condition on someone else’s property, you can do a few things which will go a long way toward helping prove your claim down the road. At the scene of the injury, or as soon thereafter as possible, pictures of the defect or dangerous condition should be taken; the names of witnesses should be obtained; and the injury should be reported, ideally all before you even contact an attorney. An attorney can assist you in the investigation of your claim, but by the time an attorney is contacted, often the dangerous and defective condition is has been remedied. The best evidence of a defect is almost always found at the time the accident occurs, and if an accident is not promptly reported, the insurance companiesmay argue that it didn’t happen at all or didn’t happen the way it actually did. Accordingly, it is important to help yourself as soon as you can, then contact an attorney promptly.
What Our Firm Can Do For You
Our premises liability attorneys have significant experience in handling the most serious premises liability claims. Our premises liability attorneys understand the priorities following a traumatic accident:
Conducting a prompt and thorough investigation of all the facts, including securing witness statements, photographs, and other documentation of the basis for the claim;
• Analyzing the facts to determine of a viable claim exists;
• Handling the claims process with insurance companies;
• Making sure the proper insurance company will cover past and future medical costs;
• Recovering lost wages; and
• Aggressively pursuing a claim against those responsible for your bodily injury, pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
