When you invite someone onto your property, they are generally going to assume that the property is safe. If there are safety hazards and someone gets hurt, the property owner can be accused of negligence. This is true even when the property owner is a business. So if you enter a store or another property belonging to a business and you get hurt, you can pursue damages in a personal injury case. A New York slip and fall lawyer from our firm can help you.
When Can You Sue a Business For a Property Accident?
You can sue a business over your injuries when you believe that their negligence caused your accident. A property owner is supposed to do everything that a reasonable person would in order to keep an area safe for anyone who is invited into it. Not dealing with potential safety hazards in a responsible way puts people in danger, and a business deserves to be held liable when they have not gone to the effort to keep their property as safe as possible.
There are some injuries that may be difficult to hold a business accountable for. If the business had no way of foreseeing your accident and noticing the safety hazard that caused it, they are unlikely to be held liable. A business also usually cannot be held liable for injuries caused by their employees who were not performing their job duties at the time. For example, if a cashier getting off shift hits you with their car in the parking lot, the business is unlikely to be held responsible. On the other hand, if you or your car gets hit by a driver employed by the establishment, then you may have a case.
What Should I Do After Getting Injured in a Property Accident?
After getting injured, you should take the following steps if you are able to. Make sure that you:
- Take photos of the accident scene
- Find the hazard and take a picture of it
- Help fill out the store’s incident report
- Get the medical care you need
- Consider hiring a lawyer
What Kinds of Damages Can I Sue For?
If the business has been negligent in maintaining its property and that negligence caused you harm, you should be able to sue for damages. Your compensation should help you cover.
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- A loss of earning potential
- Loss of enjoyment
- Pain and suffering
That first settlement offer from a business or its insurer probably won’t cover all of your expenses. That’s when you need to pursue a personal injury case.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me?
An experienced premises liability attorney from our firm can help you in some key ways. We can talk to witnesses and gather crucial evidence like surveillance footage. We can field settlement offers and calculate fair compensation for you. We are also there to answer all of your questions and advocate for you at every stage of this case.
Talk to Our Legal Team Today
If you are ready to pursue a premises liability case, please contact Zlotolow & Associates. We can schedule a consultation, take a closer look at your situation, and tell you more about your legal options.
