Kansas Premises Liability Lawyers
Claims Against Negligent Property Owners
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, then they and/or the property owner might owe you compensation. Bretz Injury Law in Kansas can help you explore your options and pursue each penny you deserve. Our premises liability attorneys know the ins and outs of liability laws, which tend to get more complex when property defects become involved. Leave all the troubles of your case up to us. We take pride in being able to handle tough claims that other firms might not.
Please call now. We’re here to assist however we can.
What is a Premises Liability Accident?
Premises liability is a legal term that refers to a property owner’s responsibility to properly maintain places regularly used by the public. Private areas must also be properly maintained if the property owner invites or can expect a guest in that area. When a property owner fails to take the necessary precautions to protect people from avoidable injuries, the owner can be held liable for the resulting damages after an accident.
Examples of premises liability accidents cover a wide range, including:
- Slip and fall accidents: Slipping or tripping on someone else’s property is the number one cause of premises liability claims. All it takes is something as small as a bit of uplifted carpeting or a spilled drink to cause a terrible slip and fall accident.
- Dog bites: Dog owners can be held strictly liable for any harm that their pet causes to a guest or visitor. Even if the dog has never shown aggression before, a dog bite claim might be justified.
- Negligent security incidents: Some property owners must provide security to protect guests from predictable crimes. For example, a bank should have guards on staff to deter assaults and robberies.
- Swimming pool accidents: Pool owners must ensure that no one can access the pool without permission in many cases, such as installing a security gate around a backyard pool if children might be able to easily enter the yard.
- Staircase accidents: Missing handrails and uneven steps are common hazards that send people falling down staircases. Elders and people with walking-related disabilities are especially at risk of an accident when a staircase is poorly maintained.
- Sidewalk accidents: Did you know that if you trip or slip on the sidewalk that the adjacent property owner could be liable for your injuries? Or the city could be liable if you were hurt due to a defect in a public sidewalk.
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals: Unsafe chemicals must be stored properly to minimize the risk of exposure to visitors, guests, and residents in the area.
Invitee, Licensee & Trespasser Rights
In a premises liability claim, the relationship between the claimant and the defendant is important. This is because premises liability law provides different rights to different claimants, depending on why they were on the defendant’s property.
Under the law, a person on someone else’s property can be classified as:
- Invitee: An invitee is on the property for business purposes or the sole benefit of the property owner. For example, a customer in a retail store is an invitee. They are owed the highest duty of care.
- Licensee: A licensee is on the property for their own benefit or a socially mutual benefit. For example, a friend in your home is a licensee. They are owed a moderate duty of care.
- Trespasser: A trespasser is on the property for criminal reasons or without being permitted there by the property owner. For example, a burglar is a trespasser. They are owed a minimal duty of care if any.
Sort Out Your Case – Call Our Firm Now
Let our Kansas premises liability attorneys help you make the most of your case. It can be an effort to sort everything out if you are not a legal professional yourself. But if we are on your side, then you can leave everything up to our firm, just as so many others have done throughout the years.
See what we can do for your case. Contact our firmnow.
