Property owners, managers, and processors have a legal duty to inspect and maintain their property regularly to keep the premises safe for visitors. When they fail to uphold their duty, and you or a loved one suffers harm, you have the legal right to hold them financially accountable. A lawsuit would fall within an area of law called premises liability.
The law is complex and usually challenging for most to navigate without experience with and prior knowledgeable of the state regulations and civil court. Therefore, enlisting the services of a skilled personal injury attorney is often the best way to reach a favorable outcome in your case. Schedule a consultation with a St. Clairsville premises liability lawyer from Bordas & Bordas if you need help seeking damages from a negligent landowner.
When the person in charge of a piece of property does not keep up with maintenance and other responsibilities, it can quickly become hazardous for visitors. Some of the most common premises liability lawsuits occur after accidents involving the following:
A proactive St. Clairsville premises liability attorney from our firm could help you collect the vital evidence needed to prove negligence and recover compensation from the at-fault party or their insurance company.
The outcome of a premises liability case in St. Clairsville will largely depend on the duty of care the property owner owed the visitor when they entered the property. There are three groups that most visitors will fall within, including:
Invitees enter a property upon an explicit or implicit invitation, usually for business purposes. If you were at the mall or grocery store shopping for products, you were an invitee when the accident occurred, and the property owner owed you the highest level of care.
Licensees enter the property with implicit or explicit permission also. However, they enter for personal reasons. If you were a dinner guest at a party and sustained injuries, you were a licensee. The owner owed you the second-highest duty of care.
Trespassers enter properties for their own purposes and without the property owner’s permission. Under the Ohio Revised Code § 2305.402, the person responsible for the property does not owe the trespasser a duty of care but cannot intentionally create a dangerous condition because they entered the premises.
If the property holds items that children commonly find attractive—such as swimming pools—a landowner must ensure the property is secure and keep the children off the premises. The court could hold a property owner liable for damages when kids have access to dangerous conditions because the property was not secured.
A seasoned premises liability lawyer in St. Clairsville could review the circumstances surrounding your case and help you determine which group you would fall under when pursuing civil action.
An accident can happen at any time or at any place. When they occur because a property owner or manager fails to uphold the duties the laws require of them, you have every right to expect them to pay for your losses.
An experienced St. Clairsville premises liability lawyer from Bordas & Bordas could handle the legal work needed to recover compensation while you focus on rest and recovery. Our team of accomplished attorneys have a proven track-record of winning damages for those injured in premises liability cases, including a $16.9 million verdict won for a client against Walmart.
Call soon to schedule an appointment if you need help with a case.
