Pennington Premises Liability Attorneys
For over 40 years, the New Jersey premises liability attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. have provided top-notch legal representation to injury victims in Pennington and across the Garden State. We’ve recovered more than $1 billion in fair compensation for those who’ve been injured due to the negligence of others. If a property owner, manager, or another entity fails to protect you from harm, you have the right to seek justice.
Contact us today to learn more about your legal options in a free initial consultation in our office, your home, or video chat.
What Is Premises Liability?
If you were injured due to a hazard, defect, or incident on someone else’s property, you could potentially seek justice and fair compensation through a premises liability claim. Property owners and non-owner residents such as the following could face liability when others suffer preventable injuries on their property:
- Commercial tenants
- Landlords
- Store managers
- Residential homeowners
- Renters
However, property owners are not strictly liable for any injury or accident on their premises. Like all personal injury cases, a premises liability case is based on negligence. You must prove you were injured because the property owner didn’t fix an unsafe condition.
Just because a hazardous defect or condition exists on the premises doesn’t automatically mean the property owner is liable. You’ll need to show the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition but didn’t address it or warn visitors of the potential risk.
Types of Premises Liability Cases Our Pennington Attorneys Handle
Our Pennington, NJ premises liability attorneys have extensive experience handling a wide variety of premises liability claims, including the following:
- Slips, trips, and falls – Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common accidents on public and private property in Pennington. Slip and fall accidents are often caused by spills, ice or snow in walkways, loose flooring materials, and clutter.
- Staircase accidents – Even when a staircase is appropriately maintained and well-lit, one small misstep is enough to send visitors tumbling. When staircases, steps, or stoops begin to crumble and fall apart, visitors can sustain severe trauma from falls if property owners do nothing to address the issue.
- Electric shocks – Installing and maintaining electrical circuitry is best left to professional electricians. When property owners try to complete repairs themselves or don’t repair defective systems, visitors and tenants can suffer electric shocks or fatal electrocutions.
- Dog bite attacks – Pet owners could be responsible if their pet attacks and injures someone on their property. If the pet’s owner doesn’t post warning signs or keep the animal appropriately restrained, visitors to the property could suffer severe harm.
- Inadequate security – When property owners don’t keep their premises properly maintained, adequately lit, or monitored by security systems or professionals, visitors may be at risk for theft or violent assault.
- Swimming pool accidents – Property owners and managers must keep pools and areas near them free from defects and hazards. They also must be aware of New Jersey’s attractive nuisance doctrine, which may require installing fences and locking gates to keep children from accessing the pool without a lifeguard or responsible adult.
Common Injuries Suffered in Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability accidents can result in life-altering injuries and long, stressful rehabilitation. Here are some of the most common injuries we see among the Pennington premises liability cases we handle:
- Head and traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries and dental trauma
- Scarring and permanent disfigurement
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
- Partial or total paralysis
- Dislocated or broken bones
- Traumatic amputation and loss of limb
- Bruises, lacerations, and puncture wounds
- Burns, electric shocks, and electrocution
- Toxic exposure or inhalation injuries
- Abdominal injuries and internal bleeding
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Wrongful death
Who Is Responsible After a Premises Liability Accident in Pennington, NJ?
New Jersey’s premises liability law can make it difficult to determine who is to blame after an accident. The answer can vary considerably, depending on the following:
- The visitor’s legal status – Property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of those who visit their premises legally, such as social guests or store customers. The same cannot be said for trespassers, though some exceptions exist for children.
- The property’s condition – Property owners can be held liable for injuries caused by dangerous conditions on their premises. However, victims typically need to prove the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition.
- The owner’s actions – If a hazard was on the property, the owner might not be liable if they warned visitors of the risk and took steps to protect them. However, owners may be responsible for accidents if the injured party can prove the owner did nothing to address it.
- The visitor’s actions – Visitors are expected to exercise ordinary care to keep themselves safe on others’ properties. To obtain compensation after a premises liability accident, you must prove you were not acting carelessly.
What to Do After Being Injured on Someone Else’s Property
If you suffered a severe injury on someone else’s property, you could protect your injury claim by:
- Reporting the accident immediately to the property owner and requesting a copy of the accident report
- Seeking prompt medical care for your injuries and following your doctor’s advice
- Collecting evidence from the property, such as photos of the accident scene, the clothing you were wearing when the accident occurred, and witness statements
- Keeping track of medical bills, pay stubs, and other accident-related documents
- Not speaking to others or posting on social media about the accident
- Contacting a knowledgeable premises liability lawyer as soon as possible
Reach Out to An Experienced Premises Liability Attorney in Pennington, NJ Today
At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., our Pennington, New Jersey premises liability lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to hold negligent property owners accountable. If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, contact us for a free case evaluation to learn more about how we could help you seek justice and fair compensation.