People can be injured almost anywhere. A wet grocery-store floor, broken stairway, poorly maintained parking lot, defective handrail, or other dangerous condition can cause a serious fall.
But simply getting hurt on someone else’s property does not automatically make the property owner responsible.
Premises Liability Is About More Than Where You Were Injured
A premises liability claim generally focuses on whether the property owner or another responsible party acted negligently.
The circumstances can include whether a dangerous condition existed, whether the responsible party knew or should have known about it, whether reasonable steps were taken to correct or warn about the danger, and whether the condition caused your injury.
Mississippi also has specific statutory protections for certain landowners, making these claims highly dependent on the facts.
Common Premises Liability Injuries
A property-related accident can result in:
- Broken hips
- Broken wrists
- Torn ligaments
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Internal injuries
Older adults can be particularly vulnerable to serious complications after a fall.
What Evidence Matters?
Photographs can be extremely important.
If you fall because of a dangerous condition, photograph it before it is repaired if you are physically able to do so.
Also preserve:
- Medical records
- Incident reports
- Witness information
- Photographs
- Surveillance information
- Receipts
- Communications with the property owner
Surveillance footage can be particularly valuable because dangerous conditions may disappear shortly after an accident.
Do Not Assume the Business Is Automatically Liable
A property owner or business may argue that it did not know about the condition or that the condition was open and obvious.
Those arguments need to be examined against the actual facts.
The question is not simply whether you fell. It is why you fell, how long the dangerous condition existed, who knew about it, and whether reasonable precautions were taken.
Get Legal Advice Before Accepting a Settlement
Insurance companies may contact injured people quickly after an accident.
A settlement offer may look helpful when medical bills are arriving, but accepting it may prevent you from pursuing additional compensation later.
If you were injured because of a dangerous condition on another person’s property in Jackson or elsewhere in Mississippi, Timbs Injury Law can evaluate whether you may have a premises liability claim.