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You have a reasonable expectation of lawful safety when visiting a business, hotel, or other property. Likewise, property owners must use reasonable care to ensure that conditions on the premises are not dangerous. At a minimum, an owner must warn guests about unsafe conditions. However, the level of care a property owner owes can vary depending on the type of visitor. According to premises liability law, different legal standards may apply to invitees, licensees, and trespassers. If you were injured on someone’s property, speak with a Washington, DC premises liability attorney at Regan Zambri Long for a free legal case review today.
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Property visitors may risk severe injuries when business owners or operators neglect to protect visitors from hazardous conditions. In many cases, the accidents and injuries that result from property owner negligence are entirely preventable.
If you or a loved one were harmed by hazardous conditions on someone else’s property in Washington, DC, you may be able to collect compensation for your medical bills and other damages under premises liability law.
It can be challenging to file a successful premises liability lawsuit against a business, recreational facility, or hotel. The property owner may possess valuable evidence, like video surveillance recordings, or have fixed the dangerous condition soon after the incident.
An experienced Washington, DC premises liability attorney from Regan Zambri Long PLLC can investigate your accident and take steps to preserve valuable evidence. We have experience with premises liability cases throughout the DC area. We have also obtained multi-million dollar settlements for clients who were seriously injured at nightclubs, ski areas, snow tubing parks, hotels, and office buildings.
Simply put, premises liability holds a property owner and/or operator responsible for any damages resulting from an injury on that person or entity’s property. To prove a Washington, DC, premises liability case, the injured party will need to prove the following:
For example, a customer is shopping at a grocery store when they slipped on a puddle of water that leaked from a broken freezer case. The customer fell, breaking their hip and leg. No warning signs mentioned the broken case; the store’s employees knew the situation. The customer may have a premises liability claim since the store did not create a safe environment for all property visitors.
Common types of a premises liability claim include:
According to premises liability laws, property owners may owe different levels of care to different visitors. For commercial properties, the business invitee’s duty of care is the highest standard since property owners stand to profit from an invitee’s patronage. Store owners must promptly identify safety rules and address all known and unknown hazards on their property. Still, the reasonable steps an owner must take will depend on the type of business and other circumstances.
Homeowners can be held liable for dangerous premises on their private property if a guest is injured. These laws do vary by state; however, in Washington, DC, a homeowner has different responsibilities depending on the classification of the visitor:
Licensees: Social guests and others who may enter private property with an owner’s implicit permission, such as mail carriers, are licensees. The standard of care owed to licensees is lower than that owed to invitees. Generally, homeowners are only liable for unaddressed dangers they knew or should have known about and failed to mention to the licensees. For example, the homeowner does not mention the broken step on the porch to the mail carrier, who then trips and falls.
Trespassers: Since trespassers enter a property without the owner’s permission, owners owe them no duty of care in most cases. The landowner does not have to protect trespassers other than refraining from willfully harming them. However, an exception exists for child trespassers.
Child Trespassers: An adult should know not to trespass, but a child may not. A child also may not be able to recognize and avoid certain dangers. Therefore, property owners must address specific conditions that may endanger a child trespasser or even lure a child onto the property.
Attractive nuisance refers to a feature on a property that could cause a child to trespass, leading to an injury. A typical example of an attractive nuisance is a swimming pool or other water feature. The law requires property owners to minimize the risk of an attractive nuisance by putting up fencing or taking other steps to keep children from harm.
Contact Regan Zambri Long for a free consultation with a premises liability attorney to discuss your case.
If you sustained injuries due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, our Washington, DC, premises liability attorneys are ready and willing to assist you. With more than 30 years of experience, our premises liability law firm has the resources and legal knowledge to protect your rights and guide you through the legal process and client signing. You do not have to face this stressful and time-sensitive situation on your own; a premises liability attorney from our law firm can support you every step of the way.
Our Washington, DC, personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our firm has an established reputation for pursuing legal excellence. As the client of a Regan Zambri Long premises liability attorney, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing that your rights will be protected from start to finish. We will do everything in our power to secure the maximum compensation you need to pay for injury-related expenses, such as medical bills and lost income, as well as total compensation for all of the physical and emotional consequences of your injuries and life insurance.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Top Washington, DC Premises Liability Attorney
After an accident, chances are you’ll be facing large medical bills. You may not be sure how you will be paying for the accident. However, a premises liability attorney can help you figure out what financial compensation you may be owed for your injuries, such as:
Our Washington, DC personal injury attorneys also represent clients in Maryland and Virginia. If you have a premises liability case and need the help of an experienced DC premises liability lawyer at Regan Zambri Long PLLC, don’t wait any longer. We have your back. Call (202) 972-3767 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.
