Your home is your place of solace. On your property, you know every nook and corner and the nuances of moving around. Since you own the place, you know how to manage the inside. For you, it is a safe space.
Visiting property owned by someone else is a different story. The unfamiliarity of a place may lead to injuries, especially if the owner neglects their duties of meeting reasonable safety standards.
Examples of Injuries in Other’s Properties
Injuries sustained on someone else’s property are generally referred to as premises liability cases. Instrumentalities of injuries can include:
- A wet patch of floor;
- Lack of safety handrails;
- Uneven floors;
- Loose floorboards;
- Lack of adequate lighting;
- Unsafe structures;
- Unmaintained property;
- Falling objects; and
- Lack of security details.
These liabilities can lead to various injuries, like:
- Head traumas;
- Spinal contusions;
- Bone fractures;
- Knee and ankle injuries;
- Arm injuries; and
- Severe cuts and lacerations.
There are plenty of variables to consider in premises liability cases. The commonality is the lack of safety precautions that led to the injury.
What to Do After an Injury
When you’re injured, the first thing to do is seek medical attention by calling 911 or other emergency services. The severity of an injury is not always immediately apparent. Sometimes, symptoms of the injury manifest days or weeks after the incident.
Getting medical attention increases the chance of identifying all injuries before they worsen. At the same time, it creates an official record of what happened, which could be helpful with your claim later.
The next step is to document evidence, if you are physically capable of doing that. Take your phone to record videos and pictures of the surrounding area, especially the cause of the accident. Document the injury and first aid treatment you receive.
Gather every piece of evidence available to you, including the names and contact information of potential witnesses. They can provide various perspectives on the incident and establish a more coherent picture of what happened. That would benefit your case.
Preserve items like your clothing, shoes, and other important items related to the incident.
File a police report if the incident happened in a business establishment or public area.
Do not talk to or sign anything without getting legal advice beforehand.
Determine the Liability
The next step is to determine the liability of the property owner. Was it their fault that you ended up with the injury? Here are a few questions that need to be answered:
- Was the injured person invited onto the property to benefit the owner, as in the case with stores?
- Was the injured person invited for other reasons like social gatherings?
- Was the injured person trespassing on the property?
- Was the cause of the injury obvious or hidden?
- How long was the cause of the injury present on the property?
- Is the person in charge of the property the owner or a renter?
- Were they aware of the condition that led to the injury?
- Do they have control over the property?
The answers to these questions may determine the type of case you have and what you may claim.
Contact a Legal Expert
No matter the type of injury or the property where the injury occurred, you will need to contact a legal expert for advice and assistance. They will know how to build a case and be able to assist you with your claim. If you need a legal expert in Nebraska, contact Friedman Law today. Our team is happy to assist you through the process.