Is a Property Owner Responsible for Accidents?
From your neighbor’s home to nightclubs and casinos on the Las Vegas strip, accidents can happen almost anywhere. Injuries from these accidents – such as broken bones, neck and back injuries, and head injuries – can force victims to miss time from work and leave them with stacks of medical bills and other expenses. As a result, many individuals who suffer premises-related injuries turn to the property owners for compensation. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to a significant financial recovery.
Establishing Liability for Premises-Related Accidents
In order to hold a property owner responsible for your injuries, you will need to be able to prove two primary factors:
- That the property owner (or one of its employees) caused the hazardous condition, or that the property owner either knew or should have known about the hazardous condition but did nothing to fix it.
- That your injuries are attributable to the hazardous condition.
There are several important points to keep in mind here. The first is that premises liability cases are generally governed by the “reasonable care” standard. This means that owners are required to maintain their properties free of hazards and eminent dangers that could cause harm to guests (and in some cases, trespassers) on their property. It does not mean that property owners must protect against any and all possible dangers, or even that they must necessarily actively investigate for potential safety concerns. What is “reasonable” will depend on a number of factors, including the use and location of the property.
That said, there are certain well-established rules around property owners’ duties to their guests. For example, swimming pools open to guests must meet certain requirements, and casinos generally must have adequate security to protect their patrons. When a business’s failure to meet its obligations results in injuries or death, that business can be held liable for the victims’ losses. See some more common examples of dangerous conditions that may entitle injury victims to compensation.
Another important point is that you will need to be able to link your injuries to the hazardous condition in order to win your case. This means that you should take plenty of pictures of the scene of the accident. Evidence of dangerous premises – wet floors, cracked stairs, and broken or missing handrails – can disappear quickly. You should also seek prompt medical attention to help establish the timing, cause, and severity of your injuries.
Never Assume You Won’t Win Your Case
Many people forego seeking compensation because they assume that they themselves must have done something to cause the accident, or that they simply won’t be able to win their case. Never make these assumptions. First of all, Nevada law allows you to seek compensation even if you were partially at fault in the accident. Secondly, with a legal team backed by significant resources and decades of experience on your side, you can effectively take on the major companies and big law firms and win the compensation you deserve.
Contact De Castroverde Law Group about Your Case
If you have suffered a serious injury due to dangerous or hazardous property conditions, the premises liability attorneys at De Castroverde Law Group are here to help you fight for just compensation. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to get started with your case today.