Property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe and warn guests of potentially dangerous conditions. When landowners breach this duty, the victim can hold them financially liable through a premises liability lawsuit. Premises liability injuries can happen nearly anywhere, from retail stores to construction sites. If you’ve been injured on another person’s property or place of business, you may be entitled to compensation.
Holding a property owner responsible for an accident caused by their negligence can be challenging. Premises liability lawsuits require a significant amount of investigation during the discovery process. If you would like to see compensation from the landowner whose negligence caused your injuries, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. Contact the Law Offices of Bryce Cook today to schedule your initial consultation to learn how we can advocate for you.
What Is a Premises Liability Lawsuit?
Property owners and landlords have a legal duty to keep their properties legally safe for guests and visitors. They also have a duty to inspect their property for dangerous conditions and fix the problem or warn visitors about the condition. The first step in succeeding in a premises liability lawsuit is determining who was at fault for the accident. When the victim becomes injured by a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, they can bring a premises liability lawsuit against the landowner.
Types of Premises Liability Accidents
Various circumstances can create hazardous conditions on a person’s property. Premises liability accidents frequently happen when the victim least expects it. Not all premises liability accidents occur in stores; many accidents occur in private residences, government buildings, parks, and rental properties. Many premises liability accidents involve the following conditions:
- Wet or icy sidewalks
- Slippery surfaces caused by leakage
- Construction hazards
- Negligent security
- Dog bites
- Broken playground equipment
- Dangerous handrails or staircases
- Poorly maintained or obstructed walkways
- Cracks in sidewalks
- Broken playground equipment
- Inaccessible emergency exits
- Unsafe ramps for disabled visitors
- Broken floor tiles or torn carpeting
- Potholes
- Poor lighting
- Landscaping debris like broken tree branches
Arkansas Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common and dangerous types of premises liability accidents. Victims of slip and fall accidents often suffer severe injuries that can become life-altering. In many cases, slip and fall victims trip on a piece of debris, loose carpeting, or slippery flooring. Some slip and fall accidents occur on staircases or steps outside the property.
Slip and fall accidents are hazardous for elderly individuals because they are more likely to suffer hip fractures that require extensive rehabilitation. During Arkansas winters, slip and fall accidents are more common as people slip on ice, snow, and wet surfaces. Some of the most common injuries associated with slip and fall accidents in Arkansas include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries can cause lifelong symptoms
- Neck and spinal cord injuries that may result in partial or complete paralysis
- Broken bones, including broken hip bones
- Sprained wrists and ankles
- Lacerations and bruises
- Facial injuries including fractures, or damage to the teeth and mouth
Proving Negligence In an Arkansas Premises Liability Case
The plaintiff must prove that a dangerous condition existed at the time of the accident. Suppose the victim slipped on a puddle of oil that leaked from a container in a grocery store. The plaintiff would need to prove that the puddle existed. The plaintiff will also need to establish the following elements:
- The property owner or manager knew or should have reasonably known about the unsafe condition on his or her property
- The property owner or manager failed to correct the dangerous condition or warn the visitors of the condition within a reasonable time frame
Proving the existence of a dangerous condition can be difficult. If you’re able to take photos of the dangerous conditions after your accident, we recommend it. Employees and property owners will often quickly clean up the dangerous condition, making it hard to prove the cause of your injuries. Property owners frequently try to argue that the victim contributed to the accident through carelessness or recklessness.
Your attorney can conduct depositions of store employees and request access to the property owner’s CCTV footage, if available, to prove the condition existed. The sooner you speak to an experienced premises liability lawyer, the more time your lawyer will have to gather evidence that the property owner’s negligence caused your injuries, and he or she should have warned you about the dangerous condition.
Damages Available
Our clients who suffered catastrophic injuries due to premises liability accidents face mounting medical bills. One of the best ways they can provide for themselves and their families is to pursue a lawsuit to obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Successful plaintiffs are entitled to economic and non-economic damages in Arkansas.
Economic damages include compensation for all of the victim’s past and future medical expenses and property damage. Success plaintiffs can also recover compensation for their lost income, work benefits, and promotions. When plaintiffs are no longer able to work due to their injuries, they can obtain compensation for their future income loss. Finally, plaintiffs are entitled to non-economic damages for the pain and suffering they’ve endured due to their injuries.
Contact a Jonesboro Premises Liability Lawyer
Attorney Bryce Cook has an in-depth knowledge of Arkansas premises liability laws. As a trial-ready attorney, he is prepared to advocate for your interest throughout the entire process. If possible, he will work with the defense to negotiate a settlement agreement covering all of your past and future expenses and compensate you for your pain and suffering.
Should the case proceed to trial, he will use his extensive courtroom skills to advocate for you to obtain the compensation you deserve. Securing compensation in a premises liability lawsuit can help you and your family tremendously. Contact the Law Offices of Bryce Cook today to schedule your free initial consultation.