Alabama law requires property owners, managers, and renters to keep their premises in reasonably safe condition. If you sustained injuries due to a preventable hazard on someone else’s property in Dothan, you could be entitled to compensation.
At Gartlan Injury Law, we understand how a severe injury can create significant financial hardships. Our team can help you pursue compensation from the responsible party(s) to cover your losses and put you on solid financial ground again.
When you select our law firm for your premises liability case, you get a group of legal professionals who strive to secure meaningful results that will make a difference in your life. We have recovered millions for accident victims in situations similar to yours and will treat your case with the dedication and personal attention it deserves.
Ready to learn more? Contact Gartlan Injury Law today at (334) 600 1882 for a free consultation with a Dothan premises liability lawyer.
What Is the Premises Liability Law in Dothan?
Premises liability refers to the general legal obligation that property owners and managers have to keep their properties safe and free from hazards for guests. If a property owner invites someone into their property, they have a legal duty of care to ensure that nothing dangerous can hurt that guest.
The exact level of care an owner must give depends on the visitor’s legal status. Alabama divides visitors into three categories:
- Invitees have permission to be on the property and provide a commercial benefit to the owner, such as a store customer. Owners have the highest duty of care to invitees and must inspect their premises for dangerous conditions and post warnings about hazards.
- Licensees include visitors with permission to be on the premises but do not provide commercial benefits, such as house guests. Owners must warn licensees about hazards but do not necessarily have to seek out potential hazards and remedy them for licensees.
- Trespassers are visitors who do not have permission to be on the property. Owners do not have any general duty of care toward trespassers, although they cannot deliberately create unsafe conditions to harm trespassers intentionally.
If you got hurt as a legal visitor on someone’s property and believe the owner’s negligence contributed to your injury, a premises liability attorney from Gartlan Injury Law can review your case for free.
What Situations Can Lead to a Premises Liability Injury?
Any hazard on someone’s property could lead to premises liability injuries. Here are some of the most common causes of premises liability accidents in Dothan:
- Slippery or uneven floors
- Potholes in parking lots
- Bad lighting
- Floor obstructions or clutter
- Poorly designed staircases
- Faulty electrical or gas systems
- Defective elevators or escalators
- Open, empty, or unmarked swimming pools
- Inadequate security
- Unmarked or improperly stored building materials
Who Can Be Held At Fault in a Premises Liability Case?
In most premises liability cases, the liable party is usually the one responsible for maintaining the safety of the property. Generally, this is either the property owner or the occupier — whoever controls the property at the time.
Here is an example of a premises liability claim: A store customer slips on a puddle of water due to a leaking ceiling sprinkler. The spot wasn’t marked with a warning sign. The store owner may be liable for the customer’s injuries because they have a duty to identify, fix, and/or warn customers of dangers on their commercial property.
An alternative example: A landlord rents an apartment with damaged electrical wiring to Jane. She sustains an electric shock injury when she goes to use her oven. The landlord could be liable because they have a legal duty to repair known problems on any property they rent.
