One of the most common types of cases we see here at Powers Injury Law are slips and falls. Hazardous premises abound throughout Alabama, with scenarios ranging from private landowners who do not take due care to prevent visitor injuries, to negligent store owners who put off required property maintenance. If a careless or negligent property owner/manager caused your slip and fall injury, you do not have to suffer in silence. Our firm gives power to the people through strong, relentless, and reliable representation.
Types of Slip and Fall Incidents
Slips, trips, and falls are very common incidents. Grocery stores, parking lots, banks, retail outlets, shopping malls, construction sites, and private residences are some examples of places where dangerous slips and falls can occur. Anywhere a hazardous property condition exists, there is a risk of a harmful slip, trip, or fall for visitors. Common examples of this incident include:
- Uneven curbs
- Icy pavement or sidewalks
- Broken gravel/potholes in parking lots
- Ditches or trenches
- Exposed cords or wiring
- Damaged floors
- Oily or greasy floors
- Hazardous carpeting
- Obstacles or debris in the walking path
- Inadequate lighting
To prove a slip, trip, and fall case, the plaintiff must examine the laws and property owner’s responsibilities for preventing the incident from occurring. In most cases, the courts will say a premises owner reasonably should have known about a dangerous condition if another reasonably careful person would have in similar circumstances.
Building owners in violation of building codes may be guilty of negligence in slip and fall situations. For example, failure to install handrails at certain staircases may constitute a breach of building code, making the property owner liable for any subsequent falls down the flight of steps. Proving negligence takes a team of trustworthy, skilled attorneys with experience representing slip and fall clients. Powers Injury Law is this team in Birmingham, AL.
Property Owner Responsibilities in Alabama
To receive compensation for damages in a slip, trip, or fall, the injured party must prove that the property owner did something negligent or reckless that caused the incident. Alabama state statutes outline the duty of care all property owners owe to visitors. As the owner or manager of any premises that invites guests (including friends and family), it is a person’s responsibility to reasonably prevent harm. This involves different standards of care depending on the status of the property’s visitor:
- Someone a home or business owner invites to enter the premises for lawful purposes, such as friends, family, or customers to a store. Property owners must keep the premises safe from hazards for invitees.
- Property owners permit licensees to enter the premises, but it is for the person’s own purposes. Social visitors stopping by and salespeople typically fall into this category. Property owners must exercise care to prevent injury to licensees, including warning of known hazards on the premises.
- Trespassers are those with no lawful right or permission to enter a premises. A property owner cannot willfully inflict harm on trespassers, but they do not have to repair hazards or warn of existing dangers. There are exceptions if the trespasser is a minor child.
Failure to obey these duties, resulting in visitor injury, is negligence in the eyes of the law. Depending on your status as a visitor, you may now have an idea of what duties of care a property owner owed to you for your slip and fall case. Speak to Birmingham personal injury attorneys at Powers Injury Law for a more detailed explanation of your rights and options after sustaining injuries on someone else’s property. To schedule a free case evaluation, call (205) 582-2723 or contact us online.
