Property owners have a duty to keep their property safe for visitors. This means the property cannot contain any dangerous conditions. It also means the owner must monitor the property for dangerous conditions. If the owner finds any dangerous conditions, he must repair them or adequately warn all visitors about the danger.
When should an accident victim contact a premises liability attorney?
People who get seriously hurt on someone else’s property often need help paying their medical bills and accident-related costs. They want to be compensated for their losses. If the property owner’s negligence caused the accident, the property owner’s premises liability or homeowner’s insurance should compensate the victim.
Premises liability claims are complex, so accident victims should consult an experienced premises liability attorney before proceeding. Settling a liability claim without contacting an attorney first usually means an injured person is leaving money on the table. The insurance company wants to pay the minimum amount they can while minimizing the resources expended to settle the claim.
An experienced premises liability attorney understands how insurance companies work. Decades of successfully representing premises liability victims translates into well-crafted demand letters and carefully documented evidence.
The best time to contact a premises liability attorney is immediately after an injury. Accident victims often ask family and friends for lawyer references. They also research lawyers on the internet. After a possible client contacts a premises liability lawyer, the next step is an initial consultation. This no-cost meeting allows the accident victim to learn about the types of liabilities the attorney is most knowledgeable about.
What types of liabilities fall under “premises liability” law?
Premises liability includes many types of liabilities–dangerous conditions on a property that could result in bodily injury. Some of the more common types of liabilities include the following:
- Slip and fall
- Trip and fall
- Dog bites
- Fires
- Inadequate or negligent security
- Defective conditions on premises
- Inadequate or negligent maintenance
- Swimming pool accidents
- Snow, ice, and rain accidents
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
Injured people trying to recover damages from these types of liabilities must prove that they are entitled to compensation. Not every injury on a property is the owner’s fault. The injured person must prove the factual elements of each type of case, which includes showing that a dangerous condition existed and that the owner knew about or should have known about it.
What questions help victims understand a premises liability attorney’s experience with specific types of liabilities?
An experienced premises liability attorney knows what evidence is needed to prove every element of a premises liability claim. However, some attorneys have more experience with specific types of liabilities than others. The following questions help accident victims learn about a lawyer’s experience with specific types of liabilities.
While these questions are important for all types of personal injury claim, the attorney’s answers provide information about his experience with specific types of liabilities. For example, does he already have existing professional relationships with medical and other experts?
Initial legal consultations should allow time to address the following questions:
- How many premises liability cases have you handled that are like this one?
- What percent of those cases ended in settlement or trial?
- How do you determine whether a case like mine settles or goes to trial?
- What results have you had in negotiating settlements in cases like this one?
- How will you build a persuasive case for my situation?
- What experts have you used for past cases like mine and do you still work with them?
- What is the approximate value of my case?
- Who will handle my case?
- Have you taught or written about premises liability law? If so, what have you written or what lectures have you given?
- Do you represent insurance companies?
In addition to asking these questions, accident victims should discuss the process of representation to understand the following:
- What is the role of the victim in the case?
- How are communications handled during the case?
- What is the role of the attorney and the legal team?
- How does the attorney get paid?
- How are expenses related to the case handled?
A final question that is always helpful to ask is why a victim should hire this premises liability attorney instead of another.
Getting Help from a Long Beach Premises Liability Attorney
Your Injuries Are Personal To Me
I have advocated for premises liability accident victims for 35 years. When we meet for our initial consultation, I will share my case results with you. For example, I represented a woman who fell in the Compton Court House and received $451,837 for her slip and fall accident. She only had about $5,000.00 in medical bills. In another case, a dog attacked a pool maintenance man I represented and the jury awarded him $388,000, again with the plaintiff having incurred only a modest amount of medical bills. Another dog bite victim received $300,000 through a settlement.
Because your accidents are personal to me, I am available for every part of your case. I will fight for you to obtain the full compensation to which you are entitled. My practice focuses exclusively on accident victims. I do not represent insurance companies.
Call the Law Office of Michael D. Waks today at 888-394-1174. You can also use the convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation.