Premises Liability and Lack of Warning Signs
Thousands of Americans are injured in slips and falls each year, making it one of the most common causes of personal injuries. Many slips and falls could be prevented with the implementation of proper warning signs. If individuals suffer from a slip or fall accident due to the lack of a warning sign, they may be able to hold property owners accountable for damages, under premises liability laws.
Premises liability lawyer Lynn C. Harris works with personal injury victims in Salt Lake City, UT, Provo, UT, and surrounding areas to prove cases of premises liability involving a lack of warning signs. He works hard to get his clients maximum financial compensation for the full extent of injury losses.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a series of laws that hold personal and commercial property owners responsible for maintaining a safe environment for invited guests or patrons. Under these laws, property owners are expected to address known hazards, such as spills, broken steps, pavement cracks, etc., within a reasonable amount of time. If problems cannot be fixed immediately, owners must warn patrons of hazards with appropriately placed and clearly visible warning signs. Even if property owners are unaware of a hazard, they are still responsible for addressing them (or warning guests about them), if they should have reasonably known about the condition.
When Do Property Owners Need to Put Up Warning Signs?
Ideally, property owners should address hazards immediately. However, some dangers cannot be corrected right away. When necessary repairs or corrections must be delayed, property owners are responsible for placing warning signs to alert visitors or patrons of the condition until it can be fixed. Situations in which warning signs should be placed include:
- A spill, leak, or other condition has caused the floor to be slippery
- The floor is cracked or there is an uneven ledge
- There is a broken step
- There is an unexpected threshold to cross
- A carpet or other floor covering has come loose
- There are unstable boxes or other stock in the area
If no warning signs are present and a patron or guest is injured in an accident, the property owner(s) may be held liable for all resulting damages. Even if a warning sign was in place, injury victims may still be due compensation, providing the sign was too small or placed in an area that was not clearly visible.
Damages in a Premises Liability Case
Slips, falls, and other accidents can lead to severe injuries, as well as substantial financial losses. When filing a premises liability claim for our Salt Lake City clients, attorney Lynn C. Harris pursues compensation for the full extent of economic and non-economic damages, which may include:
- Cost of medical care
- Anticipated cost of future medical care
- Lost wages
- Diminished wage earning potential
- Pain and suffering (both emotional and physical)
Contact Lynn C. Harris
If you have been injured in an accident that could have been prevented if proper warning signs were in place, you likely have the grounds to file a premises liability lawsuit. To discuss the circumstances of your injuries with premises liability lawyer Lynn C. Harris, send us a message online, or call (801) 375-9801 and schedule a personal legal consultation.
