Premises Liability Lawyer Helping Victims in Foley and Beyond
Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents can happen at any time and in any setting – on a sidewalk, in a shopping center, at an office, or in any other public area. These accidents can cause serious and long-term injuries. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in this type of accident on someone else’s property, a premises liability lawyer can advise you on your rights and options. Whit A. Thomas is an experienced Foley slip and fall attorney who is committed to holding negligent property owners accountable for their actions. We can explore the details of your situation and aggressively pursue the compensation that you deserve.
Holding a Negligent Property Owner Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of five falls causes a serious injury, such as broken bones or head trauma. The CDC also estimates that unintended falls kill about 20,000 people each year. These numbers show how common falls are and how devastating they can be.
A slip and fall refers to an accident in which the victim slips or trips and falls due to a dangerous condition on another party’s property and is injured as a result. Falls can occur for a variety of reasons, including wet floors, uneven pavement, poor lighting, or defective handrails.
In Alabama, slip and fall claims are rooted in the doctrine of premises liability, which requires property owners to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition in order not to injure others who enter the land. A property owner’s duty to a visitor depends on the status of the visitor. Under state law, a visitor can be an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser. An invitee is defined as a person who is on the land for business purposes, such as a customer. Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. The property owner has an obligation to use reasonable care to keep the premises free from dangerous conditions, as well as warning invitees of dangers of which the owner knows or reasonably should know.
A licensee is defined as a person who is on the land for a social purpose, such as a guest. A property owner is required to warn licensees of any known dangers and refrain from intentionally harming them. Finally, a trespasser is someone who does not have permission to enter the land. In Alabama, a property owner still has a duty to warn a trespasser of hidden hazards if the property owner knows that trespassers enter the land frequently. A higher standard of care also may be owed to trespassing children in some situations.