Premises liabilities imply that the Linn County court can impose a liability upon the property owner at any time a visitor sustains an injury. Applicable laws require the owner to offer a duty of care for the injured individual. A failure to provide this care opens the door to litigation. Victims of premises liabilities should contact an accident attorney in Cedar Rapids, IA whenever they do not receive proper care for these injuries.
Understanding Premises Liabilities
There are four basic premises liabilities. They consist of slip and fall, defective conditions, inadequate security, and inadequate maintenance. These occurrences are typically caused by a failure to comply with safety standards for publicly-accessible areas. In these instances, the owner failed to perform repairs, remedy hazards, or did not hire enough security to prevent criminal behaviors.
In premises liabilities cases, the victim is typically the invitee. This is any individual whom the property owner invited to these premises. He or she is permitted by the owner to utilize the property for events and activities. If the property is not managed properly and an injury is produced, the property owner is liable. An invitee equates to a customer in a retail store.
A licensee in a premises-based litigation is the equivalent of a house guest. He or she visits the property socially. These individuals are not on the premises for any form of business or service and are not treated as such through litigation.
Trespassing is a consideration in these cases. Although trespassing is a criminal act in some locations, an injured trespasser can file a lawsuit against the property owner. The law does not require as significantly high duty of care for adults as they do for children. The court views adult trespassers to be more aware of their rights and criminal penalties for their actions.
However, property owners should post warning of dangerous conditions within their property lines to prevent injuries. These postings are required more for properties that are nearby roadways and walking paths. Any victim who suffered an injury due to a premises liability should contact an Accident Attorney in Cedar Rapids IA at the Tom Riley Law Firm.