Manchester Premises Liability Lawyers

A premises liability claim can arise when a person is injured on someone else’s property due to property owner negligence. Property owners in New Hampshire have a duty to maintain their property in a reasonable condition to prevent harm to others. When they fail in that duty and others are hurt as a result, property owners can be held liable for damages.

What Types of Injuries Give Rise to Premises Liability Claims?

When a negligent property owner fails to maintain a property free of unreasonable hazards, people can be hurt. Types of accidents and injuries that commonly lead to premises liability claims include:

• Slip or trip and fall accidents: A fall can occur because of slipping or tripping hazards on a property. Common causes of fall accidents include wet or slippery floors, loose or torn carpet, loose mats or rugs, spills, uneven sidewalks, debris in walkways, rain, snow, and ice.
• Elevator accidents: Building owners must comply with specific rules and regulations concerning elevators. They must ensure that elevators on their property are regularly inspected, maintained, and properly repaired if necessary. When they fail to do so, people can be hurt by mis-leveling (when the elevator does not reach the same level as the building floor), door strikes, abrupt stops, or even falls down shafts.
• Negligent security: Visitors on a property have a right to expect to be reasonably safe. Property owners in New Hampshire have a responsibility to ensure their property is free from hazards, including injury caused by third parties. When a visitor on a premises becomes the victim of assault or another crime due to inadequate security measures, the property owner may be liable.
• Stairway accidents: An estimated 1,076,558 people in the U.S. are treated in emergency rooms every year for stair-related injuries, as stated in a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Stairway accidents and injuries may be caused by missing or broken railings, defective or broken steps, debris in stairwells, and water, snow, or ice on stairs.
• Dog bites: In the U.S. today 45% of households own at least one dog, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Any dog is capable of biting, and more than 4.5 million people are bitten every year.
• Building fires: Building code violations, faulty wiring, lack of smoke detectors, fault smoke detectors, lack of fire alarms, and missing or broken fire extinguishers can lead to fires that cause serious injuries to tenants and visitors in a building.

What Must You Prove to Win a Premises Liability Claim?

To recover compensation in a premises liability claim, you prove the following elements of your case:

• The defendant owned the property, or leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled it.
• The defendant failed to exercise reasonable care in repairing a dangerous condition on the property or inadequately warning of the danger.
• You were injured as a result.
• The defendant’s failure to repair or warn of the dangerous condition was the primary reason for your injuries.

What Types of Compensation Are Recoverable in Premises Liability Claims?

If you were hurt on someone else’s property due to property owner negligence, you have a right to seek compensation for your losses. Damages you may be able to claim will depend on the circumstances of your case. Examples of damages in premises liability claims include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

Call the Horn Wright, LLP at (603) 716-9415 to schedule a free consultation after a serious premises liability accident. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim.