It is common for any person injured in a slip and fall on a rental property to wonder whether they can receive compensation for their injuries. Unfortunately, the answer is not always simple. The law in this area can be complex, and it often depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each case.
Any person who has been injured and wants to take legal action will have to prove the liability in a slip and fall accident. Premises liability law generally requires that property owners take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe for visitors. This means that they must warn visitors of any potential hazards on the property, and they must fix any dangerous conditions that they are aware of.
However, property owners are not the only ones who have a responsibility to keep the premises safe. Any person who possesses, rents, manages, or controls the property – even if it is owned by someone else – can be held responsible for injuries on their property.
In Burbank and the surrounding regions, slip and fall attorneys Burbank legal office represents clients in all kinds of slip-and-fall claims.
Actual notice and constructive notice are two different types of notice that can be used to establish liability in a slip and fall accident. Actual notice means that the property owner or other responsible party either created the dangerous condition that caused your injury or had actual knowledge of the dangerous condition and did nothing to fix it or warn visitors about it.
Constructive notice means that the dangerous condition was present for such a length of time that the property owner or other responsible party should have known about it and taken steps to fix it or warn visitors about it. There are many other factors that can affect whether or not a property owner or other responsible party can be held liable for injuries in a slip and fall accident, so it is important to speak with an experienced attorney to discuss your specific case.
What causes slip and fall accidents?
Slip and fall accidents can be unpredictable, but they can be prevented much of the time. Many times, human error or negligence is to blame, such as when a floor is not cleaned properly or when a spill is not cleaned up right away.
Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents are as follows:
- Wet and uneven surfaces
- Winter weather conditions
- Improper training of staff
- Lack of maintenance
- Loose carpeting or floor mats
- Narrow walkways
- Clutter on the floor
- No railings on stairs
- Poor lighting
These are just a few examples – there are many other potential causes of slip and fall accidents. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to speak with an experienced Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer who can help you determine if you have a personal injury claim.