East Meadow Premises Liability Lawyer

If you’ve been injured on someone’s property, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and confused. Accidents like slips and falls or getting hurt because of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property might lead to many questions about who’s responsible.

Many people think every fall or injury means they can sue, but that’s not always true. Premises liability cases are more about proving that the property owner or manager was careless and didn’t maintain the area safely.

At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Perrini, III, our East Meadow premises liability lawyer is here to help you if a property owner’s negligence has hurt you. We offer a free case review to help you understand your options, and we won’t charge you unless we win your case.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility that property owners have to ensure their property’s safety. This means that they are required to check for hazards, repair any known dangers, and post warning signs if something cannot be fixed immediately.

However, not every injury on someone else’s property is the owner’s fault. For example, trespassers (people who aren’t supposed to be on the property) are generally not protected by premises liability laws.

One exception is if a child trespasses and is drawn to something dangerous on the property, like a pool, the property owner could still be held responsible.

Types of Visitors in an East Meadow 

Understanding what type of visitor you were when you got hurt can help determine if the property owner can be liable. There are four main types of visitors:

• Invitees: These people were invited onto the property for business reasons, like customers at a store. Property owners owe the highest care to invitees and must ensure the property is safe.
• Licensees: These are social guests, like friends or family, who visit a private home. The property owner has a duty to warn them of any known hazards but is not as responsible as they would be for invitees.
• Tenants: Renters who live on a property can also file premises liability claims if they get hurt due to poor property maintenance. However, tenants are also responsible for keeping their rented area clean and safe.
• Trespassers: Trespassers are people who enter the property without permission. In most cases, property owners do not owe them a duty of care, except for child trespassers attracted to dangerous features like swimming pools.

If you’ve been injured while visiting someone else’s property in any of these roles, an East Meadow injury lawyer for premises liability cases can help you determine if you have a case.

Common Types of East Meadow Premises Liability Accidents

Many different kinds of accidents can lead to premises liability claims. Some of the most common include:

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability claim. These accidents can happen when you slip on wet floors, icy sidewalks, or uneven flooring. For example, someone could slip and get hurt if a store doesn’t clean up a spill or put up a “wet floor” sign. You can also trip over things like clutter or leftover wires in walkways.

Poor lighting can make it hard to see these hazards, leading to falls. Property owners are responsible for keeping their spaces safe; when they don’t, they could be held responsible if someone gets injured.

Dog Attacks

New York has strict laws when it comes to dog bites. If a dog bites someone, the owner is usually held responsible, even if the dog had never shown aggression before. For example, if you’re visiting a friend and their dog bites you without warning, the owner can still be held liable.

It doesn’t matter if the dog has a history of being friendly—if it bites, the owner is responsible. This helps ensure that dog owners keep their pets under control.

Negligent Security

Property owners must take steps to keep visitors safe in areas where crime is more likely to occur. These could include working security cameras, proper lighting in dark areas, or even security guards.

The owner could be responsible if they don’t take these steps and someone gets hurt because of criminal activity. For example, the property owner may be held accountable for not providing adequate safety measures if you’re attacked in a poorly lit parking lot without security cameras.

Escalator/Elevator Accidents

When they malfunction, escalators and elevators can cause serious injuries. Property owners must ensure these machines are regularly inspected and maintained to keep them safe for people to use.

For instance, if an escalator suddenly stops working or an elevator drops unexpectedly, people can get badly hurt. If the property owner didn’t care for the equipment properly, they could be liable for any injuries. In some cases, a product liability claim may be applicable.

Swimming Pool Accidents

Swimming pools can be dangerous if they aren’t maintained properly. People can slip and fall around the pool, or even worse; drowning accidents can happen if there isn’t proper supervision. Electrical injuries can also occur if pool equipment is faulty or not installed correctly. Property owners are responsible for making sure pool areas are safe by having proper fencing, clear signage, and lifeguards when needed.

If you’ve experienced any of these types of accidents, a premises liability attorney in East Meadow, NY, can help you understand your legal rights and work to get you compensation for your injuries.

How an East Meadow Premises Liability Lawyer Can Help Your Case

If you’ve been injured due to unsafe property conditions, an experienced premises liability lawyer can guide you through the process of filing a claim. Here’s how we can help:

• Free Consultation: Our East Meadow premises liability lawyers offer a free consultation to answer your legal questions and help you understand what compensation you might be entitled to.
• Claim Valuation: We can estimate the value of your case by looking at your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
• Determining Liability: One of the most important parts of your case is figuring out who is responsible for your injuries. It could be the property owner, a tenant, or even a third party. We’ll identify the responsible party and make sure they are held accountable.
• Negotiations: Insurance companies often try to settle cases for less than what you deserve. We’ll negotiate with them to get you a fair settlement.
• Litigation: If necessary, we’ll take your case to court. As your no-win, no-fee premises liability lawyer in East Meadow, we won’t charge you unless we win your case.

Recoverable Damages 

When you file a premises liability claim, you can seek compensation for various types of damages:

• Economic Damages: These include things you can easily measure, like medical expenses, lost wages, and any out-of-pocket costs related to your injury.
• Non-Economic Damages: These are more difficult to quantify but are still important. They include things like pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.

With the help of a top-rated premises liability lawyer in East Meadow, you can make sure you’re fully compensated for all your losses.

Common Defenses Used in East Meadow Premises Liability Claims

Property owners often use several common defenses in premises liability cases. Some of these include:

• No Knowledge of the Danger: Property owners might claim that they didn’t know about the dangerous condition that caused your injury, and therefore, they shouldn’t be held responsible.
• Open and Obvious Danger: Another common defense is that the dangerous condition was so obvious that you should have seen it and avoided it.
• Victim’s Own Actions: Property owners may argue that you contributed to your injuries by not paying attention or by acting carelessly.
• Not Responsible for Maintenance: In some cases, the property owner might argue that they weren’t the one responsible for maintaining the property. For example, a tenant might be responsible for maintaining certain areas.
• Unforeseeable Third-Party Actions: This defense is often used in negligent security cases. Property owners might argue that a criminal act was so unpredictable that they couldn’t have done anything to prevent it.

If any of these defenses are being used against you, a premises liability attorney near me can help refute them and prove the property owner’s negligence.

Talk to an East Meadow Premises Liability Lawyer As Soon As Possible

Regarding premises liability cases, it’s crucial to act quickly. A thorough investigation of the property, including gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses, can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case. That’s why working with a law firm experienced in premises liability attorney in East Meadow, NY, is so important.

At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Perrini, III, we have decades of experience handling premises liability cases. We also have the resources to hire experts to support your case when necessary. Our team understands New York premises liability laws and knows how to build strong cases for our clients.

Contact us today if you’ve been injured in an accident on someone else’s property. We’ll help you understand your rights and work to get you the compensation you deserve. As your best premises liability lawyer in East Meadow, we offer a no-win, no-fee arrangement, so you don’t have to worry about paying us unless we win your case.

Don’t wait—call The Law Offices of Joseph J. Perrini, III today for a free consultation and let us fight for the compensation you deserve.