Reno Premises Liability Lawyer
Whether shopping for groceries, strolling on a sidewalk, or visiting a friend’s house, we have the right to expect our safety to be prioritized and protected. Every property owner has a legal responsibility to maintain hazard-free conditions on their property or premises. When they fail to uphold this responsibility, they are putting every visitor who comes to their property at risk of suffering a serious (and preventable) injury.
If you were hurt while on another person’s or entity’s property, we can help. A Reno premises liability lawyer is ready to sit down with you for a completely free case evaluation. Contact us today so that we can schedule you for a no-obligation meeting at your earliest convenience.
What Does Premises Liability Mean?
In Nevada civil law, the term premises liability refers to the legal liability that a property owner or occupant has for various torts (civil wrongs) that may happen on the land, building, or area they own. In plainer English, this area of law refers to an owner’s legal responsibility for injuries that occur on their property.
If you slipped and fell on a spill at the grocery store, tripped on a cracked sidewalk, or fell on the edge of a loose carpet at someone else’s home, you may have the legal standing to find a premises liability claim.
We understand that there are a variety of concerns you may have about filing such a claim, though. If you were hurt while visiting an acquaintance’s or friend’s property, you may be concerned that taking legal action could negatively impact their financial stability moving forward. We want to assure you that the vast majority of property owners maintain insurance coverage (such as homeowners insurance) that kicks in for situations just like this.
This means that the property owner likely won’t be personally on the hook for paying for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other related damages. Instead, the insurance company will shoulder these costs.
The Types of Accidents That Can Occur on Someone Else’s Property
A slip and fall is perhaps the most well-known type of premises liability accident. While frequently used for comedic relief in movies and TV shows, a real-life fall is anything but funny. An accident that occurs on someone else’s property can result in serious injuries that come with steep medical bills and may be the result of:
- Wet or slippery substances that haven’t been cleaned up
- Loose or uneven floorboards
- Carpets or mats with upturned edges
- Cracked or uneven sidewalks
- Loose or nonexistent handrails
- Uneven stairs
- Exposed wiring
- Cords strung across the floor
- Lack of non-slip mats
- Improperly secured signs
- Loose shelving
- Negligent security
- Loose animals
- Broken or inoperable locks
- Electrical currents near swimming pools
- Insufficient or inadequate maintenance
Don’t give a property owner the opportunity to conceal or hide evidence in your case. Contact an experienced Reno premises liability lawyer as soon as possible.
Common Premises Liability Injuries
Accidents that occur on another person’s property can involve a person slipping, an object falling on someone’s head, contact with electrical currents, and many other dangerous scenarios. For this reason, premises liability injuries tend to be severe, causing a great deal of pain and suffering to victims. These may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken and fractured bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Electrical burns
- Electric shock
- Aspiration of water (drowning)
- Burns
- Loss of limb (amputation)
When you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, you should not have to carry the burden of your physical, emotional, and financial recovery all on your own. The cost of your medical care and treatment is compensable in a premises liability claim, which will allow you to focus more fully on what matters most—your recovery.
Proving Fault in a Premises Liability Case
You were injured on someone else’s property, and you know that the property owner was at fault. Now, how do you prove that? It’s not enough to simply go to the insurance company and say, “I know this to be true.”
Instead, you must be prepared to demonstrate that the four elements of negligence were present in your case. These are that:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care.
- The property owner failed to uphold their duty of care.
- You were injured as a result of that failure.
- You suffered verifiable damages as a result of your injuries.
When written down in a simple list, the act of proving negligence can seem simple and straightforward. The real application of this process is much more complex, though. Insurance companies are not eager to take financial responsibility for their policyholder’s actions and will often do everything in their power to limit liability and deny claims.
In short, you’re not just filing a simple claim to recover what you’re owed. You’re going up against a big company with its own team of professionals and lawyers.
When you’re injured, out of work, and need help now, you need the backing of a law firm that cares. In Nevada, there is no better choice than the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp.
Compensation if You’ve Been Injured on Another Person’s Property
When one person’s negligent or irresponsible actions cause another individual to suffer harm, the victim is entitled to recover compensation for a variety of damages. In a typical premises liability case, this will generally refer to economic and non-economic damages.
While economic damages cover your financial losses, like:
- Past, current, and future medical bills,
- Lost wages,
- Reduced earning capacity,
- And property damage,
Non-economic damages compensate you for your non-financial losses, including:
- Loss of enjoyment in life,
- Pain and suffering,
- And mental anguish.
In most situations, there is no second chance to go back and ask the insurance company for more money. You need to correctly value the worth of your claim, and you need to get it right the first time. When there is this much on the line, you don’t want to go up against the insurance company on your own.
A Reno Premises Liability Lawyer Is Just a Call or Click Away
Your right to financial recovery is on the line. In Nevada, you have only two years from the date of the accident to meet with a lawyer, build a strong case, and file your claim. Any delay in getting this process started can jeopardize your ability to reach the fullest possible settlement.
At the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp, we are ready to help you no matter when your injury took place or what step of the process you’re already in. Our goal is to help, and we never back down when faced with pressure from the big insurance companies.
There’s no time to waste—contact us today, and we’ll schedule you for a totally free case evaluation with a Reno premises liability lawyer.
