all property and building owners have a duty to public safety
Slip-and-fall injuries happen when a person slips, trips, or falls down as a result of dangerous or hazardous conditions on someone else’s property. In some cases, the person who owns the property is considered legally responsible for the injured person’s pain and suffering, depending on the circumstances.
At the Law Offices of George A. Malliaros, we represent slip-and-fall victims who are injured because of a property owner’s negligence. Slip-and-fall accidents can happen on residential, commercial, or public property, but regardless of where they occur, all property and building owners have a duty to public safety. If you’ve been injured because someone neglected that duty, we’ll fight to hold the person responsible and seek compensation on your behalf.
Some of the conditions that lead to slips and fall injuries can include:
Inside A Building:
Outside A Building:
Slip-and-fall accidents are considered “premises liability” cases, which means they center on the question of a property owner’s duty to care for the property and ensure the safety of tenants and visitors. Injury by fire or other accidents resulting from defects in building conditions also fall under the premises liability category.
Premises liability claims can be challenging because an injured victim has to prove either that the defendant created the hazard that led to the accident, or that the defendant knew or should have known about the danger and failed to have it removed or repaired. These factors can be difficult to prove in court, which is why it’s important to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side in a slip-and-fall case.
Building Code Violations
Building owners must ensure that the building’s structure complies with applicable building codes (M.G.L. Ch 143, § 51). Sometimes, an attorney can prove negligence by showing that the property owner violated these codes.
For example, building owners are typically required to install handrails at a certain height. If you fell on a stairway that lacked appropriate handrails and the lack of rails caused your injuries, you may have a valid claim against the building owner for violating building codes.
Weather-Related Accidents
The law requires property owners to take reasonable steps to reduce hazards created by adverse weather. These obligations include, but are not limited to:
- Shoveling snow
- Salting or sanding icy and slippery spots
- Installing anti-slip devices on outdoor steps
Weather-related slip-and-fall accidents present challenges for injured plaintiffs. As with other cases, if the property owner doesn’t have a reasonable opportunity to correct the problem — if, for example, an unexpected flash flood created a hazard — then they can’t be held liable for injuries that result.
Contact Our Offices if You’ve Been Injured
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, schedule a free initial consultation with the Law Offices of George A. Malliaros by calling us at (978) 452-6641 or filling out our online contact form. We are happy to meet with you and discuss your personal injury claim and your legal options free of charge.
You could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but the statute of limitations in Massachusetts requires you to act quickly, so please don’t delay — contact us now.