Premises Liability Lawyer

When a property owner's negligence causes an injury, they should answer for it.

Property owners and businesses have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for the people they invite in. When a store ignores a spill, a landlord lets a stairway fall into disrepair, or a business fails to provide adequate security, people get hurt — and the owner can be held responsible. Silver Key Law represents people injured by dangerous property conditions, and we cut through the excuses that property owners and their insurers use to avoid accountability.

These cases are often harder than they look, because the owner will argue the hazard was "open and obvious," that they did not know about it, or that you were not paying attention. We know how to prove what the owner knew, or should have known, and how long the danger existed. You pay no fee unless we win.

What you have to prove in a premises liability case

Winning a premises case is not as simple as showing you were hurt on someone's property. Generally, an injured person must prove that the owner knew or, through reasonable care, should have known about the dangerous condition, and failed to fix it or warn about it in a reasonable time. That is exactly where these cases are won or lost, and where the evidence matters most:

• Surveillance video showing how long a hazard existed before the injury.
• Inspection and maintenance logs — or the absence of them — showing whether the owner was actually checking for dangers.
• Incident reports and prior complaints showing the owner had notice of the problem.
• Employee testimony about policies and practices.

This evidence is often in the property owner's exclusive control and can disappear quickly — surveillance video in particular is frequently overwritten within days or weeks. Acting fast to preserve it is critical.

Types of premises liability cases we handle

• Slip, trip, and fall — wet floors, spills, uneven surfaces, torn carpeting, poor lighting, and unmarked hazards.
• Stairway and railing failures — broken steps, missing handrails, and code violations.
• Negligent security — assaults and injuries that happen because a property failed to provide reasonable security in a foreseeably dangerous area.
• Swimming pool accidents — including inadequate fencing and supervision.
• Falling objects — merchandise and equipment that is improperly stored or stacked.
• Structural failures — collapses of decks, balconies, and railings.
• Dangerous conditions in apartments and rental properties — a landlord's failure to maintain safe common areas.
• Fires caused by code violations and unsafe conditions.

Common premises liability injuries

• Broken bones and fractures, especially hips, wrists, and ankles
• Traumatic brain injuries from falls
• Spinal cord and back injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Lacerations and burns
• Injuries from assaults in cases of negligent security
• Wrongful death

Answering the property owner's defenses

Expect the owner and their insurer to argue that the hazard was obvious and you should have avoided it, that they had no idea it was there, or that you are exaggerating your injuries. None of these defenses is automatically a winner. A danger being "obvious" does not always excuse an owner who created it or let it persist; "we didn't know" rarely holds up when the owner failed to inspect the property as they were required to; and a properly documented medical record answers the claim that you are not really hurt. We build the case to overcome each of these head-on.

What to do after an injury on someone else's property

• Report the injury to the property owner, manager, or staff, and ask that an incident report be made.
• Get medical care right away and follow your treatment plan.
• Photograph the hazard that caused your injury before it is cleaned up or fixed, along with your injuries.
• Get the names of any witnesses.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the property's insurer before talking to a lawyer.
• Call a lawyer as soon as possible so that surveillance video and other evidence can be preserved.

Frequently asked questions about premises liability claims