While visiting a property, business, or public space, you expect that it will be well-maintained and safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality. When the owner of property fails to maintain a safe environment or does not warn you of a known hazard, you could be severely injured. Thankfully, in these situations, premises liability claims can likely help you collect monetary damages and get your life back on track.
With an experienced Minocqua premises liability lawyer on your side, you could fight to hold a negligent defendant accountable and seek the justice you deserve. A seasoned personal injury attorney could identify the hazard that caused your injuries, determine your legal status at the time of your visit, and resolve any legal complications that arise when you begin filing your claim.
When it comes to premises liability cases, there are many different hazards or dangers that could cause someone to slip, trip, fall, or get hurt on a property. Common examples include:
When any of these environmental hazards cause injury, a stubborn defendant might try and argue that the danger was known, clearly marked, or obvious. Thankfully, an intelligent attorney in Minocqua could investigate the accident scene and combat these manipulative tactics to maintain the strength of an injured person’s premises liability claim.
When actually filing a premises liability claim, there are a few important details that a plaintiff needs to include. Failing to establish these elements could significantly lessen the strength of any case. To maximize financial compensation, a claimant needs to clearly demonstrate that the property owner:
Establishing all of this can be incredibly challenging for an unrepresented person, but a skilled Minocqua lawyer could take the lead and collect evidence that creates a compelling premises liability claim.
Finally, it is important to understand that, in most cases, a premises liability case is significantly affected by the visitor’s “legal status” at the time they were injured. This refers to the individual’s reason for visiting and whether they were allowed to do so. There are three different legal statuses that all claimants should learn about, including:
An invitee is someone that is allowed to enter a property, either with expressed or implied consent. For example, a customer who arrives at a local business to shop would be considered an invitee.
Property owners owe invitees a great duty of care and are required to keep them safe. For instance, they need to warn invitees of known dangers and regularly inspect for new potential hazards.
Meanwhile, a licensee is a person who is allowed on a property but is there for a reason that does not benefit the property owner. The most common example of a licensee is a social guest at another person’s home. Property owners do not need to continually inspect their space for new dangers, but they do need to tell licensees about any known hazards.
Finally, a trespasser is an individual who enters a property without any kind of permission. In most cases, a property owner does not owe a trespasser any kind of care or protection.
These classifications might be confusing for some plaintiffs, so a knowledgeable attorney in Minocqua could assess someone’s legal status at the time of a visit and help them incorporate this information into their premises liability case.
If you were hurt by an environmental danger while spending time on a property as an invitee or a licensee, you deserve someone to protect your integrity and legal rights. Thankfully, a Minocqua premises liability lawyer with years of experience is up to the challenge.
A skilled legal team member could negotiate with a stubborn property owner, listen to your side of the story, assess your injuries, and represent your best interests. Contact our office today to get started on your civil claim.
If you are recovering from an injury, you need to focus on regaining your health. You should not have to negotiate with stubborn insurance companies or compromise with a defendant.
A Wausau personal injury lawyer could lessen the stress and complications associated with collecting compensation, allowing you to recover fully. Call today to learn more about your options.
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