Commercial Building Premises Liability Lawyers
If you’ve been hurt because of unsafe conditions on a business’s property, you can hold them responsible. The personal injury lawyers at Leav & Steinberg LLP have years of experience helping people who have suffered injuries on commercial property.
What Is Commercial Building Premises Liability?
Businesses must provide anyone who is lawfully on their property with a safe environment. Under local, state, and federal law, it’s their responsibility to check their premises for potentially hazardous conditions. Then, they have to fix these issues or clearly warn people about them with signs. Failing to do so is negligent behavior that puts their customers and employees in harm’s way. Business owners are expected to keep their premises safe even if they do not own the building. This duty extends beyond the building and includes the sidewalk directly in front of their location, as well as their parking lot.
Types of Commercial Premises Liability
This type of liability covers any injury that you suffer on poorly maintained commercial property. Some of the more common issues that occur in premises liability cases include the following:
- Falling objects
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Slip and falls
- Stairwell accidents
- Electrocution
- Defective sidewalks
- Insufficient security
- Faulty equipment
If there are obvious conditions that could cause injuries, a business owner has to repair them. They can also put up warnings about these problems. Making repairs can be expensive and drive away customers, so many businesses simply do nothing.
Who Is Responsible in Commercial Building Liability Cases?
It’s important to make the distinction between a building’s occupant and owner. Some business owners own the property that they operate out of; however, many rent their space from a landlord. When the business owner rents the property, there can be a grey area in terms of which party is liable for injuries that occur on the premises. In New York, this responsibility typically falls on the occupant because they are in possession of the building at the time of the accident and are far more likely to be aware of any issues with the property’s upkeep. There can be exceptions to this, especially if the lease agreement specifies that the landlord is required to make repairs to the premises. When filing a lawsuit for an injury on a business’s property, it might be a good idea to include both the occupant and the landlord.
Steps to Take After a Commercial Building Premises Liability Incident
If you are injured on a business’s property, you should immediately take photos of the scene of the accident and get statements from any witnesses who saw it happen. The company will try to discredit your claim, so you need to collect evidence to strengthen your case and hold them accountable. Then, you should contact an experienced attorney to represent you. They can give you advice and gather proof that the business was aware of the issue that caused your injury.
At Leav & Steinberg, we’ve helped many clients receive compensation for injuries that were caused by a negligent business or property owner. Our attorneys have successfully represented clients in cases in New York and other parts of the Tri-state area, and we won’t charge you any legal fees unless your lawsuit is successful. If your injuries prevent you from traveling to our office in Manhattan, we can meet at a location that’s closer to you. To schedule a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers, call us at 212-766-5222.
