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If you’ve suffered an injury or lost a loved one due to an accident on someone else’s property in Sterling Heights, Michigan, you’re likely dealing with physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial stress. A Sterling Heights premises liability attorney can provide the guidance and support you need to seek fair compensation for your losses.
At Goodman Acker P.C., we understand the hardships you’re experiencing. Our team is committed to helping you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Whether you slipped and fell at a local business, were injured at a neighbor’s home, or experienced any other accident on someone else’s property, we’re here to help. Reach out to us for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your legal options.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a legal concept that holds property owners responsible for accidents and injuries that occur on their property due to negligence. This area of law covers a wide range of incidents, from slip and fall accidents to dog bites and inadequate security cases.
In Sterling Heights and throughout Michigan, property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for visitors. When they fail to do so, and someone gets hurt as a result, the injured party may have grounds for a premises liability claim.
If you need a Sterling Heights Premises Liability Attorney, contact our team online or call at(586) 261-8457.
Why Choose Goodman Acker P.C. to Handle Your Sterling Heights Premises Liability Claim
When you’re dealing with the aftermath of a premises liability accident, you must choose the right legal representation to get the best results possible. Some reasons many Sterling Heights residents trust Goodman Acker P.C. with their premises liability claims include:
- Experience: With more than 150 years of collective legal experience, our personal injury attorneys know Michigan premise liability laws and how to apply them to personal injury cases. We’ve assisted hundreds of bicycle accident clients in obtaining fair compensation for their injuries and losses.
- Track Record: We have a strong history of securing favorable outcomes for our clients. To date, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including bicycle accident settlements for $1 million and $750,000.
- Client-Focused Approach: We prioritize your needs and well-being throughout the legal process. Our client testimonials speak to our unwavering dedication to those we serve.
- Resources: We have the financial and investigative resources necessary to build a strong case and take on the largest insurance companies.
- Local Knowledge: We have a law office in Sterling Heights, so we’re familiar with local laws, courts, and insurance companies. This helps us build solid cases and navigate them effectively and efficiently.
Additionally, our attorneys work on a contingency basis. You pay nothing out of pocket for us to represent you. We only accept attorney fees if we successfully resolve your case and take our fee as a percentage of your settlement or award.
Throughout the process, you can rely on us for emotional support as well as aggressive legal counsel. We want to ensure you have all you need to realize as full of a physical recovery as possible.
GET HELP TODAYTypes of Premises Liability Cases We Handle
At Goodman Acker P.C., we handle a wide range of premises liability cases in Sterling Heights, including:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: These can occur due to wet floors, icy walkways, or uneven surfaces.
- Trip and Fall Accidents: Often caused by obstacles in walkways, poor lighting, or uneven flooring.
- Dog Bites: When a dog owner fails to control their pet, leading to injuries.
- Inadequate Security: Cases where insufficient security measures lead to assault or theft.
- Swimming Pool Accidents: Injuries or drownings due to lack of proper safety measures.
- Elevator and Escalator Accidents: Malfunctions or poor maintenance leading to injuries.
- Staircase Accidents: Falls on staircases due to broken steps, missing handrails, or poor lighting.
- Building Code Violations: Injuries caused by property conditions that violate local building codes or safety regulations.
- Falling Object Injuries: Items falling from shelves or construction sites causing harm.
- Fires: Injuries or property damage due to lack of fire safety measures.
- Toxic Exposure: Illnesses caused by exposure to harmful substances on a property.
- Amusement Park Accidents: Injuries from rides or attractions due to negligence.
Proving Negligence in Premises Liability Cases
To succeed in a premises liability claim, your attorney needs to prove that the property owner was negligent. This involves establishing four key elements:
Duty of Care
Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for visitors. This duty varies depending on the type of visitor:
- Invitees: People invited onto the property for business purposes (e.g., customers in a store). Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, including regularly inspecting the property for hazards and promptly addressing any issues.
- Licensees: Social guests or people welcome on the property for non-business reasons. Property owners must warn licensees of known dangers that aren’t obvious.
- Trespassers: Individuals on the property without permission. Property owners generally only owe trespassers a duty not to willfully or wantonly injure them. However, if the owner knows trespassers frequently enter the property, they may need to provide warnings about dangerous conditions.
Breach of Duty
Once they establish the property owner owed you a duty of care, your lawyer must show that the property owner breached this duty. This could involve failing to fix a known hazard, not providing adequate warnings, or not conducting regular inspections to identify potential dangers.
Causation
Your attorney needs to demonstrate that the property owner’s breach of duty directly caused your injury. This means showing that if the property owner had fulfilled their duty, your accident wouldn’t have occurred.
Damages
Finally, your lawyer must prove that you suffered actual damages as a result of the accident. This can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
If you need a Sterling Heights Premises Liability Attorney, contact our team online or call at(586) 261-8457.
What to Do After a Premises Liability Accident in Sterling Heights
If you’re reading this while recovering from a premises liability accident, you’ve likely already sought medical attention. That’s a crucial first step. Now, as you focus on healing, it’s important to take steps to protect your legal rights and build a strong case for compensation. Here’s what you should do:
- Document Everything: If you haven’t already, write down everything you remember about the accident. Include details about the location, time, weather conditions, and any hazards you noticed.
- Gather Evidence: Collect any photos or videos you took at the scene. If you didn’t take any, ask friends or family members who were with you if they have any.
- Keep Records: Maintain a file with all your medical records, bills, and receipts for expenses related to your injury. This includes costs for transportation to medical appointments, medication, and any necessary home modifications.
- Don’t Give Statements: Avoid giving formal statements to insurance companies or property owners without legal advice. They may use your words against you later.
- Be Cautious on Social Media: Limit what you post on social media about your accident or injuries. Insurance companies often monitor these platforms for information they can use to dispute claims.
- Contact a Premises Liability Attorney: This is perhaps the most important step. A Sterling Heights premises liability attorney can guide you through the legal process, protect your rights, and help you seek fair compensation. They can handle communications with insurance companies, gather additional evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf.
Remember, the sooner you involve an attorney, the better. Evidence can disappear quickly, and there are time limits for filing a claim. Don’t risk losing your right to obtain compensation. Contact a premises liability lawyer today.
How We Can Help You Get Full Compensation for Your Premises Liability Injuries
At Goodman Acker P.C., we’re committed to helping you get the full compensation you deserve for your premises liability injuries. Here’s how we can assist you:
Investigate the Accident
We conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. This includes visiting the scene, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing any available surveillance footage. We may also consult with experts to reconstruct the accident and identify hazards that may not be immediately apparent.
Identify Liable Parties
In some cases, multiple parties may be responsible for your injuries. For example, in a slip and fall accident at a shopping center, the property owner, management company, and maintenance contractor could all potentially share liability. We work to identify all responsible parties to maximize your potential compensation.
Calculate Damages
We carefully assess all your damages to ensure we seek full compensation. This includes:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
We may consult with medical experts and economists to accurately project your future expenses and losses.
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts. We handle all communications with insurers, protecting you from tactics they might use to devalue your claim. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who know how to counter lowball offers and fight for fair compensation.
Represent You in Court, if necessary
While we settle many premises liability cases out of court, we’re always prepared to take your case to trial if needed. Our attorneys have extensive courtroom experience and will vigorously advocate for your rights before a judge and jury.
FAQ: Common Questions About Premises Liability Claims in Sterling Heights
Michigan’s statute of limitations allows you three years to file a premises liability lawsuit in court. If you don’t have an attorney file a lawsuit on your behalf within that time, the court may bar you from recovering compensation. Although exceptions may exist that extend the time you have to file, you need to contact an attorney as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss important legal deadlines.
Yes. Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages as long as you’re less than 51% at fault for the accident. However, the court may reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault.
While property owners owe a lower duty of care to trespassers, you may still have a case if the property owner’s conduct was willful or wanton. This concept doesn’t necessarily extend to children though. If your child was drawn to the property by an “attractive nuisance” like an unsecured swimming pool, for instance, you may have a case.
The duration of a premises liability case varies depending on the case’s complexity, the severity of injuries, and other factors. We work to resolve cases as efficiently as possible while still pursuing maximum compensation.
Property owners must regularly inspect their property and address known hazards. If they fail to conduct reasonable inspections, your attorney might still be able to hold them liable even if they claim they didn’t know about the specific hazard that caused your injury.
Contact Our Sterling Heights Premises Liability Attorneys Today
When you or your child suffered injuries on someone else’s property, you must seek legal assistance right away to protect yourself and your right to compensation. The Sterling Heights premises liability lawyers at Goodman Acker P.C. are here to support you through the claims process and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Don’t let the opportunity to seek justice slip away. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start working on your case. Contact us today at (586) 261-8457 to request a free consultation. Let us put our knowledge, resources, and commitment to work for you and improve your chances of getting the full and fair compensation you need.
If you need a Sterling Heights Premises Liability Attorney, contact our team online or call at(586) 261-8457.
Goodman Acker P.C. – Sterling Heights Office Location
Address:13854 Lakeside Cir suite 240
Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Phone: (586) 261-8457
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN
Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]
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