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Property owners and property tenants have a duty to keep their properties reasonably safe for those who are legally on the property. However, many property owners fail to do so, leading to serious accidents and sometimes death.
A Southfield premises liability lawyer can help victims of these occurrences access real money that relieves much of the suffering and stress they experience.
Have you or someone you loved suffered harm because someone failed to safely maintain their property? If so, you should be aware of the various compensable damages available, which include far more than just medical bills.
Contact us online or at (248) 831-1507 to schedule a free consultation today with our dedicated, seasoned Premises Liability Attorney in Southfield
Southfield Premises Liability Guide
- What is Premises Liability?
- Common Premises Liability Situations
- What Compensation is Available to Southfield Premises Liability Victims?
- How Can a Lawyer Help with My Southfield Premises Liability Claim?
- Southfield Premises Liability FAQs
- Contact the Southfield Premises Liability Lawyers at Goodman Acker P.C. Today
Why Choose Goodman Acker P.C. for Your Southfield Premises Liability Claim?
Those injured by others continue to choose Goodman Acker to fight for the compensation they need and deserve. We always strive to win the maximum payout for our clients. Attorney Barry Goodman has personally recovered multiple millions of dollars over the years thanks to his relentless drive to help his clients.
If you need maximum compensation, choose Goodman Acker, a premier personal injury law firm with:
- Over 150 years of combined legal experience
- Thousands of fulfilled clients
- Deep involvement in the legal community
- Free consultations and case reviews
- 24/7 availability.
At Goodman Acker, we are not only capable—we also care. Every effort we make is to get you to a better position in life by fighting for the monetary compensation that is rightfully yours, every single penny of it. For this reason, we always advise our clients to reject lowball settlement offers and let us fight for what they truly deserve.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, contact our office for a free, no-obligation consultation. A Southfield personal injury attorney from our firm can answer your questions, address your concerns, and explain your legal options.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is an area of law that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for accidents and injuries that occur on their property due to unsafe or defective conditions. In Michigan, property owners have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for visitors.
The extent of this duty depends on the status of the visitor:
- Invitee: This is someone invited onto the property for business purposes, such as a customer in a store. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, including regularly inspecting the property for hazards and promptly addressing any known dangers. The property owner owes the greatest duty of care to invitees.
- Licensee: A licensee enters the property for their own purposes with the owner’s permission, like a social guest. Owners must warn licensees of known dangers that aren’t obvious. Property owners owe the second highest duty of care to licensees.
- Trespasser: Someone who enters the property without permission. Property owners generally only have a duty to avoid willful or wanton misconduct that might injure trespassers. Property owners owe the lowest duty of care to trespassers.
Common Premises Liability Situations
Various situations can give rise to injuries when you are on someone else’s property, depending on the property and what is occurring at the time. Here are some scenarios where you’ll need a premises liability lawyer in Southfield, MI.
Private Homes
Homeowners are the rulers of their castles.
However, once a licensee is on the premises, homeowners may have the duty to warn them of unreasonable hazards, such as:
- Surprise holes in the ground
- Broken stair steps
- Landscape hazards
- Falling objects
A private home might also be the source of a poisonous hazard or contaminant that flows or seeps off of the property onto the property of others.
Apartment Complexes
Apartment complexes have lots of public space for tenants and their guests. Michigan law explicitly gives the landlord of the complex the duty to maintain the complex in a safe condition, including common areas. Yet landlords in Southfield and around the state regularly fail to do so, especially in the winter when ice abounds.
If you are inside someone’s apartment, however, the tenant must warn of hazardous conditions. For instance, if the tenant creates an unreasonably dangerous condition inside their apartment that harms a guest, the tenant will face liability if they did not warn the guest, who is considered to be a licensee.
Retail Business
Corner groceries, clothing outlets, hardware stores, and other retail operations must maintain their businesses safe for customers and clients. They must also inspect for hazards, warn of any unattended hazards, and take reasonable steps to remedy the dangerous situation. Failure to do so opens them up to liability for damages.
Some of the many hazards customers might face when shopping include:
- Slippery surfaces
- Poorly lit or unlit stairways
- Dangerously stacked products
- Unattended tools and equipment
- Lack of adequate security
- Improperly screened employees
- Improperly trained employees
The list goes on, and it is long. However, by adhering to basic safety principles, business owners will keep their establishments safe for customers. When they don’t, the victims of the inevitable accidents need someone they can rely on to fight for the compensation they deserve.
Government Property
Much of the property you pass through each day is government property owned by one of the three levels of government: federal, state, and local. But suing the government is not like suing a private party or a company. The rules of liability and procedure are stricter when the government is involved.
In Michigan, you cannot sue a government agency or body for negligent acts that occurred while an employee was executing their duties. However, there are some exceptions pertaining to premises liability.
For instance, municipalities are responsible for maintaining all sidewalks that run adjacent to city, county, and state roads. So, if a person is injured on a sidewalk due to a lack of timely maintenance or repair, the victim may potentially have a case against the municipality.
Workplace
Although most work injuries are covered exclusively by workers’ compensation, there are instances where a property owner may be held liable in a third-party claim or lawsuit.
For example, if an HVAC employee is installing a unit in someone’s home (considered an invitee in this case) and is injured by the homeowner’s negligence, they will have a claim for damages.
Another example is that of an office building that emits toxic chemicals into the air or water. Over time, some employees will likely be sickened and incur losses. They may sue the building’s owner for personal injury damages if the owner is not the employer.
What Compensation is Available to Southfield Premises Liability Victims?
Victims of premises liability accidents in Southfield may be entitled to various forms of compensation, depending on the specifics of their case. This compensation makes the injured party whole again, as much as possible.
Potential recoverable damages may include:
- Medical Expenses: This covers all related medical costs, including emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and future medical care.
- Lost Wages or Income: Compensation for income lost due to the injury, including time off for recovery and medical appointments.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If the injury affects the victim’s ability to work in the future, they may be compensated for reduced earning potential.
- Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages for physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the inability to participate in activities or hobbies the victim enjoyed before the injury.
- Property Damage: If personal property was damaged in the incident, victims may seek reimbursement for repair or replacement.
- Disability or Disfigurement: Additional compensation may be available for permanent disabilities or visible scarring resulting from the accident.
The amount and types of compensation available will depend on the severity of the injury, the impact on the victim’s life, and the degree of the property owner’s negligence. An experienced Southfield premises liability lawyer can help assess your case and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
How Can a Lawyer Help with My Southfield Premises Liability Claim?
If you have been injured in a premises liability accident, you need time to heal. While you are recovering, Goodman Acker’s Southfield, MI, premises liability lawyers will manage your claim for you. We will bring our extensive experience to bear on every stage of the claim to get you a proper compensation payout.
As our client, you never have to worry about the legal details of the procedure and compensation.
We take care of everything, including:
- Thoroughly investigating the circumstances of your injury
- Building your case and filing the proper paperwork
- Consulting with medical and accident experts
- Determining the financial impact on your life
- Aggressively negotiating with insurance companies
- Pursuing compensation through a lawsuit.
Recovering compensation is our No. 1 objective. You can rely on our team of Southfield premises liability lawyers to do all we can to get you justly compensated.
Southfield Premises Liability FAQs
For maximum compensation, you need an experienced premises liability lawyer to aggressively represent you and negotiate with the insurance company handling your case.
You should not speak with insurance company adjusters until you have consulted an experienced premises liability attorney. They will review your claim and give you a fair evaluation of how much compensation you deserve.
It depends on various factors, including the strength of the evidence, the seriousness of your injuries, and the complexity of the underlying accident. Many victims of premises liability cases see their cases settled within a few months. Others, however, must wait longer, especially if a trial is involved.
In Michigan, the statute of limitations for premises liability cases is generally three years from the date of the accident. However, exceptions can apply to this rule, such as cases involving minors or government entities. Consult a lawyer as soon as possible so you don’t miss any important deadlines.
Not necessarily. In some cases, you may need to show that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition. However, for invitees (such as customers in a store), the property owner has a duty to actively inspect and maintain the premises, so they may be held liable even if they weren’t aware of the specific danger.
Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, as long as your fault doesn’t exceed 50%. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 20% at fault, you could still recover 80% of the total damages.
At Goodman Acker P.C., we work on a contingency fee basis for premises liability cases. This means you don’t pay any upfront costs or attorney fees. We only get paid if we win your case, and our fee is a percentage of the compensation we secure for you. This arrangement allows you to pursue justice without worrying about out-of-pocket legal expenses.
Contact the Southfield Premises Liability Lawyers at Goodman Acker P.C. Today
Premises liability cases can be complex and challenging, especially when dealing with an injury. At Goodman Acker P.C., we understand the difficulties you’re facing, and we’re here to help. Our experienced Southfield premises liability lawyers have a proven track record of success in securing fair compensation for our clients.
We believe that negligent property owners should be held accountable for the harm they cause, and we’re committed to fighting for your rights. With our deep understanding of Michigan premises liability law and our dedication to personalized client service, we’re well-equipped to handle your case from start to finish.
If a property owner’s negligence injured you or a loved one in Southfield, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact Goodman Acker P.C. today at (248) 831-1507 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options.
Contact us online, and let us safeguard your rights and future.
Goodman Acker P.C. – Southfield Office Location
17000 W 10 Mile Rd 2nd Floor
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 831-1507
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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