Columbia Premises Liability Lawyer
Premises liability is the law surrounding accidents or injuries that occur on someone’s property because the property owner was negligent or careless in the way they managed the property. At Simmons Law Firm, we represent victims in Columbia and throughout South Carolina who have suffered serious injuries as a result of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, whether owned by an individual or a business. Our Columbia premises liability lawyers have particular expertise in representing victims of assaults and holding property owners whose inadequate security measures enabled the attack to occur.
If you have been injured in an assault on someone’s property, or due to a slip and fall or some other dangerous condition on the premises, call Simmons Law Firm in Columbia for a no-cost consultation to discuss any claims you might have against the property owner for the harm you suffered.
Negligent or Inadequate Security in Columbia
Property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. Part of that duty includes taking reasonable precautions to maintain adequate security on the premises. Victims of robberies, assaults, or sexual assaults might have a claim against the property owner for attacks that likely would not have happened had the owner taken reasonable steps to secure the premises.
The availability of an inadequate security claim is important because an assault can cause severe physical injury and lasting psychological damage, both of which are costly in terms of medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. The individual who committed the assault might only have limited resources to compensate the victim for their losses, so holding the property owner liable is an important way to make sure accident victims get the care and compensation they need and deserve after a violent attack that could have been prevented.
Simmons Law Firm holds property owners in Columbia and South Carolina liable for assaults that occur on their premises due to inadequate security in situations like the following:
- Retail stores and shopping malls – Parking lots and parking garages should be well-lit and may need to be patrolled or secured with gated access for safety. Stairwells and other areas should likewise contain adequate lighting to discourage robberies or assaults. ATMs should be placed in public spaces. Security cameras might be required as well.
- Nightclubs, bars and restaurants – Parking lots should be adequately lighted, and security personnel inside and outside the premises should be trained to defuse potentially violate situations and not overreact in the performance of their duties.
- Hotels and Apartment complexes – Garages, carports, stairwells and hallways all must have adequate lighting. Patio doors and windows should be equipped with working locks. Security personnel may be necessary depending on the area and the frequency of any recent criminal activity. Common areas such as laundry rooms should also be equipped with keyed entries, working locks and light fixtures.
Slip and Fall and Dangerous Conditions
Aside from inadequate security claims, premises liability also encompasses “slip and fall” and “trip and fall” accidents, and other injuries caused by a dangerous or unsafe condition on the property. Property owners have a duty to keep their property in a reasonably safe condition for the safety of people lawfully on their property. A property owner’s duty can differ depending on whether the person is on the premises as an “invitee” or “licensee.” These are legal terms, but basically an invitee is invited on the owner’s property for the owner’s benefit, such as a customer, client or guest, while a licensee is authorized to enter the property for the licensee’s benefit or some other business purpose, such as delivering mail or packages, making sales calls, making repairs, reading the meter, installing equipment, etc. Property owners owe a higher duty to invitees and must inspect their property and promptly fix or warn of any dangers. To licensees, the property owner has a duty to warn of any known dangers.
Property owners can be liable for a slip and fall, trip and fall, or other injury due to hazards like the following that were either created by the owner or allowed to go unrepaired:
- Wet or slippery floors due to mopping, spilled liquids, or water tracked in from outside
- Broken or missing steps or handrails
- Objects on the floor
- Objects falling from shelves
- Torn carpeting or floor mats
- Unfenced swimming pool areas
- Broken playground equipment
- Exposed wiring
- Unmarked steps
These accidents can cause serious injury to the victim, but they can be difficult cases to bring against property owners, who will argue they didn’t have sufficient time to discover the hazard and fix it before the accident happened. They might also claim the injury victim isn’t very seriously injured or that the victim’s own negligence caused the accident by not looking where they were going. Our premises liability lawyers are skilled and experienced in building a case that proves the property owner’s liability and either negotiating a fair settlement or taking the matter to court.
Dedicated Columbia Premises Liability Lawyers Serving All of South Carolina
If you or a loved one were injured because of inadequate security or dangerous conditions on another person’s property, call Simmons Law Firm for a free, no-obligation review at 803-779-4600 or toll-free at 888-715-8818, or contact us online.
