Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain safe premises for anyone lawfully on their property. They must also warn visitors of any known hazards or unsafe conditions that have not yet been addressed.
If you or a loved one were injured on someone else’s property, speaking with a Biloxi premises liability lawyer could help you understand your options. Liability laws can be complex and vary depending on the circumstances, but you may be entitled to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages if the property owner was negligent.
Navigating the claims process can be challenging, especially for those without legal representation. A dedicated personal injury attorney can guide you through each step of your case, ensuring you receive the full compensation you deserve.
An invitee enters the property with an implied or express invitation of the owner (or occupant) for the benefit of both parties, such as a hotel guest at a casino. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees. Essentially, a property owner must ensure that the land is reasonably safe and must warn invitees if any hidden danger exists.
A licensee enters the property for their own purposes and has a license or the implied permission of the property owner. Therefore, the landowner owes the licensee a duty to refrain from purposefully injuring them, as well as to keep their land safe to inhabit. Social guests fall under this category.
A trespasser, on the other hand, does not have a license, invitation, or any other right to be on the property. They enter for their own purposes only and, as dictated by case law, without express or implied assurance of safety. However, it should be noted that if a defendant intentionally causes injury to the trespasser, the court may side with the trespasser in an injury claim in some instances.
For a successful claim, there are a number of elements that must be proven by an injured claimant. To have a right to compensation, it must be shown that:
While these steps may seem simple, they often require extensive knowledge of the law in order to prove. A well-versed Biloxi premises liability attorney could help gather and assess evidence to determine if a property owner is liable for an injury on their land.
If a claimant is partially at fault for his or her own injuries, they may still be able to recover compensation with a reduction proportionate to their percentage of fault. Simply put, if an injured claimant is found to be 30 percent liable, he or she might still recover 70 percent of the awarded damages.
Under Mississippi Code § 11-7-15, a person could, hypothetically, recover even one percent of damages in the event that they were 99 percent at fault. Due to these nuances, anyone unsure of their own fault in an injury case may benefit from consulting a seasoned premises liability lawyer in Biloxi.
If you were injured on someone else’s property, you may be facing a mountain of medical bills, doctor’s appointments, and an inability to work. However, by scheduling a free consultation with a Biloxi premises liability lawyer, you could discuss your legal options and understand if you have a valid claim for compensation.
If successful, you have a right to recover expenses for numerous losses, including lost wages, medical bills, payments to a caretaker in your home, and other expenses, as well as compensation for things like pain and suffering, anxiety, and inconvenience. Contact one of our compassionate attorneys today to discuss your legal rights. Consultations are always free.