When you or a loved one suffer injuries on someone else’s property, call the Farmington premises liability attorneys at The Fine Law Firm. You may qualify for compensation to cover all of your medical bills, any pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses.
The Fine Law Firm is a New Mexico law firm in business for over forty years. Our premises liability attorneys are:
- Experienced in helping victims of personal injuries in Farmington;
- Proven successful by receiving millions in verdicts and settlements for our clients; and
- Nationally recognized for excellence by Martindale-Hubbell and Avvo.
Call us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Farmington premises liability attorney. At The Fine Law Firm, we never charge fees for our legal services unless we recover compensation for your premises liability injuries.
How Can a Farmington Premises Liability Attorney Help Me?
It is essential to hire an attorney for a premises liability claim. These claims are challenging to prove, and property owners and their insurance companies will rarely admit any responsibility for your injuries or volunteer to compensate you. Retaining an attorney also tells the insurance company you are serious about pursuing your claim.
At The Fine Law Firm, your premises liability attorney will help you build the most persuasive case possible for compensation. Your attorney will do the following:
- Investigate your claim;
- Obtain all relevant evidence;
- Hire any needed experts;
- Interview witnesses;
- Identify all responsible parties and potential sources of compensation;
- Assess the value your claim;
- Negotiate your settlement; and
- File a lawsuit if no settlement is possible.
To learn more about the premises liability attorneys at The Fine Law Firm or to ask legal questions about your claim, call us for your free appointment. We will offer an honest opinion of your claim and inform you of your legal options.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a type of personal injury law. To prove a premises liability claim, a victim’s attorney must show that a property owner or person in possession of the property was negligent in maintaining a reasonably safe environment for visitors as well as:
- The property owner or possessor knew or should have known about the property hazard;
- The property owner or possessor neglected to maintain the premises or warn visitors of the dangers;
- The victim suffered injuries; and
- The property owner or possessor’s negligence directly resulted in the victim’s injuries.
Common premises liability claims involve the following:
- Wet or slippery surfaces;
- Inadequate lighting;
- Broken stairways;
- Loose or missing safety rails;
- Unsecured or torn carpeting;
- Insufficient or lack of security; and
- Unmarked obstacles or hazards.
The most common premises liability accidents are slips and falls. Other accidents can include dog bites, swimming pools, and fires.
Types of Visitors in Premises Liability
Although property owners owe a duty to visitors to maintain a reasonably safe environment, the duty varies according to the type of visitor. There are three main categories of visitors. These are:
- Invitees. An invitee is a person who enters a property for the financial benefit of the property owner, such as business customers and rental property tenants. Property owners must take reasonable care to maintain safe premises for invitees and warn them of hazards;
- Licensees. Invited guests and social visitors are licensees. Property owners must warn licensees of potential hazards on the property; and
- Trespassers. Trespassers are unlawful entrants on a property. Property owners owe little or no duty to trespassers.
There is a possible fourth category of visitors to property, children. A property owner’s duty of care is situational concerning children.
Compensation in Premises Liability Claims
Compensation in premises liability claims depends on the category of the visitor, the extent and severity of their injuries, and their prognosis for recovery. The victim of a property owner’s negligence may qualify for compensation to cover the following:
- All accident-related medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of earning potential;
- Pain and suffering;
- Property damage;
- Mental and emotional trauma; and
- If a loved one died, wrongful death.
If you want to learn more about your premises liability claim and compensation available to you, call The Fine Law Firm. It is your best interest to consult with one of our premises liability attorneys as soon as possible because there are time limits to file your claim. We look forward to meeting you.