Property owners and businesses have a duty to provide a safe environment for people visiting their property. When they fail to do so, and an individual is injured on the property owned or maintained by someone else, then that party may be held legally responsible for the visitor’s injuries, including the injured person?s medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

The most common occurrence of premise liability involves cases in which someone slips and falls due to a hazard on the property, such as a restaurant patron slipping on spilled food or drinks. Other common examples include:

• Tripping on broken or cracked sidewalks, stairs or escalators
• Being trapped in a burning building because of inadequate means of escape
• Being attacked as a result of inadequate security An attack from a property owner’s dog
• Exposure to toxins while on the property

In most cases, the injured party must prove that the premises were hazardous or dangerous when the injury occurred and that the owner knew of the danger. In short, the property owner might be held liable to the injured party if:

• The owner fails to maintain the property or creates a condition that may result in injury
• The owner knows about a hazard and expects that people will come onto his or her property but does not eliminate the danger, create barriers around it or warn people about it
• The owner’s actions may cause damage to his or her neighbor’s property.