Can a Property Owner Be Liable for Injuries Caused by Broken Steps?

Property owners of businesses and residential properties are required by law to keep their premises safe for guests and other legal visitors. Broken steps and stairways on a premises can be potentially hazardous and could lead to serious injuries for all involved.

If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a dangerous situation on someone else’s property, you could file a premises liability claim and be granted compensation for medical costs, lost income if you missed work and other damages related to your injury. Inquiring with a licensed attorney in a free case evaluation could help you pursue the maximum compensation needed to cover your financial losses.

Our Fort Worth premises liability attorneys discuss holding negligent property owners liable for injuries caused by broken steps and other hazards. We are ready to discuss your situation in a free consultation.

What is Needed to Prove a Premises Liability Case in Texas?

To hold a property owner liable for your injury, one of the following details must be true:

The property owner or an employee caused the dangerous condition – For instance, the owner of the premises dropped a heavy object on a stairway causing one or more of the steps to break or fall apart, creating a dangerous condition for potential visitors.

• The property owner or an employee was aware of the hazardous condition – If you can somehow prove that the owner or an employee that worked on the property was aware of the dangerous condition, you could hold the owner liable for damages you sustained.
• The property owner or an employee should have known about the harmful condition – If it can be proven that a reasonable person responsible for maintaining the property, should have discovered the issue and removed or repaired it, you could have a valid case.

Premises liability cases can be difficult to prove without the help of a legal professional. If your claim has merit, an experienced lawyer could help you gather the evidence necessary to help build a strong case.

Who Can Qualify for Compensation in a Premises Liability Case?

If you were injured on someone else’s property, your reason for entering the premises will come into question. The legal status for anyone visiting a property is broken down as follows:

• Invitee – This is someone who was invited to be on the property usually for business purposes related to the property owner such as a repair worker or customer at a grocery store.
• Licensee – Is a person who has legal permission to be on the property for the benefit of someone other than the property owner such as a family member, friend or social guest.
• Trespasser – When someone enters a property without the owner’s permission, the property owner may not be liable for damages, unless the owner intentionally causes harm to the trespasser. In the case of a child trespasser, the property owner could be held liable for injuries or death if it is proven that the child had unreasonable, easy access to the harmful condition.

Learn More About Your Rights From a Licensed Lawyer

If you or a loved one was injured due to the negligence of a property owner, you may be eligible for compensation. This could include costs to help cover medical expenses, loss of wages, and more.

Speak to a legal professional at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, LLP today to set up your free case evaluation. Your information is kept private and you are not obligated to hire our firm. We charge zero upfront costs or fees unless we help you recover compensation.

Call (817) 920-9000 to speak to a member of our legal team today.