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New Jersey Premises Liability Attorneys

Were you injured on someone else’s property in New Jersey? If so, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related losses through a premises’ liability claim.

New Jersey premises liability accidentNew Jersey premises liability accident

New Jersey premises liability law concerns the responsibility of property owners and managers to keep their land reasonably safe for visitors. At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., our premises liability lawyers are proud to provide effective and aggressive representation for those injured due to the negligence of New Jersey property owners.

To learn more about your options, contact us for a free initial case review with a premises liability lawyer in New Jersey.

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Common Injuries in Premises Liability Cases

At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., we see many different types of premises liability claims. When a property owner fails to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition or provide warnings about known hazards, visitors can and do get seriously hurt.

Injuries from premises liability accidents often include:

These premises liability injuries commonly result from:

Who Can Be At Fault in a Premises Liability Claim?

slip and fall video thumbnailslip and fall video thumbnail

Stairwell Slip and Falls

The owner of the property where the accident occurred is often the liable party. However, property owners are not the only ones who could be responsible for accidents and injuries on their premises. Non-owners, such as apartment or home renters, commercial tenants, business managers, shop owners, and other parties responsible for managing or maintaining a property could be liable, too.

Some injury victims may also have secondary claims against third-party non-owners. For instance, you could have a claim against a private security company if its failure to keep a property free from criminal activity caused you to be violently attacked. Or if a defective product contributed to your injuries, you could file a claim against its manufacturer.

What You Need to Prove in a Premises Liability Case

The first element you must prove in any premises liability case is that the at-fault party had a legal responsibility to avoid harming you. To prove this, you need to show that the other party was the lawful owner, tenant, or manager of the property where you were injured. You will also need to establish your legal status as a visitor since your status affects your rights on the premises.

Once you establish your status as a visitor and the property owner’s legal responsibility toward you, your next step is to prove that the owner failed to uphold their duty to keep the premises safe. For instance, maybe they neglected to fix uneven flooring or post warning signs about dangerous animals.

You must also prove that the property owner’s negligence contributed significantly to the incident that resulted in your injuries. A premises liability lawyer can identify useful evidence to support your claim and increase your case value.

The three key types of visitors in New Jersey premises liability cases include the following:

Invitees

An invitee enters a property at the express or implicit invitation of the owner, usually for business reasons. Shop customers and business clients are examples of invitees. Because invitees are there for the actual or possible benefit of a property owner, these individuals have the right to the highest level of care. Property owners must protect invitees from hazardous conditions, warn invitees of hidden defects, and routinely inspect their properties to ensure the premises are safe for invitees.

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Licensees

A licensee is someone who is permitted to enter a property for their own purposes. Common examples of licensees include social guests and door-to-door salespeople. New Jersey property owners are not required to routinely inspect or maintain their premises for licensees. However, they are expected to warn licensees of known property hazards and exercise reasonable care in correcting those hazards.

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Trespassers

When someone enters a property without an invitation from the property owner, they are a trespasser. In general, New Jersey property owners do not owe trespassers any particular level of consideration or care. State law simply requires property owners to avoid harming trespassers intentionally and post warnings about “artificial conditions” that pose the risk of serious injury or death, such as high-voltage electric fences.

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Compensation Available in a Premises Liability Lawsuit

With a successful premises liability lawsuit in New Jersey, you could be entitled to compensation for the following losses:

  • Hospital bills and other medical expenses
  • Incidental expenses, such as travel costs
  • Lost wages from missed time at work
  • Projected losses in your future earning potential
  • Subjective losses, such as pain and suffering

Are you ready to discuss your premises liability case? Contact us now to set up a free consultation.

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Building Code Violations Causing New Jersey Premises Liability Accidents

Some causes of falls are due to building code violations and violations of the BOCA Code. New Jersey has special laws for hotels and multiple dwelling unit apartments. These codes not only set standards for the construction of buildings, they also set standards for the safe maintenance of the property.

At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., our New Jersey premises liability lawyers consult with experts who determine whether there was a violation of the various New Jersey standards of maintenance. We employ engineers to conduct an on site inspection of the property where the injury occurred. Their investigation usually involves an interview with the client, a field inspection including measurements and forensic testing, as well as taking or examining accident scene photographs.

Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability Cases in New Jersey

New Jersey places a two-year statute of limitations on premises liability claims, which means you have just two years from the date of the incident to sue. If you wait too long to file, the judge will likely dismiss your case. You will then lose your right to demand compensation in court.

Keep in mind that this time limit is important even if you never intend to file a lawsuit. Having the option to take your case to court will give you considerable leverage during insurance claim negotiations and other settlement talks. A New Jersey premises liability attorney can help you by identifying important dates and keeping your case on track from day one.

Comparative Negligence Laws in New Jersey

When you file a claim against a New Jersey property owner, do not be surprised if the owner attempts to deny responsibility or even deflect it back onto you. They may claim that they were unaware of the hazardous condition, your own behavior contributed to the incident, or the hazard was so obvious you should have known to avoid it without an explicit warning.

If you are assigned a percentage of the overall blame for the incident, New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence doctrine may come into play. Under this law, you can claim compensation if you are partially at fault for an accident — as long as you are not more at fault for the accident than the other party is.

However, the amount of compensation you get may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. That’s why it’s important to work with an attorney who can defend your interests, limit your share of fault, and maximize your compensation.

Many times, it is difficult to determine who was responsible for the care and maintenance or safety at the accident site. However, once a responsible party is identified, they should be notified about your incident. If possible, report your premises’ liability accident to a property owner as soon as possible, preferably under the advice of a lawyer. Also, try to obtain a copy of the accident report.

Premises Liability Videos

Supermarket Accidents
Supermarket Accidents
Staircase Slip and Fall
Staircase Slip and Fall
Advice for Winter Weather
Advice for Winter Weather
Winter Accidents | Snow & Ice
Winter Accidents | Snow & Ice

Contact Our New Jersey Premises Liability Lawyers

At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., our lawyers have helped numerous people seriously hurt due of defective or dangerous property conditions obtain money damages and other compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a premises liability accident, contact a lawyer who knows how to build a strong case for you. We are proud to represent people in Teaneck, Newark, Elizabeth, Paterson, Trenton, and the entire New York metro region.

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Guide - new jersey personal injury claims

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