It’s time for Spring repairs and updates to property. Do you know what makes your property dangerous to a visitor? If you fail to properly maintain your property adequately and someone is hurt on the property, you may be held liable for their injuries and costs related to them. The law also applies to 
tenants who are in control of a property.
Most homeowners and other property owners and tenants make needed repairs in the spring and fall. These are times to repair damages that occurred over the last season by people or weather. Steps are taken to protect the property from damage during the upcoming season. In most cases, these steps are taken to protect the property and to make it safe for residents and visitors.
Premises Liability cases are filed when a visitor to a property is seriously injured or killed due to improperly maintained features and property conditions. To help you prevent accidents and injuries on your property, we offer the following checklist of some of the most common dangerous conditions that lead to premises liability lawsuits to recover damages for injuries or death.
- Uneven walkways
- Icy or snow-covered walkways, driveways and parking areas
- Unmarked, rotten or broken stairs
- Inadequate lighting
- Defective play area equipment (swing sets, trampolines)
- Slippery floors and/or ramps
- Broken locks or gates that offer access to an attractive nuisance (pool, trampoline)
- Fire hazards
- Non-working fire, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Building code violations
- Zoning law violations
- Unprotected swimming pool
- Flooding from water leaks or spills
- Defects that weaken decks or balconies
- Defective elevator
- Inadequate or defective railings
- Security against animal attacks
- Exposed tree roots that pose a trip hazard
The times when you are cleaning out gutters, checking the roof, pruning shrubs and trees, weatherizing, and attending to general maintenance is the perfect time to check your home and property carefully. When you address damage or other problems, you make your home safer and more comfortable for your family. You also protect yourself from a lawsuit if a visitor to your property is injured. It is always preferable to protect yourself from a lawsuit rather than being charged with negligence and harm to another person.
If you or a loved one is injured on another person’s property, due to failure to maintain the property and make necessary repairs, call Altizer Law, P.C., in Roanoke, VA. Bettina Altizer and her team of experts will listen to your narrative of the events that led to your injury, assess your injury and liability issues, and, if you wish, represent you in filing a premises liability lawsuit to recover damages from the property owner. When you are injured and the medical bills and other expenses are piling up, we understand that it’s about the money.
