When you visit someone else’s home or property, you naturally expect to be safe. However, accidents at private residences are more common than many people realize, and they can lead to serious injuries. After such an incident, speaking with a knowledgeable premises liability attorney could help you understand your rights.
If you were hurt because a homeowner failed to keep their premises safe, an experienced Cypress private property liability lawyer at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP could help you understand your legal options.
What Is Premises Liability Law for Private Property?
The state classifies claims resulting from homeowners’ negligence under premises liability law. This area of the law addresses the duty of care owed to you when you visit commercial and private properties. Although the owners of both types of properties are responsible for your safety, there are differences in the duty of care owed, as follows:
- Commercial premises owners owe you the highest duty of care, including paying attention to risks, taking the necessary actions to fix them, or adequately warning you about them
- Homeowners owe you a duty of care, but it does not extend to inspecting their premises for hazards that are unknown to them, although they are responsible for warning you about known risks
- Anyone who is not legally present on the premises, such as a trespasser, is not generally owed a duty of care, though owners cannot intentionally cause them harm or act with gross negligence
There is an exception for trespassing children, known as the attractive nuisance doctrine. Owners are held to a higher standard of care when something on their premises is likely to attract children, such as swimming pools or trampolines. They must take reasonable steps to protect children from these hazards. Our Cypress attorneys understand how devastating injuries caused by a private homeowner’s negligence can be, and they could guide you through the process of seeking the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Claims
Many claims arise when a visitor is not warned about known dangers by the owner of the house. Common examples include:
Private property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises safe. When they fail to do so, visitors can suffer serious injuries that could support a claim for compensation. If you have been harmed on a privately owned premises in Cypress, our legal team could help you hold the owner accountable and recover your losses.
Steps To Strengthen Your Claim
If a homeowner’s negligence causes you harm, there are several important steps you should take to protect your health and strengthen your claim:
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Follow your medical provider’s instructions carefully
- Consult with an experienced attorney quickly, as these claims involve complex legal issues
- Do not accept an early settlement offer before speaking to your attorney, as it may undervalue your full legal damages
You should also allow your attorney to communicate with insurance companies on your behalf, since anything you say could be used to deny your claim. Our attorneys at our Cypress firm could handle all communications with insurers for you after an accident on someone’s private land caused by the owner’s failure to maintain safe conditions.
Contact Our Cypress Lawyers To Recover Damages From a Negligent Private Property Owner
An experienced Cypress private property liability lawyer at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP could help you navigate a complex personal injury claim and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call our firm today to learn more.
