Many of the personal injury cases Nagel Rice LLP handles involve premises liability, such as slips and falls and dog bites. If you have suffered a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, our experienced New Jersey premises liability attorneys are ready to fight for your right to substantial compensation.
Contact our offices in Roseland or Manhattan for a free consultation. We have an impressive record of successful outcomes, having won over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements. Perhaps even more to the point, we work on a contingency basis so you will not have to pay us any attorneys’ fees until we win you the damages you deserve.
What Is Premises Liability in New Jersey?
All property owners are legally required to keep their property safe. Premises liability cases arise when a property owner is negligent or reckless in regard to property maintenance. If a property owner knows of a defect on their property and fails to repair it or to put up a visible warning sign, that individual or entity may be held responsible for injuries that occur as a result.
Where Premises Liability Accidents Occur
Premises liability is applicable in any number of locations. Nagel Rice’s premises liability attorneys will help you obtain appropriate damages for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering if you are hurt anywhere outside your home, on public or private property, indoors or outdoors, including:
- At a neighbor’s home
- At a public school or private university
- At a library or museum
- At a retail store, office, or hotel
- At a supermarket
- At the post office or any government building
- In a public park, playground, or parking lot
If you have suffered an injury and are not certain whether you have the basis for a premises liability case, get in touch with us promptly. If we determine that you have a viable claim, we will begin working on your case immediately.
Why Nagel Rice Is the Right Choice in New Jersey
Once you become our client, we will:
- Handle all communications with opposing attorneys and insurance adjusters
- Investigate the site of your accident and inspect any available surveillance videos
- Examine police records and medical reports
- Interview witnesses
- Check for any history of similar claims against the defendant
- Consult with experts in pertinent fields whose testimony may bolster your claim
- Create a well-crafted strategy to win your case through negotiations alone or at trial
You will find our premises liability lawyers to be as compassionate as they are accomplished. You can count on us to take care of all logistical matters and to give you outstanding legal representation while you rest and recover from your trauma.
Common Types of Premises Liability
Most people are careful to keep their property safe and sanitary for all visitors — suppliers, vendors, customers, clients, workers, delivery persons, relatives, neighbors, and friends. Nonetheless, there are always some individuals who, through thoughtlessness, laziness, or lack of concern, put others at risk by failing to take proper care of their land and structures. Below are common types of negligence:
- Uncleared steps or pathways made slippery by ice, snow, or spills
- Unconfined dogs who bite or topple visitors
- Toxic substances (e.g. lead, mold, asbestos) that contaminate the property
- Broken stairs, floors, banisters, frayed carpeting, scatter rugs without matting
- Deteriorating roofs, decks, or balconies
- Grill fires left unattended or other exposed heat sources
- Broken pavement, unmarked holes
- Obstacles left on steps or walkways
- Exposed electrical wiring
- Defective shelving or building facades
- Poorly lit vestibules, hallways, parking lots
While trespassers have no legal right to be on the property, courts will frequently side with children or others who wander onto the private property because of “attractive nuisances,” such as pools or ponds, and are subsequently injured.
Common Injuries
Almost any part of the body can be injured in a premises liability case involving a dog bite, a fall down the stairs or over an obstacle, or exposure to fire or a toxic substance. Some common injuries of premises liability include:
- Fractured leg, hip, wrist, or ankle
- Serious burns
- Dog bite lacerations
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Sprains or ligament tears
- Drowning in a pool of unmarked depth
- Electrical shocks
In worst-case scenarios, a premises liability injury may result in wrongful death.
What Nagel Rice Has to Prove to Win Your New Jersey Premises Liability Case
In order to convince the court that your claim is legitimate, our premises liability attorneys must prove that:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care
- The property owner breached that duty
- That breach directly caused you injury
- Your injury resulted in real financial damages
Our in-depth knowledge of the law and well-honed litigation skills will give you the best chance of winning maximum compensation for all you have been through.
Damages Nagel Rice Will Fight to Win in Your Premises Liability Case
We will fight aggressively to recover damages for:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Loss of income (present and future)
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Final medical and funeral costs, loss of financial & emotional support (in cases of wrongful death)
If the defendant’s behavior was especially egregious — e.g. if an unrepaired staircase caused a fall that resulted in a wrongful death — it is possible that punitive damages will also be awarded. Though we are well aware that money will do nothing to assuage your grief at the tragic loss of a loved one, we will fight for every dollar you deserve to provide you with a measure of justice.
What is the statute of limitations for premises liability in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for premises liability cases requires that a lawsuit against a private property owner must be filed within two years from the date when your claim accrued. Typically, the claim accrues on the date when the injury occurred. This means that you have a two-year window from the date of your injury to initiate legal action against the property owner. It’s important to be aware of this time limit, as failing to file within the statute of limitations may result in the loss of your right to pursue a premises liability claim.
Contact Our Experienced New Jersey Premises Liability Attorneys Today
Getting in touch with us promptly is important. There is the necessity to move quickly in order to collect convincing evidence. In other words, we want to be able to investigate before the defendant has had time to clean up or repair the site of the accident so we can photograph and document the cause of your injury. Contact us now. Remember, we want you to concentrate on healing so we will be happy to come to you.
Nagel Rice LLP assists clients with their premises liability claims not only throughout New Jersey but also in neighboring New York and its boroughs. Our dedicated team serves clients in various counties, including Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Sussex County, as well as in New York City’s boroughs, such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.