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Cherry Hill Premises Liability Lawyers
Holding South Jersey property owners and operators liable for negligence
All property owners and operators owe a duty of care to their guests and visitors. The duty of care requirement applies to for-profit businesses such as restaurants and retail stores, nonprofit entities such as community organizations, government entities, and even private homeowners. The duty of care varies depending on your reason for being on the property and other factors. At Ferrara & Gable, our Cherry Hill premises liability lawyers understand who can file a claim, and why the property owner should be held accountable for your injuries or the death of a loved one. We work with your medical team and our medical team to verify that your injuries were caused by the property owner’s negligence. We’re skilled at fighting for all the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering, medical care, lost income, and all other damages.
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How can we help?
- What is a premises liability claim?
- Does my reason for being on the property affect my personal injury claim?
- What types of property accident claims do your Cherry Hill lawyers handle?
- What kinds of injuries do Cherry Hill property accident victims suffer?
- What steps should Cherry Hill property owners take to prevent accidents?
- How much is my premises liability claim worth in New Jersey?
- How much time do I have to file a premises liability claim in NJ?
- Do you have a premises liability lawyer near me?
What is a premises liability claim?
A premises liability claim is a personal injury claim filed by someone who is injured while on the property of another person. Families can also file a premises liability claim if their loved one dies while on the property.
There are a few key requirements:
- The owner of the property must owe a duty of care to the person who uses the property. Generally, if you are on the property because the owner wants you to buy their products or use their services, the owner owes you a duty of care.
- The property owner’s breach of their duty must cause the accident. Common breaches include the failure to regularly inspect the property for dangers and the failure to fix any dangers that the owner knows about. The failure to warn customers is also a breach of the duty of care.
- The accident must cause your injuries. We work with your doctors to identify your injuries and confirm your injuries were due to the accident on the premises. The same principle applies to the death of a loved one.
Does my reason for being on the property affect my personal injury claim?
In New Jersey, the right to file a claim depends on why you were on the property.
Invitees
The accident victims with the strongest premises liability claim are invitees. Strong means that the owner must protect you if they know of a danger, or if they “reasonably” should have known of the danger (such as by conducting routine inspections).
Invitees are anyone the owner invites onto the property for the purpose, express or implied, of benefiting the property owner in some way. They include anyone who buys products or pays for services, such as when you visit a restaurant, hotel, professional office, or retail store. Invitees also include people who use nonprofit services and community services.
Licensees
A licensee is someone who has a right to be on the property but isn’t invited onto the property. A common example is when you walk on the sidewalk of a property owner, or you’re a social guest at someone’s home. The property owner must warn you of known dangers but doesn’t have a duty to try to discover hidden dangers.
Trespassers and the “attractive nuisance doctrine” exception
Generally, property owners do not owe a duty of care to anyone who trespasses on their property – AKA, anyone who does not have the owner’s permission to be on the property. A key exception, called the “attractive nuisance doctrine,” applies. This exception provides that the property owners should expect that children may be attracted to a dangerous item on the property, such as a pool or a trampoline. Homeowners and other property owners need to secure these dangerous items so children cannot use them. Property owners may also owe a duty to protect trespassers from especially dangerous conditions that could cause serious harm or death.
What types of property accident claims do your Cherry Hill lawyers handle?
At Ferrara & Gable, our Cherry Hill premises liability lawyers handle all types of property accidents including:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Swimming pool accidents
- Attacks due to negligent security
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Accidents at construction sites
- Being struck by an object
- Fire and explosion-related injuries
If you are unsure whether a property owner is liable for an accident that led to your injuries, call us; we can determine whether you may have a personal injury claim.
What kinds of injuries do Cherry Hill property accident victims suffer?
Accidents while on the property of others cause very serious injuries. Some injuries cause a lifetime of chronic pain. Many injuries are permanent. Sadly, some accidents (such as drownings) are fatal.
Serious injuries from unsafe properties can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Traumatic amputation/loss of part or all of an arm or leg
- Burn injuries
- Fractures/broken bones
- Back pain
- Shoulder and neck pain
- Nerve, tendon, ligament, muscle, and tissue damage
- Infections, diseases, and puncture wounds
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Internal organ damage
- Emotional trauma
At Ferrara & Gable, our Cherry Hill personal injury lawyers work with your medical team and our own team, when necessary, to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries, including the medical care you’ll need, the cost of that care, and all the ways your injuries limit your ability to function, work, and enjoy your family and your life.
Our lawyers also represent families throughout South Jersey when a property accident takes the life of a parent, child, spouse, or other close family member. We’ll explain which family members are entitled to file a wrongful death claim.
What steps should Cherry Hill property owners take to prevent accidents?
Most property accidents are preventable. Routine inspections and prompt maintenance can help avoid most accidents. Some of the common steps that for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and homeowners can take to prevent accidents include:
- Conducting inspections of the property. In addition to routine inspections, owners are responsible for dangers they should anticipate and immediately address, such as wet entranceways and floors after rain, snow, and ice in the parking lots and near the building. Owners should examine broken tiles, loose stairway railings, torn carpets, and any condition that might pose a risk of falling. Spills from beverages or any other source should be cleaned immediately.
- Stocking inventory securely. Overloading shelves, for example, can cause objects to fall on shoppers. Falling objects can cause head trauma.
- Securing the property. Property should be locked when it’s not being used. The owners need to review whether they should employ security staff, cameras, fences, and other security measures.
- Warning customers to known dangers. If wet floors or other dangerous conditions can’t be cleaned or repaired immediately, customers and clients should be warned to stay away from the dangerous conditions.
Our Cherry Hill premises liability lawyers work with you, investigators, building code officials, and others to show why your accident happened, and why it was preventable. We also review any prior complaints about the property and question everyone who has knowledge about the property’s dangerous conditions, including the owner, repair companies, and any witnesses.
How much is my premises liability claim worth in New Jersey?
You deserve full compensation when property owners fail to protect you. Our Cherry Hill premises liability lawyers are skilled negotiators and seasoned trial lawyers with experience handling these types of cases. We demand compensation for all your current and future:
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Medical bills
- Income and benefit losses until you can return to work, or if you can never return to work
- Inability to use any body part
- Loss of your quality of life
- Loss of consortium (marital enjoyment)
We can also file a claim for wrongful death damages if your loved one died from an accident on unsafe property in or near Cherry Hill.
How much time do I have to file a premises liability claim in NJ?
The statute of limitations for premises liability claims is two years from the date of the accident. Some exceptions may apply.
Don’t wait. Contact us as soon as you can so we can answer your questions, investigate the accident site, speak with witnesses, and talk with your doctors.
Do you have a Cherry Hill premises liability lawyer near me?
Ferrara & Gable maintains an office at 601 Longwood Avenue in Cherry Hill, NJ. There’s parking close by. The Rt. 38 bus stops right up the block. If you’re too ill or injured, we schedule phone and video conferences.
Call our Cherry Hill premises liability lawyers now for help in South Jersey
If you slipped and fell, were attacked by a dog or another person, or were injured for any other reason while on someone else’s property, Ferrara & Gable is ready to help you assert your rights. We’ll answer all your questions, thoroughly prepare your case, and be your advocate with the insurance companies and in court. Call us or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation with one of our Cherry Hill premises liability lawyers. We’ll fight for all the compensation you deserve.
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