Below are some common types of premises liability claims we handle:

• Accidents at schools: Public and private schools operate in the same way as home or business owners when it comes to maintaining a property. When children are injured due to a dangerous condition on a school property, defective playground equipment, or negligent supervision of teachers or others during recess, the institution may be liable. Lawsuits brought against a public school district may have strict timelines and procedural hurdles due to the defendant being a public agency. If you are considering bringing a lawsuit against a school, it is best to speak with a DLG attorney as soon as possible. If the accident occurred at a public school, the standard two-year statute of limitations to bring a claim may be a much shorter window.
• Airbnb accidents: Short-term vacation rentals are still relatively new, but in the last decade many injuries and deaths have occurred due to falls, carbon monoxide poisoning, and fires. In 2019, when five people in California were killed in a shooting at a Halloween party, Airbnb officially banned open invite party houses. If you were injured or a loved one was killed at an Airbnb rental, you may have a valid compensation claim against the property owner or Airbnb. Airbnb offers host protection insurance up to $1 million for injuries.
• Balcony accidents: When balconies or decks are improperly installed or maintained they can cause serious harm. Deck builders recommend an annual inspection for any unit over ten years old, but property owners do not always maintain this guideline. There have been many tragedies over the years, often involving large gatherings or parties. A June 2003 balcony collapse that killed 13 people and injured 57 brought national attention to deck safety issues. Injuries from balcony and roof collapses can be catastrophic and permanently disabling.
• Condominium accidents: If an accident occurs in the common area of a homeowners association, the association may be liable. Liability for an accident in a condo complex will depend on several factors, including where the accident occurred, and how claims are handled per CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) or bylaws.
• Escalator accidents: Escalators move people in department stores, office buildings, shopping malls, and airports. Injuries from escalator accidents can include lacerations, amputations, fractures, and soft-tissue injuries. If the property owner failed to maintain the escalator according to code and did not warn customers of any dangerous conditions, they may be liable for injuries.
• Falling merchandise: Improperly stored or placed objects can fall in big box stores, home improvement stores, and warehouse stores, causing major injury. Objects falling from a significant height can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, neck injury, or back injury. When a falling object lands with such force that it causes someone to collapse on the ground, the individual is also vulnerable to wrist, arm, and hip fractures.
• Fires on property: If a fire is caused by a natural gas leak, malfunctioning outlet, or faulty electrical wiring, the property owner may be liable for fire-related injuries or any injuries sustained in instances where jumping from a burning building was necessary.
• Gas station/convenience store accidents: Gas stations pose significant hazards with large amounts of flammable gasoline and diesel, and a constant flow of people and cars traveling in different directions. If a gas station fails to maintain a safe environment, they may be liable for resulting injuries.
• Grocery store accidents: Grocery stores and supermarkets are frequent locations for liquid spills. Some spills, such as liquid laundry detergent or vegetable oil, may be challenging to clean up and could leave a surface slippery for an extended period of time. A grocery store has a duty to inspect premises for spills, promptly clean up a spill, and warn others of hazards. Whether or not liability exists for a slip and fall accident will depend on whether the store knew about the hazard and had a reasonable opportunity to clean it properly. Grocery stores may keep inspection logs showing a clerk inspected the floor every 30 minutes for spills and hazards.
• Gym/fitness center accidents: You may be liable for your own errors or carelessness at a gym, but you are never responsible for the gym’s negligence. Even if you sign a liability waiver, that document cannot protect a gym owner from acts of gross negligence. If you are seriously injured at a gym, a DLG premises liability lawyer can determine if you have a valid claim. You may also have a product liability claim against an equipment manufacturer if their negligence caused your injuries.
• Hotel/resort accidents: When hotel chains or resorts are negligent in building or maintaining properties, they may be liable for any resulting injuries or fatalities. The deadliest structural collapse in U.S. history occurred at a Hyatt Regency hotel in Kansas City in July 1981, when a walkway collapsed, killing 114 people and injuring 216. More than 300 civil lawsuits were filed in the months following the disaster. If a hotel or resort’s negligence led to your injuries or loved one’s death, you may have a valid compensation claim. Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and Wyndham chains have paid out millions in settlements for premises liability claims related to incidents such as swimming pool electrocutions, slip and fall accidents, walkway collapses, and dangerous conditions.
• Negligent security: A negligent security claim is a type of premises liability suit where a person is injured or harmed due to the acts of a third party. A negligent security claim could be brought after a shooting, robbery, rape, or assault. A claim may be brought even if the perpetrator is not prosecuted or apprehended.
• Slip and fall accidents: A slip and fall accident is the most common type of premises liability claim. Simply stated, if the property owner was aware of a dangerous condition (or reasonably should have been aware), they may be liable for your injuries.
• Swimming pool accidents: Swimming pool accidents can include drownings, near-drownings, wet deck slip and falls, diving accidents, and pool chemical injuries. You may have a case against the pool owner, community association, or other entity responsible for maintaining the pool if they failed to supervise the environment or did not take reasonable measures to keep it safe (i.e. installing a fence, gate, or warning signs).