Personal Injury - Premises Liability

New Jersey Premises Liability Lawyers
Premise Liability Attorneys in New Jersey

The term "premises liability" refers to the liability of certain persons for injuries and damages to others arising from the ownership or possession of real property. As in any other negligence action, the injured person must establish the existence of a duty on the part of the defendant to use due care; a breach of this legal duty; and the breach as the proximate or legal cause of the resulting injury.

Premises liability actions have traditionally involved "slip and fall" or "trip and fall" causes of action. Premises liability is not, however, limited to such causes of action and includes, among other things, construction accidents, lead poisoning, defective and/or inoperative lighting, failure to warn of hazardous conditions, and injuries caused by the negligent or willful conduct of third persons on the premises involved.

In determining who is liable in a premises liability action, the crucial elements are ownership, possession, and control of the premises. The persons who own, possess, or control the premises can be responsible for injuries arising from a condition of the premises. A tenant can also be liable for the injuries sustained at the rented premises.

The landowner's duty may differ based on the status of the occupier and the visitor. There are three different legal types of visitors and the degree of responsibility owed by the owner varies according to the status of the injured person. The three types of visitors are:

Invitees or business visitors: An invitee is a business visitor who is invited or permitted to enter or remain on the land of another for the purpose directly or indirectly connected with business dealings between such person and the owner or possessor of the land.

Licensee/Social Guests: A licensee is a person who comes onto the land of another by consent or permission, but for his or her own purpose having no relation to the business of the owner or occupant.

Trespassers: A trespasser is a person who enters or remains on the land of another without a privilege or consent to do so.

The term "invitee" is misleading. A social guest may be invited, but is considered to be a social guest. The distinguishing characteristic of an invitee is a mutual business interest with the occupant of the premises, while a licensee is on the premises for his or her own purpose. While these status of land may not be the sole criteria used by the Courts, they still play an important role and must be properly evaluated.

If you have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of a premises owner, you need to hire an attorney who can easily maneuver the twists and turns of the legal system, the insurance red tape, and the defendants' attorneys. You need to hire accomplished attorneys who have knowledge, experience and resources - attorneys who are committed to you and your case and can give you results. You need Aiello, Harris, Devero, Marth & Schiffman.

For a free initial consultation with a New Jersey premises liability attorney at Aiello, Harris, Devero, Marth & Schiffman, call 908-561-5577, or contact us online.

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Serving clients across North and Central Jersey including the cities of Watchung, Bridgewater, and Somerville in Somerset County, Newark and West Orange in Essex County, Elizabeth, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Plainfield, and Cranford in Union County, Clinton and Flemington in Hunterdon County, New Brunswick and Edison in Middlesex County, Hackensack in Bergen County, Patterson in Passaic County, Morristown and Florham park in Morris County, Hoboken and Jersey City in Hudson County, Phillipsburg in Warren County, and Freehold, Colts Neck and Marlboro in Monmouth County.