If you or a loved one were injured on another’s property, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. is here to fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us to schedule an appointment with a Maine personal injury lawyer. Initial consultations are completely free and confidential.
Maine Premises Liability Attorneys
Negligent Property Owners Can Be Held Accountable
Have you been injured on another person’s property due to no fault of your own? Whether the accident was a slip and fall, dog attack, or any other incident that led to injury or illness, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the property owner or manager.
The party in charge of a property must, per law, keep that property in a safe condition for any and all lawful visitors. If a property hazard is present, a warning sign is required to give visitors due notice and the chance to protect themselves. When property owners fail to live up to this standard of care, they will be considered negligent in a court of law, meaning that the injured party can seek compensation for any damages accumulated.
Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. has vast experience in premises liability law, particularly in the state of Maine. With freezing winters and many historic towns and buildings, countless Maine residents find themselves pursuing premises liability cases every year after suffering severe injuries, and we are proud to be able to help them. Our lawyers are prepared to advocate for you against negligence; we will not rest when it comes to recovering your maximum compensation.
What Is Premises Liability Law?
As mentioned, premises liability lawsuits hold negligent property owners accountable for any property hazards. Over the years, this area of the law has expanded to apply to property managers, business owners, and landlords, which means that, in Maine, a lawsuit could be brought against any one of these parties.
To be successful in their lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove the following four elements of their case:
- Duty of care: The negligent party owed the plaintiff a duty of care. Such a duty can be established through the existence of a host and guest relationship. For example, store customers, restaurant patrons, and party guests are all lawful visitors to which property owners owe a duty of care. On the other hand, trespassers rarely qualify for premises liability lawsuits because they are not lawful visitors.
- Breach of duty: The duty of care is breached by intentional or unintentional acts of negligence, such as failing to address, repair, or warn of hazards.
- Causation: Regardless of what the breach of duty was, a plaintiff must be able to prove that the breach caused their injury.
- Damages: Beyond the injury itself, the plaintiff must also establish that damages were incurred from the injury, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages, among others.
Please note that Maine employs a modified comparative negligence system in which the plaintiff can seek compensation even if they hold a share of the liability, so long as that share is less than 50%. Their compensation will be reduced to reflect their share of liability (e.g. a person 20% at fault for an accident in which $10,000 in damages were incurred will only be entitled to 80% of this amount, or $8,000).
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases
Premises liability cases in Maine commonly include:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Sidewalk accidents
- Stairway and entranceway accidents
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Negligent or inadequate security
- Poor lighting
- Health code violations
- Hazardous workplaces
- Defective electrical wiring
While these are the most common issues and accidents, this list is nowhere near exhaustive. If the type of accident in which you were injured is not listed above, do not be deterred from reaching out to an attorney.
Call an Experienced Premises Liability Lawyer
Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. understands how difficult it is to navigate the civil justice system when you are trying to recover from a life-changing injury. Backed by 40 years of experience, we can ease that burden off your shoulders by taking it on ourselves. We are known across the country for our acclaimed legal services and our dedication to serving catastrophically injured clients throughout the state. To date, we have won numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for Northern New England residents.
