Being seriously injured due to unsafe property conditions is a traumatic experience that can upend your life. During this challenging time, you need a compassionate legal advocate in your corner – a Providence premises liability lawyer from Gemma Law.
For generations, our firm has been helping Rhode Islanders who’ve suffered injuries on hazardous premises secure the compensation they deserve. We have the experience and resources to investigate your accident thoroughly and build a strong case against negligent property owners and managers.
We know how to gather compelling evidence of dangerous conditions and code violations while aggressively protecting your rights every step of the way. Don’t let the insurance company or a big corporation take advantage of you. Let our Providence personal injury lawyers put our experience to work for you.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility that property owners and occupiers have to maintain safe conditions and address hazards that could foreseeably cause injury to visitors.
When they fail to uphold this duty of care through negligence, they can be held financially accountable. A premises liability lawyer in Providence can review your case and determine if you have grounds for a claim.
Common examples of premises liability accidents our lawyers handle in Rhode Island include:
- Slip and fall incidents caused by wet floors, poor lighting, torn carpets, or other hazardous surfaces
- Stair and step accidents from broken handrails, uneven risers, improper tread depth, or lack of traction
- Elevator and escalator injuries or falling due to equipment malfunctions
- Swimming pool accidents and near-drownings from inadequate safety measures
- Injuries from falling objects at construction sites due to improper protective barriers
- Dog bites or animal attacks on properties where pets are improperly restrained
- Muggings, assaults, or other criminal acts occurring due to inadequate security measures
Premises liability claims can be brought against commercial property owners like stores, restaurants, and hotels, as well as residential landlords and homeowners associations.
For a free legal consultation with a premises liability lawyer serving ProvidenceCall 401.467.2300
The Property Owner/ Insurer Has Offered Me a Settlement. Should I Accept It?
When pursuing a premises liability claim, it’s quite common for property owners or their insurance providers to extend an early settlement offer in an attempt to quickly resolve the case.
However, these initial offers rarely provide adequate compensation for the full extent of your injuries and damages.
There are several important reasons why you should be extremely cautious about accepting the first settlement amount proposed:
- Low-Ball Tactics – Insurers routinely undervalue claims from the start, offering lowball sums hoping you’ll feel compelled to accept out of desperation for funds to cover medical bills and lost wages. Their priority is protecting profits.
- Future Damages Not Accounted For – Early lump-sum settlements often only factor in costs already incurred, such as current medical expenses. They fail to properly calculate future needs like ongoing treatment, lost earning potential, permanent disability accommodations, etc.
- Severe Injuries Underestimated – For victims who suffered catastrophic or permanent injuries, insurers attempt to downplay the severity and lifelong effects. Consulting medical experts is imperative to accurately value these cases.
- Liabilities Not Fully Investigated – It takes extensive investigation to gather all evidence of premises hazards, code violations, negligent security, and other liabilities creating culpability. Initial settlement offers rarely reflect complete liability assessments. When other parties can be held liable, it may increase the likelihood you can collect the full value of your claim.
- You Give Up Rights to Future Claims – By accepting a premises liability settlement, you generally sign away your ability to pursue any further legal action related to the same incident and injuries if future complications develop.
Before considering or rejecting any settlement proposal, it’s worthwhile to have an experienced Providence premises liability lawyer carefully review the offer.
Your attorney understands how to properly evaluate a claim’s true worth and can advise if the amount covers your total damages, both now and in estimating for the future.
Our skilled premises liability attorneys also have successful track records negotiating substantially higher settlement amounts through negotiations with insurers. We leverage our respected reputation and body of evidence to motivate defendants to engage in good-faith negotiations.
Providence Premises Liability Lawyer Near Me 401.467.2300
Will My Case Have to Go to Court?
The vast majority of personal injury claims are settled out of court because they are costly and time-consuming. Going to court doesn’t benefit the insurer or the defendant because there is a great risk of an unknown outcome.
However, in some cases where insurers stubbornly refuse to make a fair settlement offer that compensates you fully, our legal team possesses the litigation skills to take them to trial and fight for the complete damages deserved.
Having Gemma Law advocate on your behalf helps ensure you recover maximum compensation, whether through settlement or a verdict.
Establishing Premises Liability Is Complex
To prevail in a premises liability lawsuit, your premises liability attorney in Providence must establish that:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care as an invitee or licensee
- That duty was breached through negligent property maintenance, lack of warnings, or security
- The breach of duty was the direct cause of your accident and injuries
- You suffered quantifiable damages like medical costs, lost wages, and pain/suffering
This requires gathering extensive evidence such as:
- Photo/video documentation of the hazardous condition
- Witness testimonies about lack of warnings or improper property maintenance
- Incident reports and past complaint records about the same hazard
- Expert analysis of building code, safety regulation, or policy violations
- Your complete medical records detailing the full extent of injuries
Defendants and their insurance providers will typically contest liability by claiming you were trespassing, the hazard was open/obvious, or that you failed to exercise reasonable caution yourself. Our attorneys can help fight these allegations of fault to protect your financial compensation.
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Contact a Providence Premises Liability Law Firm for a Free Consultation
When pursuing a premises liability claim against corporate entities, property owners, and insurance companies with tremendous resources, you need legal advocates with a proven track record of results.
Legal representation from Gemma Law maximizes your chances of recovering full and fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Do not make the mistake of accepting an inadequate premises liability settlement before speaking to us.
Our no-obligation case evaluations allow you to make a fully informed decision about securing the justice you truly deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation with a Providence premises liability attorney.
Call or text 401.467.2300 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form