Meridian Premises Liability Attorney
Almost all premises liability accidents are preventable. Due care and prudence from a property owner can prevent most premises accidents, including slip and fall injuries, dog attacks, swimming pool accidents, structural collapses, exposure to unsafe substances, fires, and floods. If you recently suffered a serious injury in any type of premises liability accident in Meridian, Idaho, contact the lawyers at Feller & Wendt, LLC for assistance. Our law firm starts every client relationship with a risk-free consultation.
Why Choose Us?
- We will do everything we can within our role as your law firm to obtain fair results.
- We have convenient locations near Meridian to host one-on-one consultations.
- We have proven our ability to obtain outstanding case results time and time again.
- We have premises liability lawyers with more than 70 years of combined experience.
- We accept all premise liability claims on a no-recovery, no-fee basis.
What Damages Are Available?
At Feller & Wendt, LLC, we encourage premises accident victims to come forward with their cases for many reasons, including justice and peace of mind. One of the most important reasons to bring a claim, however, is for financial recovery. The compensatory award you and your loved ones may receive could be precisely what you need to pay off your medical debts and move on. Holding the at-fault party financially responsible could also teach him or her a lesson, potentially preventing similar accidents from occurring on the same property in the future. You may be able to recover many damage categories.
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Disability costs
- Legal fees
- Punitive damages
The Idaho courts allow accident victims to seek financial reimbursement for economic (tangible) and noneconomic (intangible) damages. To accurately calculate your losses and their worth in the eyes of civil law, discuss your case with an attorney from Feller & Wendt, LLC. If you suffered life-changing injuries such as bone breaks or a traumatic head injury, you could have a high-value case. Our initial consultations and case reviews are free in Meridian.
What Classifies as Negligence?
Idaho’s civil laws allow premises liability accident victims to bring claims to damages only if they can prove negligence for the accidents. Proving negligence requires four main elements: duty of care, breach of duty, damages and causation. You or your lawyer will need to prove the property owner owed you a duty to exercise reasonable care, failed to fulfill this duty and caused your damages. Your lawyer will also need proof that you sustained compensable damages. Without these four main elements, you may not have a valid claim to compensation.
What If I Was Aware of the Hazard?
Most slip and fall accidents come down to property owner responsibility. A slip and fall often stems from premises defects such as slippery floors, spills, inadequate lighting, ice or food debris on the floor. It is a property owner’s legal responsibility to inspect for and remedy these hazards within a reasonable amount of time. Failure to do so, resulting in a slip and fall accident, is negligence.
Identifying the responsible party for your slip and fall accident may take assistance from a lawyer. Some cases have complex questions of liability, such as liability split among multiple parties. If you were aware of the fall hazard, you could also absorb some portion of liability for the accident. Idaho is a comparative negligence state, meaning your contribution to the accident will not bar you from financial compensation as long as you were less than 51% at fault.
Common Fall Injuries
Most people attempt to catch themselves when they fall by sticking out their arms. This can lead to bone fractures in the arms or wrist sprains. Falling can also cause serious hip fractures that could be fatal for an elderly victim. Other common fall injuries include pulled muscles, dislocations, contusions, bruises, tailbone injuries, back injuries, head injuries and traumatic brain injuries. No matter what type of fall injury you suffered, our slip and fall attorneys may be able to help you obtain compensation.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
Slip and fall accidents are common causes of premises liability cases. A slip and fall can happen anywhere: at home, at work or in the grocery store. They are most common, however, in places with negligent property owners. Slip, trip and fall accidents are most likely to occur in places prone to dangerous floor conditions, such as pool decks, parking lots and store aisles. It is each property owner’s responsibility to recognize foreseeable slip and fall risks and to take steps to prevent such accidents, such as inspecting the floors regularly and keeping cleaning logs. Negligent, careless and irresponsible property owners increase the odds of slip and fall accidents occurring on-premises. Speak to a Meridian or Boise premises liability attorney with experience in slip and fall lawsuits.
Premises Liability Laws in Idaho
When you partner with Feller & Wendt, LLC after a premises-related accident, you do not have to worry about the laws or rules that may apply to your case. Our law firm and experienced lawyers will handle the legal side of your personal injury claim, while you focus on healing. We also help navigate correspondence with insurance companies throughout the personal injury claim process. We do believe, however, a few laws are important to know as a potential claimant.
- Statute of limitations. You generally have two years after the date of your premises liability accident to file an injury claim in Idaho. If you miss your deadline, the courts in Meridian will most likely dismiss your case.
- Visitor status. You may not have grounds for a claim if you were trespassing at the time of your accident. As an invited guest, however, the property owner owes you certain standards of care.
- Comparative fault. Your comparative fault (part in causing the accident) will not bar you completely from recovery in Idaho. The courts may simply reduce your award by your percentage of fault.
These are just three of the dozens of important Idaho premise liability laws that may apply to your case. Navigating the laws as an injured property visitor is much easier with assistance from a fall case or personal injury attorney. Our lawyers can bring decades of experience to your case, increasing the odds of a successful settlement or verdict.
What Are a Property Owner’s Duties of Care?
During a personal injury lawsuit in Idaho, the burden of proof will be to show the defendant was more likely than not responsible for causing your injuries. Most premise liability claims ask one key question: did the defendant breach a duty of care owed to the plaintiff? If so, and this breach caused the injuries, the defendant could be liable to the injured party. A breach of duty as a property owner could be a failure to uphold one of three main tasks.
- Checking the property for hidden hazards.
- Repairing visible, known or obvious property defects.
- Warning guests about existing defects that might not be obvious.
These are the basic duties of care a property owner owes an invitee, or invited guest. If you were grocery shopping in Meridian, for example, you would be an invitee that demands at least these standards. Licensees and trespassers, however, do not require the same duties of care. Ask a lawyer with experience in personal injury cases for help determining your status as a visitor at the time of your accident.
Speak to a Lawyer in Meridian Today
Feller & Wendt, LLC wants to help injured accident victims seek justice and recover compensation from at-fault parties in Meridian, Idaho. Hiring a lawyer could help you bring a stronger case against a property owner, business owner, company and/or other parties in pursuit of damage recovery. If you recently suffered a serious injury as a result of a slip and fall, or any other type of premises liability accident, contact our experienced Meridian personal injury attorneys for a free consultation. You could be eligible for recovery. We make ourselves available to clients 24/7. Call (208) 391-5945 today.
