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Under local, state, and federal laws, all property owners are responsible for safely maintaining their property for guests or customers on their premises. Accidents happen when they fail to do so, and innocent people get hurt. A property owner may be liable for your injuries if they could have prevented your accident with better safety measures.
In Detroit, these incidents are especially common in places like busy downtown office buildings, neighborhood grocery stores, and older apartment complexes where maintenance is sometimes neglected.
Michigan’s harsh winters add to the risk, with icy sidewalks, poorly cleared parking lots, and unmarked wet floors causing serious slip-and-fall accidents across the city. Residents and visitors alike also face dangers in areas such as Greektown, Eastern Market, and along Woodward Avenue, where negligent security or poorly maintained walkways can turn a routine outing into a life-changing event.
At Fieger Law, we fiercely defend the rights of injury victims to secure the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured due to a property owner’s failure to maintain a safe environment, our skilled premises liability attorneys are committed to fighting for a settlement that covers your injuries.
Understanding Premises Liability: An Overview
Under premises liability law, property owners are responsible for ensuring visitors’ safety. They are legally obligated to address potential hazards and create a safe environment for people visiting the property through regular inspections, maintenance, and warnings. This responsibility varies according to their purpose on the premises:
- Invitee: This includes individuals who enter the property for mutual benefit, such as customers in a store or delivery workers. Property owners must actively inspect the premises for hazards and take action to prevent accidents.
- Licensee: This refers to individuals who enter a property with the owner’s consent, such as social guests. Property owners are responsible for alerting them to any known hazards that aren’t readily apparent.
- Trespasser: Trespassers enter without any right or permission. The owner’s duty is minimal, mainly to avoid intentional harm and sometimes to warn of hidden dangers. One exception is “attractive nuisances” like swimming pools, where a property owner can be liable if a child trespasses and is injured.
If a property owner’s negligence has injured you, you can pursue compensation through a premises liability lawsuit. At Fieger Law, our attorneys will evaluate your case to assess the owner’s liability and outline the most effective legal strategy to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Common Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability accidents encompass various incidents that injure visitors on a property. Our attorneys can advocate for you in cases occurring in locations such as shopping centers, restaurants, retail stores, and private residences, covering incidents like:
Slip-and-Fall Accident: These accidents often happen in grocery stores, parking lots, or icy sidewalks, leaving victims with broken bones, head injuries, or long-term mobility issues. Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe walkways, especially during Michigan’s harsh winters.
Dog Bite Injuries: Dog attacks can cause serious physical injuries and emotional trauma, particularly to children. Michigan law holds dog owners strictly liable in many cases, meaning victims may be entitled to compensation without needing to prove negligence, and incidents have been reported at popular off-leash dog parks like Grand Circus Dog Park, Palmer Park Dog Park, and Midtown Dog Park.
Asbestos Exposure: Long-term exposure to asbestos in older Detroit buildings or workplaces can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other serious illnesses. With much of Detroit’s housing stock dating back to the early 1900s, neighborhoods such as Corktown, Boston-Edison, Indian Village, and Midtown often contain historic homes and buildings where asbestos may still be found. Property owners and employers may be liable for failing to warn or protect workers and tenants from these hazards.
Negligent Security: When landlords or business owners fail to provide adequate lighting, locks, or security staff, tenants and visitors can become victims of robbery, assault, or other crimes. These cases often occur at apartment complexes, parking garages, and nightclubs.
Trampoline Injuries: Backyard or recreational trampolines can be fun, but they often cause sprains, fractures, or head trauma when improperly maintained or unsupervised. Property owners could be held responsible if safety precautions were ignored.
Swimming Pool Injuries: Drownings and near-drownings are among the most tragic premises liability cases, especially those involving children. Pool owners must maintain fencing, safety equipment, and supervision to prevent accidents.
Assaults: In Detroit, assaults often occur in busy nightlife districts where crowded bars and late-night venues can become dangerous if owners neglect proper lighting, security staff, or surveillance. Incidents can also happen around Ford Field, Comerica Park, and Little Caesars Arena on game days or during concerts, when large crowds and alcohol heighten the risk of violence without proper safety measures in place.
Tripping Over Uneven Flooring: Cracked tiles, loose carpets, and uneven surfaces can cause severe falls in homes, stores, and office buildings. Owners who neglect repairs may be liable for resulting injuries.
Accidents on Construction Sites: Construction areas in Detroit pose hazards such as falling debris, unsafe scaffolding, or exposed wiring. Both workers and bystanders injured on these sites may have legal recourse against negligent property owners or contractors.
Fires and Explosions: Faulty wiring, neglected safety systems, or improperly stored chemicals can lead to devastating fires and explosions. Property owners may be responsible if they failed to follow building codes or safety regulations.
Lead Poisoning: Many older Detroit homes and apartments still contain lead-based paint, which can cause lifelong health issues in children. Landlords who fail to remediate or warn tenants may be held accountable.
Exposure to Hazardous Materials: Toxic substances like mold, industrial chemicals, or cleaning agents can cause respiratory illness, burns, or poisoning. In Detroit, workers may face these risks in auto plants, steel manufacturing facilities, warehouses along the Detroit River, and older factories repurposed for industrial use. Property owners and employers must ensure their premises are free from hidden dangers and that proper safety precautions are followed.
Common Premises Liability Injuries
Injuries from premises liability cases can be severe, potentially resulting in lasting disabilities. At Fieger Law, we frequently handle claims for the following types of common injuries:
- Cuts
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Severed fingers/toes/limbs
- Neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Electric shocks
- Burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
Premises liability injuries are often extremely painful and life-changing. In some cases, they can even be fatal. Property owners have an important duty to ensure their premises are safe for guests and visitors, and when they fail to uphold that duty and people are injured, they can and should be held liable.
Fieger Law has the experience and resources to help you get compensation after a premises lability accident or injury. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Property Owner Negligence That Leads to Premises Liability Accidents
Property owners may be found negligent for many reasons, including poor maintenance, a lack of security, or failure to address known hazards. Common types of negligence include:
- Faulty Equipment: Broken or malfunctioning equipment, such as gym machines or escalators
- Poor Maintenance: Failure to upkeep the property, leading to hazards like cracked floors or deteriorating structures
- Inadequate Security: Insufficient measures to prevent unauthorized access or criminal activity that results in harm
- Falling Objects: Items dropping from above, which can happen in stores, construction sites, or other areas with overhead hazards
- Broken or Missing Handrails: Lack of or faulty handrails, especially on stairs or ramps
- Broken Staircase: Damaged or improperly maintained staircases, including loose steps or rails
- Unleashed Dogs: Attacks or bites by dogs inadequately restrained on the property
- Poorly Stacked Products on Shelving: Products falling due to improper storage or overstocking on shelves
- Faulty Electrical Wiring: Outdated or improperly installed electrical systems
- Defective or Dangerous Sidewalks: Uneven, cracked, or poorly maintained sidewalks or dangerous walkways covered in snow or ice.
- Building Code Violations: Property that does not comply with local safety standards and regulations, resulting in collapse or hazardous conditions
- Unplowed or Unsalted Sidewalks and Parking Lots: Slip-and-fall accidents due to ice and snow that are not properly removed
Compensation in Premises Liability Cases
Fieger Law specializes in achieving maximum compensation for those affected by premises liability accidents, ensuring coverage for both injuries and losses. When you pursue a premises liability claim with us, we’ll expertly help you through the process of seeking the following types of damages:
Economic Damages
Compensates for direct financial losses due to the incident
- Medical Expenses: This covers the costs of hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and any ongoing medical care related to your injury.
- Lost Wages: This compensates you for the income you lost while recovering and unable to work.
- Property Damage: This reimburses you for personal items that were damaged or destroyed in the accident.
- Rehabilitation Costs: This includes expenses for physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other forms of specialized treatment needed to aid recovery.
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity: This addresses the reduction in your ability to earn income in the future due to long-term or permanent injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
Addresses intangible losses experienced by the victim
- Pain and Suffering: This provides compensation for the physical pain and discomfort caused by your injuries.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This compensates you for the inability to participate in hobbies, activities, or daily routines you once enjoyed.
- Emotional Distress: This covers the psychological impact of the injury, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
- Loss of Consortium: This compensates a spouse or family member for the loss of companionship, care, or support due to the injury.
- Disfigurement: This provides damages for permanent scarring, loss of limbs, or other visible changes that affect your appearance and quality of life.
Steps to Take After an Accident on Someone Else’s Property
If you have an accident on someone else’s property, taking the proper steps is critical to protecting your safety and rights. Here’s what you can do to strengthen your case for a premises liability claim, which could help you get compensation for your injuries:
Seek Immediate Medical Care
Even if injuries seem minor, visit a doctor or emergency room for a professional assessment. This visit creates essential medical records that detail your injuries and provide critical evidence for your case.
Report the Incident to Property Management
Inform the property owner, manager, or responsible party about the accident immediately. Request a written accident report and obtain a copy for your records to ensure the incident is officially documented.
Gather Evidence
Take photos or videos of the accident scene, including hazards like spills, uneven flooring, or ice. Capture photographs of your injuries, environmental conditions, or relevant signs present at the time of your injury. Also, collect contact information from potential witnesses so we can contact them for a statement.
Keep Communication to a Minimum
While you should report the accident, avoid discussing it with the property owner or insurance representatives. Do not admit fault, exaggerate, or downplay your injuries; these statements can impact your claim.
Consult With a Premises Liability Attorney
Contact our attorneys at Fieger Law as soon as possible. We can provide personalized advice, help you understand your rights, and guide you through the legal steps to achieve fair compensation.
Preserve Evidence and Documentation
Save all medical records, receipts related to expenses incurred because of the accident, and correspondence with property owners or insurance companies. Keep footwear or clothing you wore during the accident. This evidence can help support your claim.
Where to Get Treatment After a Detroit Premises Liability Accident
After a premises liability accident, getting prompt medical attention is critical not only for your health, but also to document your injuries for a potential claim. In Detroit, several trusted hospitals and medical centers provide comprehensive care for the kinds of injuries that often result from slip-and-falls, dog bites, or other property-related accidents:
- DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital: Known for its Level I Trauma Center, Detroit Receiving Hospital provides emergency and specialized care for serious injuries such as fractures, spinal trauma, and head injuries.
- Henry Ford Hospital: Located in New Center, this facility offers advanced treatment options, including orthopedic and neurological care, for victims of severe falls or workplace accidents.
- DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital: Serving northwest Detroit, Sinai-Grace is equipped to handle both emergency and rehabilitative care, including burn treatment and surgery.
No matter where you seek care, be sure to follow your treatment plan closely and keep records of every medical visit, prescription, and therapy session. This documentation can be vital in proving the extent of your damages in a premises liability case.
Get Experienced Legal Counsel After a Premises Liability Accident
Fieger Law has represented numerous victims in premises liability cases, winning millions of dollars in financial compensation. Our team will work with you to discover all the facts, prove negligence, and get you a fair settlement.
Leverage our unmatched track record of success and let our battle-tested team fight for you. Don’t wait to claim what you deserve. Secure your free consultation with one of the most formidable law firms in U.S. history today. Your journey to justice begins now—reach out!
