Premises Liability

Property owners have the responsibility of maintaining their properties in a reasonable manner, such that any visitors are safe from harm. If an invited guest does happen to suffer an injury, then the property owner or occupier (possessor) may be held liable for this incident. This accountability is defined by the legal concept of “premises liability.” Examples of incidences in which possessors may have to pay damages to an individual include injuries resulting from slip and fall accidents, safety breaches, and failure to maintain equipment present on the property.

Invitees, Licensees, and Trespassers

Under premises liability, three separate visiting parties are defined, and each one is granted different permissions if injured on the possessor’s property:

• Invitee: A party that is invited by the possessor to enter the premises for business purposes.
• Licensee: A party that is invited to enter the premises for any purpose other than business (such as for social reasons).
• Trespasser: A party that enters the premises without permission from the possessor, with or without unlawful intent.

The possessor owes the highest duty of care to invitees, and must ensure that the property is devoid of unreasonably harmful areas or that the invitees are properly warned of the present hazards. Licensees are protected if the possessor is aware of a present risk, fails to notify the licensee of it, and the licensee does not notice or have prior knowledge of the risk. Trespassers generally are not protected under premises liability law.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about premises liability and the responsibilities of property possessors and invitees, call the Las Vegas personal injury lawyers of William Palmer & Associates, P.C. today at 702-888-2222 to discuss your concerns with one of our experienced attorneys.