Businesses in Alabama can be held liable for falls and other accidents on their premises in various circumstances. As a result, if you were injured in an accident at a business in Alabama, it will be worth talking to a Birmingham premises liability lawyer about your legal rights. If you have a premises liability claim, an experienced lawyer will be able to help you seek compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost earnings, and other accident-related losses.
Under Alabama law, all businesses owe certain legal duties to members of the public. Whether you were shopping at a store, seeking medical or professional advice, or attending an event, if you were injured on a business’s premises, you could have a claim for just compensation.
As a general rule, businesses in Alabama have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their customers, clients, patients, or attendees. While this does not mean that businesses must prevent all accidents in all circumstances, it does mean that victims of falls and other accidents will be able to file claims in many cases. When you sit down with a Birmingham premises liability lawyer for a free, no-obligation consultation, your lawyer will be able to assess your legal rights and help you make an informed decision about whether to take legal action.
Businesses’ Obligations (and Individuals’ Rights) Under Alabama Law
In Alabama, businesses are subject to heightened standards when it comes to preventing accidents on their premises. Businesses must do more than homeowners to prevent premises-related accidents in most cases—and, when they fail to do what is required, they can (and should) be held accountable.
Businesses have two primary legal duties under Alabama law:
- Businesses Must Monitor for Potential Safety Hazards – Businesses can be held liable for accidents resulting from hazardous property conditions of which they were aware or should have been aware. This means that businesses must monitor for potential safety hazards. While businesses do not necessarily need to identify all hazards immediately, if a business fails to identify a safety hazard in a reasonable amount of time under the circumstances, this could justify a claim for damages.
- Businesses Must Address Safety Hazards Promptly – Once a business identifies a safety hazard, it must address the hazard promptly. If it is not possible to fix the problem immediately, then the business must provide a reasonable warning. For example, if a recently cleaned floor needs time to dry, the business should put up temporary signs and restrict access to the slippery area. Here too, if a business fails to take the necessary steps to protect members of the public, this could warrant a premises liability claim.
Premises liability cases are highly fact-specific, and this is one of several reasons why it is important to have an experienced Birmingham premises liability lawyer on your side. It is also important to keep in mind that if you are partially responsible for your injuries, you are not entitled to compensation under Alabama law. With that said, it is important not to make any assumptions, and you should not let the business (or its insurance company) blame you for what happened.
These are the rules that apply when someone is injured while patronizing a business in Alabama. If you were trespassing on business property, you do not have the same legal rights. With that said, trespassers can still file premises liability claims in some cases; and, here too, it will be worth talking to a lawyer who can assess your legal rights under the specific facts at hand.
What to Do if You Were Injured at a Business in Alabama
With all of this in mind, if you were injured at a business in Alabama, making informed decisions about asserting your legal rights needs to be a priority. Once you have sought treatment for your injuries, you should consult with a Birmingham premises liability lawyer as soon as possible. To prepare for your free, no-obligation consultation, you should:
- Be sure to keep any photos or videos you took at the business;
- Take detailed notes about the incident; and,
- Write down any questions you want to ask.
While accident victims have up to two years to file a premises liability claim in most cases, it is important to take action as soon after your accident as possible. If you wait too long, it may not be possible to gather the evidence needed to prove your legal rights.
FAQs: Filing a Premises Liability Claim After an Accident at a Business in Alabama
Can businesses in Alabama be held liable for falls and other accidents on their property?
Yes, businesses in Alabama can be held liable for falls and other accidents on their property in many cases. In most cases, holding a business liable involves proving that the business knew about (or should have known about) a property hazard and failed to address it promptly.
How do I prove that a business is responsible for my injuries?
Proving that a business is responsible for your injuries requires a thorough investigation. If you were injured at a business in Alabama, you should hire a lawyer to investigate your accident as soon as possible.
Do I need a lawyer to file a premises liability claim against a business in Alabama?
While not legally required, hiring a lawyer to handle your premises liability claim is strongly recommended. From gathering evidence of liability to proving how much you deserve to recover, all aspects of the process require in-depth knowledge of Alabama’s premises liability and personal injury laws.
Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with a Birmingham Premises Liability Lawyer
Were you injured in a fall or another premises-related accident at a business in Alabama? If so, we encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal rights. To speak with an experienced Birmingham premises liability lawyer as soon as possible, call 205-855-2745 or tell us how we can reach you online today.