When you’re visiting someone else’s property—whether it’s a place of business or a private property—you expect the area to be safe. But when a property owner fails to protect visitors from dangerous conditions, premises liability accidents happen.
If you suffered serious injury on someone else’s property in Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque premises liability lawyers from Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm can work to hold the negligent property owner accountable. Through an Albuquerque premises liability claim, we can help you recover maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and more.
Our law office believes in helping those who have been wrongfully injured in preventable accidents. Someone who is badly injured through no fault of their own shouldn’t be left to struggle under the weight of bills, injuries, and pain and suffering alone. Fortunately, the law provides a means of recovery for people injured due to a property owner’s negligence.
We stand up for New Mexico residents. We stand up for what’s right. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a top-rated Albuquerque premises liability lawyer.
Common Types of Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability is an umbrella term that covers a variety of ways you can be injured on someone else’s property. Premises liability cases in Albuquerque, NM may be categorized as:
Slip and Fall Accidents
A spilled liquid, cluttered walkway, poor lighting, or uneven pavement could easily cause a slip and fall accident. These incidents typically happen suddenly and can cause devastating injuries. Serious slip and fall injuries sometimes result in permanent disability.
Faulty Wiring
If a building has faulty wiring, it may put people in danger of electrocution. Wiring in walkways also poses a tripping hazard. Negligent property owners who allow faulty wiring near flammable substances put building occupants at risk of fire.
Inadequate Security
A premises liability accident may result from an owner’s failure to ensure a safe premises by arranging adequate security measures. For example, if hotel management neglects to install security cameras, hire security guards, put up sufficient lighting, or install working locks on room doors, the hotel may be liable for injuries caused by criminal activity on the unsecured property.
Drowning and Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pools can be extremely dangerous, especially when small children are present. A child can drown in a matter of minutes. To prevent accidental drowning, pools should be equipped with fences that lock and have no weak spots. There’s also the danger of slips, falls, and other injuries if the area around the pool is unsafe.
Toxic Exposure
Toxic exposure often happens to those working in older buildings for long periods of time. One common example is asbestos. Inhaling toxic and carcinogenic substances like this can cause chronic and fatal illnesses over time. If there are no warning signs that a harmful chemical may be present, workers, residents, and visitors have no means to protect themselves from life-threatening health conditions.
Dog Bites
Dog bites also fall under premises liability law. When pet owners don’t secure their dogs, a visitor or passerby may suffer an attack. There are legal options for those injured in Albuquerque animal attack incidents.
If you don’t see your specific type of case listed above, don’t worry. These are just a few examples, and our lawyers understand that everyone’s case will have unique circumstances.
Meeting with our premises liability attorneys for a free initial consultation will allow us to discuss the merits of your case in greater detail. Our personal injury attorneys have experience in a wide range of practice areas. We will be able to advise you of your rights and options for financial recovery.
Our Albuquerque premises liability lawyers also handle premises liability claims involving:
- Defective playground equipment
- Construction site accidents
- Nursing home fall injuries due to unsafe conditions
- Inadequate property maintenance involving landlords
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Fires
- Flooding
- Amusement park accidents
- School and daycare accidents
- Parking lot accidents
How To Determine Liability in a Premises Liability Claim
In a premises liability case, the property owner is usually the party held liable. This is because when you’re on another’s property, they owe you a duty of care.
This means the property owner needs to take precautions to keep the premises safe, fix known hazards, and warn visitors of non-apparent dangers. When property owners fail to meet this duty of care, and you get hurt, you have the legal right under New Mexico law to file a claim against them.
Your premises liability lawyer will look to multiple types of evidence to determine liability in your case, such as:
- Deeds and property records establishing ownership
- Pictures and videos of the accident
- Medical records related to your injury
- Eyewitness accounts of the incident
- An accident report filled out by police or property manager
- Property insurance policies
- Evidence of past lawsuits, injuries, similar events, or known criminal activity
Property Owners Aren’t the Only Parties Who May Be Liable
In addition to property owners, other parties may be named as defendants in New Mexico liability claims. For example, if you’re on a worksite, there will be numerous third parties present who are capable of acting negligently and causing injury. In other cases, a manufacturing company could provide faulty equipment that malfunctions and causes injury.
In situations like these, your lawyer may recommend that you file an injury claim with a third party’s insurance company.
When Should I Contact an Attorney After a Premises Liability Injury?
There are a lot of factors to consider when building your personal injury claim. We recommend getting in touch with a qualified law firm in Bernalillo County as soon as possible after your premises liability accident.
A strong case takes time to build, and the New Mexico statute of limitations only allows injured victims a certain amount of time before the deadline for legal action passes.
Speaking with an Albuquerque premises liability lawyer immediately following your injuries is the only way to make a truly informed decision about your future. A free consultation at Buckingham Barrera Vega costs you nothing. Use this as an opportunity to learn about your legal options. Then you can make the best choice for yourself—before time makes the decision for you.
Examples of Premises Liability Accident Injuries
Premises liability cases typically involve severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment. An injured person in New Mexico has the legal right to financial compensation if the actions of a negligent property owner resulted in their injuries. Your premises liability attorney will thus need to know the full extent of your injuries and treatments in order to obtain maximum compensation for you.
In Albuquerque, NM premises liability claims, common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic head injury
- Soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations, bruises, and abrasions
- Burns
- Muscle injuries
- Back or neck injury
- Spinal cord injury
Compensation in a Premises Liability Claim
In a successful Albuquerque, NM premises liability claim, the negligent property owner (through their insurance company) has a legal obligation to repay the victim for what they lost. In order to obtain compensation on your behalf, your legal representation will gather evidence to demonstrate the economic and non-economic losses you suffered through your injury.
Financial compensation in premises liability cases often covers:
Economic Damages
- Medical bills
- Cost of future health care
- In-home assistive services
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of future income
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Mental anguish
Punitive damages are a separate category of damages awarded by a court to punish the defendant rather than compensate the victim. This type of damages is uncommon in New Mexico premises injury cases. However, our experience in multiple practice areas of personal injury law gives us the insight to recognize when punitive damages may be applicable. This is something we can discuss further during your free case review.
Holding a Property Owner Liable for Wrongful Death
Knowing that a loved one’s death could have been prevented is unspeakably difficult. Wrongful deaths caused by property negligence can include drownings, electrocutions, criminal attack, toxic exposure, and more. These incidents would never have happened if the property owner had taken precautions as a reasonable person should have.
In tragic situations like these, a premises liability attorney from Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm can provide the compassionate support and unrelenting legal advocacy your family needs.
Families in New Mexico may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim that seeks damages for pain and suffering, medical bills incurred prior to death, funeral and burial costs, and lost income that supported the family.
Call the Albuquerque Premises Liability Attorneys at Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm
A severe accident can put your life on hold. When we’re fighting for you, we’ll do everything we can to maximize your compensation. You’ll have peace of mind that you can afford medical expenses without affecting your other financial responsibilities.
At Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm, we understand things from your perspective. Our lawyers have been on both sides of the attorney-client relationship, and we know how important the outcome of your case is to your future.
We take most cases on a contingency fee basis. We won’t receive payment or take legal fees until we’ve won your case for you.
Reach out to us today for your free consultation.
