Indiana Premises Liability Attorney

A simple trip to the grocery store or a visit to a friend’s house in Fishers should not end in a painful, life-altering injury. Yet, every day, people are harmed because of preventable hazards like a puddle on a tile floor, a broken handrail on a staircase, or an icy patch of pavement in a parking lot. When an accident like this happens, you are suddenly faced with medical bills, lost time from work, and the stress of recovery. It’s easy to feel lost and unsure about your rights. 

Indiana law requires property owners to keep their premises reasonably safe, and when they fail in this duty, they can be held accountable. A dedicated Fishers premises liability lawyer can help you navigate the path forward. If you were hurt because of a property owner’s negligence, contact Wyant Law to understand your legal options.

Key Takeaways for Fishers Premises Liability 

• Premises liability is an area of law that holds property owners responsible for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property.
• Property owners in Indiana have a legal duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment for people who are legally on their premises.
• The extent of the property owner’s duty depends on the visitor’s legal status as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser.
• Evidence such as photos of the hazard, witness statements, and medical records is crucial in establishing a premises liability claim.
• A person injured due to a property hazard may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Why Choose Wyant Law for Your Premises Liability Claim?

When you are recovering from an injury, the last thing you need is a legal process that adds more stress to your life. At Wyant Law, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges you are facing. Attorney Chris Wyant believes a lawyer should be approachable and easy to talk to. He is committed to providing compassionate and personalized guidance to every client. We are here to listen to your story, answer your questions, and give you an honest assessment of your situation.

With over 16 years of experience handling injury claims across Indiana, Chris Wyant has a deep understanding of how to build a strong case and advocate for his clients. He works tirelessly to investigate the circumstances of your accident, gather the necessary evidence, and handle all communications with insurance companies. Our goal is to manage the legal details so you can focus on what matters most: your health and recovery.

Here are some of the ways Wyant Law stands by your side:

• Personalized Attention: You will work directly with Chris Wyant, who will take the time to understand every detail of your case.
• Honest Communication: We believe in keeping you informed and providing straightforward advice throughout the entire process.
• Dedicated Advocacy: We are prepared to negotiate forcefully on your behalf and, if necessary, to represent your interests in court.

We are proud to serve the Fishers community and are dedicated to helping our neighbors get back on their feet after a serious injury.

What is Premises Liability?

You have probably heard the term “slip and fall,” but that is just one type of case that falls under a broader legal concept called premises liability. In simple terms, premises liability is the legal principle that holds a property owner or manager responsible for accidents and injuries that occur on their property. The core of these cases is negligence.

Negligence is a legal term that means someone failed to act with reasonable care, and that failure caused harm to another person. To have a valid premises liability claim, we generally need to show four things:

1. Duty of Care: The property owner had a legal responsibility to you. This means they were required to maintain a reasonably safe environment.
2. Breach of Duty: The owner failed to meet that responsibility. For example, they knew about a wet floor but did not clean it up or put out a warning sign.
3. Causation: The owner’s failure directly caused your injuries. In other words, you would not have been hurt if not for the unsafe condition.
4. Damages: You suffered actual harm as a result of the injury. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain.

Think of it this way: a grocery store owner has a duty to keep the aisles clear of spills. If they neglect this duty and a customer slips, falls, and breaks their arm, the owner has breached their duty. The fall caused the broken arm, which resulted in medical bills and pain. This situation presents all the elements of a successful premises liability claim.

Premises Liability Cases We Handle

Injuries on another person’s property are not just “unlucky accidents”; they are frequently the result of a property owner failing to address a known or foreseeable hazard. At Wyant Law, we have experience with a wide range of premises liability cases and are prepared to help you no matter how your injury occurred.

Our firm assists clients in Fishers and throughout Indiana with various premises liability matters, including:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: These are the most common type of premises liability case, often caused by wet floors, icy sidewalks, cluttered walkways, or uneven surfaces.
• Trip and Fall Accidents: Caused by hazards like broken pavement, torn carpeting, poor lighting, or unmarked steps.
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Indiana law holds dog owners responsible for injuries their pets cause.
• Inadequate Security: Injuries resulting from assaults or robberies that could have been prevented by proper security measures like working locks, adequate lighting, or security personnel.
• Swimming Pool Accidents: Accidents caused by a lack of proper fencing, supervision, or maintenance.
• Falling Objects: Injuries from items falling off shelves in a store or from unsecured objects on a construction site.
• Elevator and Escalator Accidents: Malfunctions due to poor maintenance can lead to serious injuries.

These are just a few examples of the types of situations that can lead to a valid claim. If you were injured on someone else’s property and believe it was due to an unsafe condition, it is worth discussing your situation with a knowledgeable attorney.

Who May Be Held Liable in a Fisher, IN Premises Liability Lawsuit?

One of the first questions in a premises liability case is identifying who is responsible for your injuries. It may seem obvious that the property owner is the liable party, but the answer can be more complex. Depending on the situation, several different parties could be held accountable for the hazardous condition that caused your accident.

Determining the responsible party is a critical step, as it dictates who a claim is filed against. A thorough investigation may reveal that one or more of the following parties are at fault:

• Property Owners: This includes homeowners, commercial building owners, and landlords who are responsible for maintaining common areas.
• Renters or Tenants: A business that rents a commercial space, like a restaurant in a strip mall, is generally responsible for keeping its specific area safe for customers.
• Property Management Companies: Owners often hire third-party companies to handle the day-to-day maintenance and safety of a property, such as an apartment complex.
• Third-Party Contractors: A landscaping or snow removal company hired to maintain the grounds could be liable if their negligence leads to an injury.
• Government Entities: If you are injured on public property, such as a city park like Roy G. Holland Memorial Park or a government building, the municipality of Fishers or another government body could be held responsible.

For example, if you slip on a spilled drink in a supermarket, the liable party is likely the store itself (the tenant), not the owner of the shopping center. However, if you trip on a broken piece of pavement in the parking lot, the property owner or the management company might be responsible. An experienced Fishers premises liability attorney can investigate the specific circumstances of your case to identify all potentially liable parties.

Categories of Visitors and Property Owner Duties

In Indiana, the level of responsibility a property owner has to a visitor depends on why that person is on the property. The law classifies visitors into three categories, and each category is owed a different “duty of care.” 

The three categories of visitors are:

1. Invitee: An invitee is someone who is on the property for the financial benefit of the owner or is a member of the public on property that is open to the public. Customers in a store, diners in a restaurant, or attendees at a concert at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater are all invitees. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees. They must not only warn of and fix known dangers but also proactively inspect their property to discover and repair any hidden hazards.
2. Licensee: A licensee is a social guest who is on the property with the owner’s permission but not for a business purpose. This includes friends or family visiting someone’s home. The property owner has a duty to warn a licensee of any known dangers that the guest is unlikely to discover on their own. However, unlike with an invitee, the owner does not have a duty to actively search for hidden dangers.
3. Trespasser: A trespasser is someone who enters a property without permission. Generally, property owners do not owe a duty of care to adult trespassers to protect them from harm. The main exception is that an owner cannot willfully or wantonly injure a trespasser. There are special protections for children who might be drawn to an “attractive nuisance,” like a swimming pool, on the property.

As you can see, your legal standing at the time of the accident significantly impacts your claim. An attorney can help analyze the facts of your visit to determine your classification and the specific legal duties the property owner owed you.

Fishers Premises Liability Lawyer FAQs

Here are answers to some common questions we hear from people in your situation.

Contact Our Experienced Fishers Premises Liability Attorney at Wyant Law Today

Recovering from an injury caused by a property owner’s negligence can be a long and difficult journey. At Wyant Law, we are committed to helping people in Fishers and across Indiana stand up for their rights and seek the resources they need to heal.

Attorney Chris Wyant provides the compassionate support and determined advocacy you deserve. He will personally handle your case, giving you the direct attention and straightforward advice you need to make informed decisions. We will take care of the legal details125

 so you can concentrate on your recovery and your family.

If you have been injured on someone else’s property, take the first step toward getting your life back. Contact Wyant Law today at 317-683-0333 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us listen to your story and explain how we can help you fight for the fair outcome you deserve.