Accidents on someone else’s property often happen when you least expect them, turning a normal day into something painful and frustrating.
With over $1.2 billion recovered for injured people across Utah, your premises liability lawyer in West Valley City from Siegfried & Jensen is ready to help you hold the right party responsible.
Speak with your West Valley City personal injury lawyer today to get answers and start moving forward with support you can trust.
How Dangerous Property Conditions Lead to Premises Liability Claims
Slip-and-falls, broken stairs, or unsafe walkways happen more often than most people realize. These accidents are especially common in older buildings, poorly maintained apartment complexes, and busy commercial properties.
If the hazard was something a property owner, manager, or landlord should have fixed or warned you about, your premises liability attorney in West Valley City with Siegfried & Jensen can help you take the next steps.
When Property Owners Ignore Obvious Hazards
There are some dangers you should never have to dodge in public or private spaces. A loose tile at the top of a staircase, a sheet of black ice at the entrance to a store, or a missing handrail on steep steps are examples of issues that create serious risk.
When someone in charge knows about a problem but chooses not to fix it, they may be financially responsible for what happens next. That responsibility applies whether the person injured was a customer, guest, or tenant. Property owners are expected to take reasonable steps to keep people safe when hazards are easy to see and simple to address.
Claims Involving Unsafe Public or Retail Spaces
Stores, restaurants, and shopping centers are supposed to keep their properties safe for customers. Unfortunately, we often see hazards like water tracked in from outside, cords running across the floor, or broken pavement in parking lots.
Public areas get a lot of foot traffic, which makes regular upkeep even more important. When business owners or property managers fail to repair known issues, they can be held accountable for injuries that follow.
Structural and Environmental Hazards That Put Visitors at Risk
Some properties have deeper issues that go beyond simple maintenance problems. Faulty wiring, weak floorboards, or poor ventilation can create fire risks or breathing problems that make the space unsafe. These problems often take longer to detect, which makes routine inspections even more important.
Environmental dangers like mold, loose ceiling tiles, or unsecured shelves are especially dangerous in apartment buildings and shared spaces.
When these issues are ignored or not addressed promptly, people can get hurt without ever knowing they were at risk. Owners and managers are expected to identify these dangers early and take action before someone gets injured.
For a free legal consultation with a premises liability lawyer serving West Valley City, call (801) 266-0999
Issues That May Affect a Premises Liability Case
Every premises liability case brings its own questions about timing, control, and who knew that there was an issue. These claims are rarely just about where something happened.
In fact, how a Utah premises liability injury case works often depends on what steps the property owner did or did not take before someone got hurt. You may run into legal complications such as:
- Whether the property owner knew about the hazard
- Whether you were invited or had permission to be there
- How much your own actions may have contributed to the accident
- Delays in reporting the incident or seeking medical care
- Insurance disputes about who was responsible for the property
- Whether another company or a third party was involved in maintenance
- Confusion about who controlled the area where the accident occurred
- Questions about liability when accidents happen outside the home
- Disagreements about when the hazard first appeared
- Missing or incomplete incident reports
- Mistakes made by security staff or on-site employees
In many situations, liability depends on who had control over the space and whether they had time to fix a known danger. Property owners do not always act quickly, especially when they think someone else might be responsible.
Under Utah Code § 78B-2-307, you generally have four years to file a personal injury claim, but it is always smart to speak with someone sooner if you can.
West Valley City Premises Liability Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Premises Liability Case
Responsibility for a premises liability injury does not always fall on the person who owns the property. In many cases, businesses, management companies, or third-party contractors may share fault depending on what went wrong and when it happened.
The people or companies in control of the space at the time of the accident are often the ones who carry legal responsibility.
Landlords and Management Companies That Delay Repairs
Tenants often report problems like broken stairs, faulty lighting, or cracked pavement, but not every landlord takes action when they should. Skipped inspections, missed maintenance requests, or slow response times can all lead to serious accidents that could have been avoided.
When someone is hurt because of an ignored hazard, the company in charge of the property may be liable. Under Utah Code § 57-22-4, landlords are required to keep rental properties in a condition that is safe and livable. That includes making timely repairs and addressing dangerous conditions that have been reported.
Contractors, Vendors, or Event Staff Who Create Hazards
Responsibility is not limited to property owners. Outside workers and temporary crews often contribute to the condition of a space, especially during renovations, deliveries, or large events.
A vendor may leave power cords across a walkway, or a contractor might block off fire exits without warning. If their actions created a dangerous environment and someone got hurt, they may be held legally and financially responsible for the harm caused.
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Call a Trusted Premises Liability Attorney in West Valley City Today
Our team has spent decades holding property owners and businesses accountable when they fail to keep their spaces safe. Your West Valley City premises liability lawyer at Siegfried & Jensen will help you understand what happened and what your options look like going forward.
If you have questions about what happened or what to do next, contact us to speak with someone who understands what you are going through.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form