Were you involved in an accident on someone else’s property in Phoenix, Arizona? Call AJ Law, PLC for a free consultation at (602) 671-2363. Our experienced Phoenix premises liability lawyers can help you file a claim for maximum compensation.
You can count on our personal injury law firm to help you recover the winning results you need and deserve. Our trial attorneys have 20 years of combined experience and have secured over $50 million for our deserving clients to date. We’ll work just as hard to take legal action on your behalf if you choose us for your claim.
Why Choose AJ Law, PLC for Help After a Premises Liability Accident in Phoenix, AZ?
Property owners and their insurance companies have one goal after an accident on their premises: to pay you as little as possible. You deserve a Phoenix personal injury lawyer who will fight for you no matter what it takes and who will make it their primary objective to maximize the value of your claim. That’s exactly what AJ Law, PLC can do for you.
Here are some of the reasons to trust our premises liability lawyers in Phoenix, AZ, with your case:
- We have decades of combined experience practicing personal injury law
- We’ve obtained single recoveries that are in the millions of dollars for accident victims in the area
- We’re passionate about standing up for people in our local community and take these cases personally
- We will work hard to ensure all of your damages are fully calculated, including those that are forward-looking
- We won’t hesitate to take your case to court and all the way to trial if necessary
Contact our law offices today for a free case review. We’ll be able to answer all of your questions about your claim when we meet.
What Is Premises Liability Under Arizona Law?
Premises liability is an area of personal injury law that imposes a duty of care and holds property owners responsible when someone is injured due to a dangerous condition on their property. This applies to virtually every property owner in Phoenix, regardless of whether the premises are considered public or private.
However, the level of care a property owner owes you depends on why you were on the property in the first place. Arizona is one of the states that still uses the traditional classification system that divides visitors into three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
- Invitees are people who enter a property for business purposes or for the mutual benefit of both the visitor and the property owner. The most common example is a customer walking into a store. Property owners owe invitees the highest level of care relative to other kinds of visitors.
- Licensees, such as social guests, are those who visit a property for their own purposes with the owner’s permission. Property owners still must take certain steps to protect licensees, but not as strictly as for invitees.
- Trespassers enter a property without permission. Property owners generally don’t owe trespassers a duty of care, but they cannot deliberately cause harm. However, there is an important exception for children under the “attractive nuisance doctrine.”
Premises liability cases tend to be highly fact-specific because of this nuance. We can help you weave through the complexity and arrive at a course of action that sets you up for as much success as possible.
Premises Liability Accidents Can Happen Almost Anywhere in Phoenix, Arizona
Dangerous property conditions can exist just about anywhere. Our Phoenix premises liability lawyers are qualified to help you regardless of where your accident took place.
Some of the most common locations where these cases arise include:
- Grocery stores
- Retail shops
- Restaurants and bars
- Shopping malls
- Parking garages
- Hotels and resorts
- Apartment complexes
- Office buildings
- Public sidewalks and parks
- Swimming pools
- Construction sites
- Gyms and fitness centers
No matter where you were injured, the central question is whether the property owner failed to maintain safe conditions. Our attorneys can evaluate the facts of your accident and determine whether you have a valid claim.
What Do I Need to Prove to Win a Premises Liability Case in Phoenix?
To succeed in a premises liability claim in Arizona, you’ll need to establish four key elements. Our personal injury attorneys will gather evidence throughout the process to build the most compelling case possible around each one.
- First, you need to show that the property owner owed you a duty of care. As discussed above, this comes down to your visitor status, at least in large part.
- Second, you must demonstrate that the property owner breached that duty. This could mean anything from failing to fix a hazard they knew about to failing to inspect the premises on a regular basis.
- Third, you need to prove that the owner’s breach directly caused your accident and injuries. It’s not enough to show that a hazard existed; you have to connect it to what actually happened to you.
- Finally, you must show that you suffered measurable damages as a result, such as lost wages and pain and suffering.
These elements must be proven on a “by a preponderance of the evidence” basis, which means about a 51% or higher likelihood to be true.
How Much Is My Phoenix Premises Liability Case Worth?
While premises liability cases involving the most serious injuries tend to be worth the most, that isn’t always the full picture.
Some of the factors that can influence what your case is worth include:
- How severe your injuries are and whether you’ll make a full recovery
- The total cost of your medical treatment, both past and future
- How much income you’ve lost and whether your ability to work has been affected long-term
- The strength of the evidence tying the property owner’s negligence to your injuries
- The limits of any applicable insurance policies
- Whether you share any of the fault for the accident
We may also bring in experts to strengthen your case. For example, a medical specialist can speak to the long-term impact of your injuries, while an economist can calculate the full extent of your financial losses. These details can make a real impact on how much your claim is ultimately worth.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Premises Liability Accident?
Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence system. Under this rule, you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by whatever percentage of blame is assigned to you. For example, if you’re found to be 25% at fault and your damages total $100,000, your recovery would be reduced to $75,000.
Our premises liability lawyers in Phoenix can fight back against accusations of shared fault on your behalf, aiming to help you minimize the level of fault you’re assigned (if any).
What Damages Can I Recover After a Premises Liability Accident in Phoenix?
Arizona law allows victims of premises liability accidents to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Punitive damages might be available in rare cases only.
Economic damages cover your financial losses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning capacity
- Property damage
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages account for the personal impact of the accident on your life:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
In rare cases involving extreme misconduct, Arizona courts may also award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the property owner and discourage similar behavior in the future.
How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Arizona?
Arizona’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your injury to file a premises liability lawsuit. If you don’t file within that window, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you’ll lose your right to pursue compensation for good.
While there are exceptions to this time limit, they are few and far between. The safest approach is to contact a premises liability attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Premises Liability Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ?
Hiring a premises liability lawyer won’t cost you anything out of pocket. At AJ Law, PLC, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we win compensation for you, whether through a settlement or a jury verdict.
In most cases, we will receive around 33% of the compensation we recover for you as payment for our work, though the percentage can vary depending on the facts of the case. The main thing to keep in mind, however, is that you only pay attorney’s fees if you win compensation.
Contact Our Experienced Phoenix Premises Liability Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Were you injured on someone else’s property in Phoenix, AZ? You may be entitled to compensation, and AJ Law, PLC is here to help. Our Phoenix premises liability attorneys have 20 years of combined experience and have already recovered over $50 million for our clients.
Contact us today for a free consultation to take the first step.
