There were over 53,000 personal injury cases filed throughout Texas and the rest of the United States in 2017. While this is down from more than 76,000 in 2014, it is still important for property owners to take steps to prepare for a possible legal claim. In some cases, property owners are named as defendants in premises liability cases even if they weren’t the ones who caused the accident to happen.
One reason why property owners may be sued is because they have insurance to cover the expense of the claim. However, it is important that those who own commercial real estate have the proper kind of coverage. Ideally, those who own retail or other types of buildings will purchase premises liability coverage. Prior to buying a specific policy, it is important to review available options to avoid purchasing coverage that has too many exclusions or other loopholes.
If a commercial asset is in a high crime area, it could be a good idea to hire building security. This could help a property owner show that action was taken to keep guests or others who used the building safe. In most cases, security should be outsourced to an independent third-party as they will likely have their own insurance. In the event that someone gets hurt, that firm could be liable for paying damages instead.
When a person gets hurt while on a commercial property, it could result in real estate litigation. If this happens, the property owner may need to show that actions were taken to keep the victim safe. These steps may include hiring security or conducting safety checks. Attorneys may be able to help property owners in a court case. They may also help property owners take proactive steps to reduce their liability before an accident happens.