Earlier this month, a settlement was reached between a woman who was seriously injured while attending a track-and-field meet and the school where the injury occurred. According to a national news source covering the case, the accident occurred back in 2014 at a track meet for a local high school.
Evidently, the 85-year-old plaintiff was struck by a discus that had been thrown by a student athlete while she was standing in an area that was designated for spectators. The woman and her husband filed a personal injury lawsuit against the school under a premises liability theory. The couple alleged that the area designated for spectators was negligently placed in a dangerous location. Specifically, the couple claimed that since the spectator area was too close to where the student athletes were competing, spectators were at an unreasonable risk of being injured.
After the incident, the school decided to push back the spectator area and install signage, warning spectators about the potential dangers. Ultimately, the plaintiff was offered $350,000 for her injuries by the school, and she accepted.
Premises Liability in Washington, D.C.
In Washington, D.C., the owners of personal and commercial property have a duty to ensure that those whom they invite onto their land are kept reasonably informed about any dangerous conditions that may be present. The nature of the duty owed to a guest depends on the relationship between the two parties. For example, the highest duty is owed to those who are invited onto a property to conduct business.
Generally speaking, property owners do not have to guarantee a guest’s safety, but a landowner should take reasonable precautions to ensure that there are no dangerous hazards on their property. Dangerous hazards that are discovered should either be removed or fixed. In the event that a dangerous hazard cannot be resolved, the property owner should provide an adequate warning to guests that the hazard exists.
When landowners fail to take the necessary precaution, and a guest is hurt as a result, the landowner may be held financially liable for the guest’s injury through a premises liability lawsuit. While these claims may seem straightforward, it is likely that any named defendant will contest liability. One of the most common defenses in premises liability cases is that the property owner was not aware of the hazard at the time the plaintiff was injured.
Have You Been Injured on Another Party’s Property?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured on the property of another person or while a customer at a business, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience handling premises liability cases. We have successfully handled cases against personal property owners, business owners, and government entities. Call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a dedicated attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Appellate Court Finds in Favor of Landlord in Deck Collapse Case, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, April 11, 2017
Court Finds that Recreational Use Statute Protected City in Lawsuit Stemming from Baseball Game Injury, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, March 28, 2017