Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog
In this blog, we often write about a specific type of Washington, D.C. personal injury lawsuit: premise’s liability claims.
What Is Premises Liability?
The premise’s liability doctrine is used to hold property or business owners responsible for accidents on their property. For example, grocery stores that fail to warn customers of slippery floors can be held liable, or homeowners who invite visitors over who are injured on faulty stairs. This is an important doctrine; however, it is not without limits. In some cases, an individual might sign a waiver of liability, releasing a property or business owner from liability if they are injured.
For example, take a recent state appellate court case. The court’s written opinion indicates that in April of 2017, the plaintiff decided to join a gym. In executing her membership agreement, she signed a form that states, in part, “I understand and voluntarily accept full responsibility … for the risk of injury or loss arising out of or related to my use … of the facilities,” and “I further agree that [the defendant] … will not be liable for any injury … resulting from the negligent conduct or omission of [the defendant].” In September of that year, the plaintiff visited the gym and exercised on a treadmill. After her workout, she walked towards a trash bin to dispose of the towel she used to wipe down the equipment, but she tripped and fell on an uneven walkway and broke her wrist.
The plaintiff brought a premises liability claim against the defendant, her gym, alleging that they were negligent in maintaining the facility. The defendant moved for summary judgment, which the court granted due to the waiver agreement the plaintiff signed. The plaintiff appealed. On appeal, she argued that the trial court erred in enforcing the waiver because her injury was not connected to actually exercising or using the gym, but happened as she was walking. The court disagreed, noting that the plaintiff fell right after working out, while walking to throw away the towel she had used to clean the treadmill. For the court, the plaintiff’s injury was sufficiently connected to her use of the gym and was covered by the waiver of liability that the plaintiff signed. As such, her lawsuit against the gym could not move forward, and summary judgment was granted in favor of the defendant.
Have You Been Injured in a Washington, D.C. Accident?
If you or a loved one have recently been injured in a Washington, D.C. slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the negligent party. If you have questions about your potential claim, options for recovery, or how to start the process of filing a suit, reach out to the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, for assistance. Our attorneys are dedicated and experienced in these lawsuits and will work closely with you at every step of the process. We want to ensure that your lawsuit has the best chance of success possible, and will work tirelessly to do everything in our power to make it so. To discuss your claim with us for free, call us today at 800-654-1949.