Proper handling of premise liability “slip and fall” cases requires a lawyer to be familiar with the applicable building codes in order to prove liability and establish damages. Slips, trips, and falls caused by negligently maintained property or premises result in serious injuries to members of our community. Recognizing the failure to comply with required building codes is essential to the successful prosecution of a premises liability case.
A recent case handled by Michael Crowley of the Janssen Law Firm on behalf of an elderly woman injured in a church parking lot illustrates the point. Mr. Crowley’s client was attending a fund raising dinner in a hall on the church’s property during evening hours. The flood light on the roof of the building as well as a wall light were broken and non-operative at the time. She left the dinner to return to her car, parked in a painted designated disabled parking space.