Property owners — whether commercial, public, or private — are required to make sure that their premises are safe and that reasonable care has been taken to maintain hazard-free conditions for customers or visitors. When someone slips and falls in a mall, a grocery store, on a public sidewalk, or in a private home, the question is who’s responsible?

Unless the visitor has engaged in unusually risky behavior, the responsibility lies with the property owner who must keep his or her premises safe and clutter-free. Owners are required to perform repairs in a timely manner and post warnings if there are any dangerous hazards visitors should be aware of.

Common conditions that pose high risks for slip and fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, or other serious injuries include:

• Water pooled on a floor
• Torn or frayed carpeting
• Rickety stairway banisters
• Building code violations
• Potholes or debris in parking lots
• Crumbling curbs
• Failure to remove snow or ice
• Sidewalks upraised by tree roots.
• Property owners who are negligent or careless in maintaining a safe environment or who fail to provide adequate warnings of potential dangers are liable for injuries suffered by visitors who have taken reasonable care while on the property.

If you have sustained serious injuries in an accident as a result of negligence on the part of a property owner, you may be entitled to compensation, and are strongly encouraged to consult with a personal injury attorney with experience in property liability (also known as premises liability) cases.