Dangerous conditions can exist on all types of properties, including private homes, commercial buildings like stores or offices, and public property like parks or streets.

To knowingly allow a defective or dangerous condition to exist on a property may constitute negligence on the landowner’s part.

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property due to their negligence, contact Mann Law so a premises liability lawyer can begin seeking compensation for your injuries.

Key Takeaways

  • Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises: When they fail to fix hazards or warn visitors, they may be liable for resulting injuries.
  • Premises liability includes more than just slips and falls: These claims can involve unsafe stairs, falling objects, poor lighting, and negligent security.
  • You must prove negligence to recover compensation: It’s critical to show the owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
  • Act quickly to preserve evidence and protect your rights: A Maine premises liability lawyer can investigate and build a strong case on your behalf.

Dangerous Property Conditions

Broken stairs, handrails, inadequate lighting, poor construction, and even snow and ice can all cause serious bodily injuries in the event of a fall or another type of property accident.

Our Maine lawyers have handled hundreds of cases involving injuries that were caused by the negligence of a landowner.

If you have been injured on someone else’s property as a result of their inattention, lack of reasonable care, and negligence, contact an attorney immediately to begin seeking compensation for your injuries.

Understanding a Landowner’s Duty of Care in Maine

In Maine, a property owner, or another person in possession and control of the property, owes a duty of reasonable care to everyone who lawfully enters the land. This is true whether it is a residence, a business, or public property.

Landowners and property owners have a duty to exercise reasonable care and provide safe premises to lawful invitees.

In order to prove that someone allowed a defective and/or dangerous condition to exist on their land, a person must prove that:

  • The landowner owed a duty to the injured person
  • The landowner breached that duty
  • The breach was the proximate cause of the accident
  • The person/invitee was injured as a result

When a dangerous property condition causes someone to suffer an injury, they must prove that the property owner either caused the hazard, had actual knowledge of its existence, or that the hazard existed for a long enough period of time that the property owner should have been aware and taken proper actions to remedy it.

Property owners who are unable to remedy a dangerous condition in a timely manner are required to post an obvious notice to alert visitors of the danger. If a landowner fails to take these steps, they could be held liable in the event of a property accident.

Potential Challenges in Premises Liability Cases

Often, the landowner or their insurance company will argue that the injured party is comparatively negligent in a premises’ liability case. What this means is that the owner thinks you bear some responsibility for your own injuries. For example, they may allege that:

  • You were not paying enough attention to where you were going
  • The defect or dangerous condition should have been obvious to you and, as a result, you should have avoided it
  • You were trespassing
  • The landowner took all reasonable precautions that the law required

It’s important to have a strong attorney representing your premises’ liability case. If these arguments by the owner and their insurance company are successful, you could miss a significant portion or all of your deserved compensation.

If a court determines that you’re comparatively negligent, you can still get compensation from the property owner, but the amount you’re awarded will be reduced by the percentage you were at fault.

If your share of liability is deemed equal to or greater than that of the property owner, you cannot recover any compensation.

Reach out to a Maine Premises Liability Attorney Today

Christiana Mann and the entire Mann Law team will get you the compensation you deserve while helping put the pieces of your life back together.

During the claims process, insurance companies may try to suggest you’re at fault for your own injuries, so you’ll need a Maine premises liability lawyer to work on your behalf. Let our team help you obtain the compensation you need to move forward.

We are a statewide firm with offices in Bangor, Rockland, Freeport, Portland, Yarmouth, and more for easy accessibility. Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we can advocate for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions for anyone looking for a premises liability lawyer in Maine after a property-related injury.

What does a premises liability lawyer in Maine help with?

A Maine premises liability lawyer helps people hurt on someone else’s property evaluate legal options,
gather evidence, and pursue a Maine premises liability claim when property owner negligence
contributed to the injury—whether it happened in a store, apartment building, parking lot, hotel, or other public place.

Do I have a slip and fall accident claim in Maine?

Many slip and fall accidents in Maine qualify when injuries are tied to dangerous property conditions
(like slick floors, uneven pavement, or cluttered walkways) and the owner failed to respond reasonably.

What counts as “dangerous property conditions” in a Maine premises liability claim?

Common examples include broken steps, loose flooring, slippery entryways, falling merchandise, hidden drop-offs,
and other hazards that make the property unreasonably unsafe for visitors.

How do unsafe stairs, handrails, or walkways affect premises liability in Maine?

Unsafe stairs / handrails / walkways are frequent causes of serious injuries. Your claim often depends on what condition existed,
how long it was there, and whether the owner took reasonable steps to repair or warn.

Can snow and ice hazards on property lead to a premises liability case in Maine?

They can. Snow and ice hazards on property—like untreated steps, icy walkways, or slick parking lots—may support a claim
if the owner’s response was not reasonable under the circumstances.

What does “duty of care to visitors” mean in Maine premises liability cases?

It generally means property owners must take reasonable steps to protect lawful visitors from known hazards and hazards they should discover through reasonable upkeep and inspections.

Can inadequate lighting or poor maintenance be property owner negligence in Maine?

Yes. Inadequate lighting / poor maintenance can create avoidable hazards in parking areas, stairwells, entrances, and hallways.
When injuries stem from preventable conditions, property owner negligence may be a key issue.

What is negligent security, and can it apply to Maine premises liability claims?

Negligent security / inadequate security may apply when reasonable safety measures were missing—such as broken locks, poor lighting,
or lack of reasonable precautions—contributing to preventable harm on the property.

What compensation is available in a Maine premises liability claim?

Depending on the facts, injury compensation may include medical bills, lost wages,
and pain and suffering, plus future care needs when injuries have lasting effects.

What should I do after being injured on someone else’s property in Maine?

Get medical care, report the incident, document the scene, and save records (treatment, missed work, photos, and witness info).
Talking with a premises liability lawyer in Maine early can help preserve evidence before it disappears.

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