New Mexico Premises Liability Lawyers

It can happen to anyone: one moment, you are enjoying life at the home of a friend or family member, or perhaps enjoying dinner out at a restaurant, when you suffer an injury on the property through no fault of your own.

Whether it’s a slip-and-fall, a dog bite, a swimming pool accident, or some other personal injury, if you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered as a result. First, you must understand your legal rights, options, and the law regarding premises liability cases in New Mexico.

Types of Premises Liability in New Mexico

Simply put, premises liability involves an injury that occurs on someone else’s property because of an unsafe condition of the property. This can be property owned by an individual, such as an injury on someone’s deck or in their swimming pool. It can also include property owned by a business, such as a slip-and-fall or tripping on defective stairs at a store, restaurant, or other place open to the public.

There are many different types of accidents that fall under New Mexico premises liability, including:

• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Injuries on broken steps, stairs, or due to broken railings
• Swimming pool injuries
• Accidents on someone else’s boat or recreational vehicle
• Negligent security cases
• Injuries resulting from a dangerous or defective condition on the premises
• Workplace injuries where the employer failed to make the premises safe for employees and others

Common Injuries in New Mexico Premises Liability Cases

An accident on a New Mexico property can result in various personal injuries, including some that can prove to be catastrophic. For example:

• Back and spinal injuries, sometimes including partial or full paralysis
• Neck or shoulder injuries
• Head injuries, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries
• Broken or fractured bones
• Internal injuries
• Lost digits or even limbs
• Various soft tissue or muscular injuries
• Scarring, disfigurement, or other permanent changes to your person
• Chronic pain and suffering
• In the most catastrophic cases, wrongful death of a loved one

When Can You Make a Premises Liability Claim?

In order to make a premises liability claim in New Mexico, you will generally need to show that the property owner was negligent. The law of negligence serves to hold parties liable for injuries they cause to another party, and the law of premises liability is just one example of negligence.

To prove negligence, you will need to show that the property owner owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty, and that, as a direct result of the breach, you suffered injuries leading to damages.

New Mexico recognizes three different classes of visitors under premises liability law, and the degree of care that is owed to you depends on the class you fall into:

• Invitees. These are business visitors, such as clients or customers who are visiting a business establishment. The owner of the property owes a duty to make the premises safe for invitees. For example, if there is a missing step on a stairway, the owner of the property must fix it and make it a safe way for invitees to pass.
• Licensees. These are people who are social guests and visitors, such as when you visit a friend’s home. Generally, the owner of the property owes licensees a duty to warn of any known dangers or defects. So, for example, if a diving board is not functioning properly, and the owner knows it, they have a duty to warn guests before someone uses the diving board and gets hurt.
• Trespassers. These are people who were on the property without authorization, and they are typically owed no duty. So, if you were trespassing on the property when you were injured, it is possible that you won’t be able to recover compensation unless there is a specific exception that applies to your case.

What Types of Damages Can You Recover in a New Mexico Premises Liability Case?

After your accident, you may incur significant financial losses as you seek to recover from your injuries, and you may be able to recover damages from the responsible party in order to compensate you for those losses. The following are some examples:

• Medical bills and hospital stays
• The costs of prescription medications
• The costs of medical imaging, testing, and treatment
• Doctors’ and specialists’ visits
• The costs of physical therapy, home care, nursing care, and other types of therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost income or wages if you cannot work as a result of your accident
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring or disfigurement
• The loss of enjoyment of activities that you can no longer do
• The general decline in the quality of your life

Why Choose Nix Patterson to Help With Your New Mexico Premises Liability Claim?

After a premises liability accident, you can become quickly overwhelmed, especially if you have sustained a severe injury: after all, you’re already focusing on your recovery and trying to care for your loved ones, and pursuing legal action can be challenging to deal with on top of everything else. On top of that, premises liability claims can be tough to prove, even in the most straightforward cases. That’s why you need experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable New Mexico lawyers like Nix Patterson in your corner after a premises liability accident.

Our New Mexico premises liability lawyers are experienced in trials and have decades of experience representing accident victims. We will negotiate with the other party and their insurance company on your behalf, focusing on your claim so that you can focus on getting better after your accident. If a fair and reasonable settlement is not possible, we will fight for you in court, building a strong case on your behalf.

We understand how disruptive it is to go through an accident and sustain a serious injury, and we will stand by your side in the fight for justice. Call Nix Patterson today at 512-328-5333 or complete our online form to start.