The most common excuses property owners make in premises liability are:
- “I didn’t know there was a dangerous condition on the property.”
- “I don’t know how the dangerous condition got there.”
- “It’s not my responsibility to fix the problem.”
- “I didn’t know it was wrong to let people use the property in that way.”
Some property owners may not be aware of a dangerous condition on their property. Others may be aware of it but may not be able to fix it. Even if the owner is aware of the dangerous condition and can fix it, they may not want to.
Property owners are liable for injuries caused by hazards on the property, such as an uneven sidewalk, a pothole, or a broken tree limb. This liability extends to injuries caused by an unsafe condition of the property. Property owners sometimes make excuses for such conditions, such as the victim was using drugs or alcohol, or that the victim was trespassing. These excuses are often not valid though, and will not absolve the property owner of liability.