Massachusetts premises liability law requires property owners and occupiers to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition for lawful visitors. When they fail to do so and someone is hurt, the owner may be liable.
Unlike some states, Massachusetts applies a single standard of reasonable care to all lawful visitors, rather than dividing them into rigid categories. The key question is whether the owner acted reasonably under the circumstances.
Common premises hazards include wet or uneven floors, broken stairs and railings, inadequate lighting, falling merchandise, and negligent security. To prevail, an injured person generally must show the owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn of it.
Comparative negligence applies, so an owner may argue the visitor wasn't watching where they were going. Photographs, incident reports, and witness statements help establish the hazard and rebut blame-shifting.
If you've been injured in Massachusetts, Injury Claim Team can connect you with an experienced personal injury attorney at no cost. Call 973-566-5599 any time for a free, confidential case review — there's no fee unless you win.
Injured in Massachusetts? Your free case review is one call away. Reach us at 973-566-5599 — available 24/7, no fee unless you win.