A falling display, a broken railing or an unsafe walkway can turn an ordinary errand into months of treatment and missed work. The property may have an owner, a tenant, a manager and several contractors. Finding the right name on a building is only the beginning.
Nuttall Brown & Coutts represents people injured by unsafe property and other negligence in Utah. An attorney handles accepted cases from beginning to end, investigating the condition, the parties involved and the effects of the injury.
Call (801) 255-2102 for a free case review. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
What kinds of property injuries can we review?
Premises liability concerns injuries connected to the use, condition or maintenance of property. Depending on the facts, a case may involve:
- A loose railing, damaged stairway or unstable walking surface.
- Merchandise or another object falling from a shelf or display.
- Poor lighting that makes a dangerous condition harder to see.
- An unsafe entrance, parking area or shared walkway.
- Maintenance or repair work that creates a hazard for others.
Slip and fall and dog-bite claims have their own guides on this site. If you are unsure which category fits, explain what happened when you call. You do not need to know the legal name for your claim before speaking with us.
Who was responsible for the condition?
Owning the property does not automatically answer every responsibility question. An investigation may need to examine who occupied the space, controlled the area, performed the work or undertook maintenance.
A landlord, tenant, property manager or contractor may have different roles. Leases, service agreements, repair records and witness accounts can help explain those roles. The duty owed can also depend on the circumstances in which a person entered or used the property.
An injury on someone else’s property is not, by itself, proof of negligence. The condition, the applicable duty, the steps taken to address it and the connection to the injury all matter.
What evidence can help?
If it is safe and practical, preserve:
- Photographs of the condition and the surrounding area.
- The date, time and exact location of the incident.
- Witness names and contact information.
- An incident report or the name of the person you notified.
- Messages about earlier complaints, repairs or warnings, if you already have them.
- Medical records, bills and information about work you missed.
Photograph the wider scene as well as the damaged item or surface. A close-up may show a defect without showing how a visitor encountered it.
Conditions can be repaired and video may be overwritten. Contacting an attorney early can help identify evidence that should be requested or preserved through the appropriate process.
What if the injury happened at work or on public property?
The legal path may differ. An injury at work can involve workers’ compensation and, in some circumstances, a separate claim against a third party. This page does not determine whether either applies.
Claims involving a city, county, public school, UTA or another government entity may require a separate written notice of claim. A property incident report does not necessarily satisfy that requirement. Tell us about any possible public entity when you call.
What can a claim address?
Depending on the facts and applicable law, a supported claim may address medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, future care, pain and lasting limitations.
Keep track of how the injury changes ordinary activities. Difficulty using stairs, standing through a shift or caring for family members may be important to discuss with your providers and attorney.
Start with the facts you have
You do not need a completed investigation before contacting us. Tell us where the injury happened, what you remember and whether anyone has asked you to give a statement or sign a release.
Our firm has 40+ years of personal injury experience. We serve Utah clients from our Cottonwood Heights office, with an attorney responsible for each accepted case.
Call (801) 255-2102. Our call service answers 24/7, and an attorney reviews your inquiry.
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Ask us how case costs are handled under your fee agreement.
