If you were injured due to negligence on the part of a property manager or owner, you might have a premises liability claim. Call to schedule a free case review with the law offices of Mama Justice today.

Every day, people put their trust in others that they’ll maintain a property in a secure and safe manner. From the corner supermarket to a place of employment, a property that is inadequately maintained can cause serious injuries to workers, patrons, and visitors.

Those who are injured in an accident on property that belongs to another person may be entitled to bring a premises liability claim against the property owner. While slip and fall accidents are, far and away, the leading cause of these claims, there are countless other scenarios that can result in serious injury. Property owners, or the person in charge of a property, are responsible for ensuring the property is as safe as possible and free of dangers.

Our Tupelo premises liability lawyers know that there is more to being an effective litigator than having decades of experience successfully representing injured clients. Proving truly phenomenal legal service also requires empathy and tenacity on the part of an attorney. Guided by the perseverance and dedication of our founding attorney, Missy Wigginton, our Tupelo legal team has a well-established track record of guiding injured victims through one of the most stressful and traumatic times of their lives.

Mama Justice and her Tupelo legal team are here to make sure that you get the justice and financial compensation you deserve. If you’re dealing with an injury caused by property negligence, speaking with an experienced Tupelo personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights from day one.

Written by the Mama Justice legal team.
Legally reviewed by Missy Wigginton, Founding Attorney (“Mama Justice”).
Last reviewed: September 11, 2026.

What Are the Common Types of Premises Liability Claims in Tupelo?

If you were hurt on someone else’s property in Tupelo, Mississippi, you generally have three years to file a premises liability claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Property owners must keep their property reasonably safe and warn of known hazards. A Tupelo premises liability lawyer at Mama Justice can pursue your medical bills, lost wages, and pain. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.

There are a lot of different circumstances that can potentially lead to premises liability claims. Some of the most common include:

  • Slip and falls: These are especially common in restaurants, department stores, grocery stores, or on sidewalks and stairs.
  • Amusement park injuries: Often caused by slip and falls, they can also be caused by various dangerous conditions.
  • Swimming pool injuries: These include trip/slip and falls, diving board accidents, electrocutions, drownings, and infections.
  • Parking lot/Parking structure injuries: Often due to slip/trip and falls, car accidents, pedestrian accidents, or maintenance hazards.
  • Scaffolding injuries: These occur when a worker using the scaffolding is injured or when a pedestrian is injured by a falling object.
  • Equipment injuries: Caused by negligent operation or malfunctions.
  • Falling object injuries: Frequently happen in stores when inventory is stacked haphazardly or too high.
  • Construction site accidents: Victims may be injured by falling in a hole, being struck by a falling object, trip and falls, electrocution due to exposed or faulty wiring, struck by heavy equipment, or crushed in between heavy machines.
  • Dog bites: These are caused by feral or improperly controlled animals.
  • Electrical injuries: Electrical injuries can result in chemical burns, thermal burns, respiratory arrest, seizures, and death. Fires and electrical hazards on a property can cause severe burns, requiring assistance from a dedicated Tupelo burn injury lawyer.
  • Inadequate security injuries: These often take place in nightclubs, hotels, or motels, or their parking lot and are often the result of insufficient or poorly trained security.

If you or a family member was injured on another person’s property, reach out to our Tupelo premises liability lawyer to schedule a free case review. We will examine the facts of your case, collect information about your medical costs and financial damages, and determine who was liable for your accident.

How Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Claim in Tupelo, MS?

In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date you were hurt to file a premises liability claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). It can feel early to think about a lawsuit while you are still healing, but these cases often come down to proof that fades fast. A wet floor gets mopped, a broken step gets fixed, and security video gets recorded over, sometimes within days.

That is why it helps to talk to a Tupelo premises liability lawyer early, so the evidence can be preserved before it disappears. Some claims, like those against a city or county property, have much shorter notice deadlines. Deadlines vary by the facts, so confirm yours with an attorney as soon as you can.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Mississippi Premises Liability Case?

A property owner is not automatically responsible just because you got hurt on their property. In general, you have to show that the owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition, had a reasonable chance to fix it or warn you, and failed to do so, and that this failure caused your injury.

How much the owner owed you depends on why you were there:

  • Invitee. If you were a customer or anyone invited onto the property for the owner’s benefit, you are owed the highest duty. The owner has to inspect for hazards, fix them, and warn you about dangers they knew or should have known about.
  • Licensee. If you were a social guest or on the property with permission for your own reasons, the owner has to warn you about known hazards and cannot harm you on purpose.
  • Trespasser. If you were on the property without permission, the owner generally only has to avoid willfully hurting you, though special rules can protect children.

Mississippi also follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means that even if you were partly at fault, like not seeing a wet floor sign, you can still recover, with your amount reduced by your share of fault. These cases turn on the details, so it is worth having a lawyer look at exactly what happened.

What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall or Injury on Someone’s Property?

What you do right after an injury can make or break your claim, because the evidence disappears quickly. Here are the steps we tell every Tupelo client to take when they are able.

  1. Report it to the owner or manager. Ask them to make a written incident report, and get a copy.
  2. Take photos and video right away. Capture the hazard, the area, and your injuries before anything gets cleaned up or fixed.
  3. Get names. Write down any witnesses and the staff you spoke with.
  4. See a doctor. Some injuries, like a concussion, show up later, so get checked and start a record.
  5. Keep what you were wearing. Your shoes and clothing can be evidence, so do not throw them away.
  6. Call Mama Justice before you give a recorded statement. We can handle the calls so you do not say something that gets used against you.

What Damages Can I Collect for My Tupelo Premises Liability Claim?

Although the total compensation you collect for your Tupelo premises liability claim is based on the circumstances leading up to your accident and the severity of your injuries, some of the damages you will most likely be entitled to are:

  • Medical costs such as hospital bills, doctor visits, physical therapy, prescription medications, and required medical devices like crutches or a wheelchair
  • Lost income due to being unable to work
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Emotional anguish
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage

Even though property owners are not obligated to ensure your safety, they are obligated to keep their property reasonably maintained and warn guests of any known hazards. The most serious property injuries can be life-changing, requiring guidance from a skilled Tupelo catastrophic injury lawyer.

What are the Most Common Premises Liability Accidents in Tupelo?

Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, leaving innocent victims seriously injured. Some of the most common premises liability accidents in Tupelo and the surrounding areas include:

  • Defectively designed and improperly maintained pools
  • Drowning accidents
  • Cracks or holes in floors
  • Falling merchandise
  • Inadequate security
  • Protruding objects
  • Slip and fall
  • Stairwell accidents

The dedicated Tupelo personal injury attorneys at Mama Justice have spent years helping victims who were badly injured because of a property owner’s negligence. Our firm has the resources needed to fully investigate your accident and identify all liable parties, and commit to aggressively seeking the best possible outcome for your claim.

To see if you can get compensation after an accident on someone else’s property, contact our Tupelo premises liability lawyers.

Defectively Designed and Maintained Pools

Poorly maintained and defectively designed pools pose a huge threat to the general public. While we often associate pool-related dangers with a person’s swimming ability, that is not always the case. Multiple types of serious injury can quickly occur when a pool is not well-designed and properly maintained. Hazards that commonly result from bad design and poor maintenance include:

  • Diving injuries: These injuries are usually critical and the result of defective pool design.
  • Drownings and near-drownings: Events like this can be instigated by defective drains and pumps or inadequately maintained pools.
  • Improperly enclosed or maintained: Pools that are not properly enclosed and maintained to a reasonable measure of safety are a major factor in whether or not a person is at risk for death or injury.

Swimming and pool-related injuries are frequently serious or even fatal. They leave families with hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital bills and the responsibility of providing a lifetime of care.

Drowning Accidents

Drowning accidents, particularly when children are involved, are a parent’s worst nightmare. For every child who drowns in Mississippi, five more are hospitalized with submersion-related injuries. Whether it’s a bathtub, lake, or swimming pool, where water is concerned, drowning accidents are always a possibility.

People can drown in just two inches of water. Infants, babies, and children are at an increased risk of drowning in just about any depth of water. If you or your child sustained an injury caused by poor design, improper maintenance, or negligent supervision related to a body of water, it is important to speak with a Tupelo premises liability attorney about your case.

Holes or Cracks in a Floor

A hole or crack in a floor presents a potentially hazardous situation to guests, customers, employees, and patrons. Property owners and business owners have a duty to keep their property in a safe condition. Examining the property on a routine basis is part of running a successful and safe business. If there are any holes or cracks in the floor, they need to be fixed right away.

If a hole or crack in the floor goes unattended or unrepaired, it can put visitors at risk for a trip and fall injury. Hospitalization caused by inadequate property maintenance is common, so property owners need to make sure their floors are in good condition at all times.

Falling Merchandise

Falling merchandise can cause serious, catastrophic, or even deadly injuries. Big box stores are known for having huge stacks of merchandise on their floors, but injuries caused by falling merchandise can occur in any kind of store including hardware stores, grocery stores, and pet stores.

Any time a retail store or business stacks their merchandise excessively high or in a negligent or unsecured fashion, the potential for falling merchandise injuries is present. The leading causes of falling merchandise accidents in Mississippi are:

  • High stacking
  • Negligent packing and stocking of merchandise
  • Improperly secured merchandise
  • Customers were not warned of potential danger

Shopkeepers have a duty to make sure all of their employees have been trained in how to properly and safely stack merchandise. Guests have a right to expect their shopping experience to be safe and free from falling merchandise.

Inadequate Security

Violent crimes should be thoroughly examined to make sure that inadequate or negligent security did not contribute in any way to, or pave the way for, the actions of those involved. Property owners are required to provide prudent and reasonable security measures for their customers, guests, or patrons.

Some examples of inadequate security include:

  • Inadequate lighting
  • Insufficient or security personnel
  • Broken or non-existent security equipment
  • Negligent hiring or improperly trained security personnel
  • Sparsely staffed areas
  • Broken gates, windows, locks, or other security items
  • Unlocked gates or openings in fences
  • Inadequately maintained property
  • Noise levels
  • Negligent money handling procedures
  • Unsafe store closing policies and methods
  • Lack of patrols and areas left unsupervised
  • Not taking increased security measures despite being in a high-crime area
  • Negligent or non-existent incident reporting methods

If you or a loved one was the victim of a crime in a place that lacked proper security, you need to reach out to a Tupelo personal injury attorney regarding your case right away.

Protruding Objects

Protruding objects are a serious danger to unsuspecting patrons, clients, and pedestrians. If a property is not well-maintained, and objects are left protruding, people can be seriously injured or worse. People have a right to expect the properties they visit to have reasonably clear and clean walkways. Some common types of protruding objects are:

  • Tree roots
  • Broken floor tiles or floor lights
  • Decorations obstructing a walkway or footpath
  • Renovation or construction debris
  • Trash
  • Untrimmed bushes or broken fences
  • Uneven bricks or stones on walkways
  • Poorly constructed merchandise displays
  • Any out-of-place, concealed object

Depending on the seriousness of your accident, a trip and fall caused by a protruding object can put you in the hospital, and leave you facing large medical bills and a long recovery.

Slip and Fall

Very few accidents are as unpredictable and dangerous as a slip and fall. Falls send millions of people to the emergency room each year, according to the CDC. The injuries caused by slip and fall accidents are rarely minor bumps and bruises. A fall can cause a serious brain injury, even from standing height; in most slip and fall cases, victims sustain traumatic brain injuries or concussion symptoms that require immediate evaluation by a Tupelo brain injury lawyer. Other severe injuries include fractured bones and muscle tears. Negligent causes for slip and fall accidents involve:

  • Objects or debris left in walkways
  • Spills that are left unmarked or unattended
  • Asymmetrical flooring
  • Broken or uneven stairs
  • Loose or improperly stored electrical cords
  • Missing or broken handrails
  • Slippery walkways or floors with no posted warning

If a store owner is negligent in keeping paths, walkways, and other common areas clean and free from spills, debris, or other potentially dangerous hazards, visitors are at risk of being injured.

Stairwell Accidents

Most people don’t think about how safe stairs are until they fall. We take stairwell safety for granted because most of the stairwells we use on a regular basis are up to code, well-lit, and safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The leading causes of Tupelo stairwell accidents include:

  • Poor lighting
  • Inadequate maintenance
  • Hazards and obstructions
  • Lack of handrails
  • Faulty design
  • Broken or uneven stairs
  • Spilled liquids
  • Lack of warning signs
  • Code violations

Regardless of what type of stairwell accident resulted in your injury, it is important to seek the guidance of a Mississippi personal injury attorney who has a proven track record with premises liability cases as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability in Tupelo, MS

How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date of your injury to file a premises liability claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Claims against a government property can have much shorter notice deadlines. Because evidence fades fast, it is best to talk to a Tupelo premises liability attorney as soon as possible.

What do I have to prove to win a premises liability case?

In general, you must show that the property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition, had a reasonable chance to fix it or warn you, and failed to do so, and that this failure caused your injury. Simply being hurt on someone’s property is not enough on its own.

Does it matter whether I was a customer, a guest, or a trespasser?

Yes. Mississippi law ties the owner’s duty to why you were there. An invitee, like a customer, is owed the highest duty, including inspecting for and fixing hazards. A licensee, like a social guest, must be warned of known dangers. A trespasser is generally owed only a duty not to be willfully harmed, though special rules can protect children.

What if I was partly at fault for my fall?

You can still recover. Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault rule, so you can collect compensation even if you were partly responsible, such as not noticing a warning sign. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. Insurers often try to overstate your fault to pay less, and we push back with evidence.

Who can be held liable for an injury on a property?

It depends on who controlled the property and the hazard. That may be the owner, a business tenant, a property management company, or a maintenance contractor. Sometimes more than one party is responsible. We investigate to find everyone who owed you a duty of care and failed to meet it.

Can I sue if I was hurt in an assault or robbery because of poor security?

Possibly. This is called a negligent security claim. If a property owner failed to provide reasonable security, like working lights, locks, or personnel, in a place where crime was foreseeable, they may share responsibility for a resulting attack. These cases are fact-specific, so it is worth having a lawyer review what happened.

What is my Tupelo premises liability case worth?

There is no set formula. Value depends on how serious your injuries are, your medical bills, lost income, whether you face lasting effects, and your pain and suffering. A minor sprain looks very different from a brain injury or a broken hip. We can give you a realistic picture after we review the facts. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

How much does a premises liability lawyer cost in Tupelo?

At Mama Justice, you pay nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means our fee comes out of the recovery only if we win your case. If we do not win, you do not owe us a fee. Your first consultation is always free.

Mama Justice Understands What You Are Going Through

Mississippi premises liability claims are complicated. The components of possession, control, and ownership all have to be considered, along with the duty of the property manager or owner.

If there was a blatant failure to warn about a hazardous situation, and that failure caused your Tupelo premises liability accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

The renowned personal injury attorneys at Mama Justice proudly and effectively represent premises liability victims from Tupelo and across Mississippi. We know that our clients depend on us to secure the full amount of compensation they need to recover from their injuries. We take our duty to them seriously, and we are committed to seeing a successful outcome to their claim.

At Mama Justice, our personal injury attorneys know how an accident can touch every part of your life. If you were a victim of negligence, we are here to assist and guide you along the most effective path to economic recovery.

We think of our clients as our family. If you or a family member has been injured on someone else’s property, we are ready to advocate for you. Contact our Tupelo law offices today at 1-800-670-0567 to schedule a free consultation with Missy Wigginton, AKA Mama Justice.

We handle personal injury claims in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Call (888) 805-6010 to arrange a free consultation with our premises liability lawyers in Tupelo.