Premises liability law is governed by the legal concept of negligence. When the careless or reckless behavior of a person or organization results in injury or death to another person, they could be held liable in a civil court for the afflicted party based on their own legal negligence. All organizations and individuals typically have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of others. If a property owner fails to warn visitors about a slippery staircase during winter, they might be held accountable if a visitor injures themselves on the staircase.