Premises liability and personal liability are two legal theories that apply to personal injury cases. The difference between these two concepts centers on how an at-fault party becomes liable for another person’s injuries.
With premises liability, compensation could be available if the property owner or occupier fails to take reasonable steps to address a dangerous hazard. Often, the defendants in these cases face legal repercussions due to inaction as opposed to something specific they did to cause an injury.
The opposite is true with personal injury cases. In a personal injury case, a defendant is liable for any harm they cause with their careless, reckless, or intentional actions. These cases usually involve an affirmative act like driving while intoxicated or making an error while performing surgery.