Liability typically falls on any company in the product’s chain of distribution. This includes the product manufacturer, the parts manufacturer, the assembler, and sometimes the wholesaler or retailer who sold it. Under strict liability rules, you can often sue these parties even if they were not careless. The goal is to hold the responsible commercial entity accountable for placing a dangerous product into the stream of commerce.

First, ensure everyone’s safety and document the scene thoroughly with photos and videos from multiple angles. Notify your homeowner’s insurance company immediately to report the incident—do not admit fault. Then, provide a polite, basic notice to the affected neighbor, but avoid making detailed statements about cause or liability. Promptly mitigate further damage (e.g., tarping a roof) but do not perform permanent repairs or remove major evidence before an insurance adjuster or expert can inspect.

Common cases involve slip and falls on wet floors or uneven surfaces in stores, injuries from poor maintenance like broken handrails or stairs, swimming pool drownings or diving accidents due to lack of fencing or supervision, dog bites on the owner’s property, and injuries from falling objects in stores. Inadequate security leading to assaults in apartment complexes or parking lots is also a major category, as are injuries from snow and ice that was not cleared.