Hyannis Premises Liability Lawyers

Hyannis is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod. Ferry terminals, the Cape Cod Mall, hotels, restaurants, and Main Street shops draw thousands of people each week, particularly during the busy summer tourist season when foot traffic surges along sidewalks, parking lots, and marinas. With so many visitors, a single unsafe condition, a loose stair tread, an uncleared patch of ice, or inadequate security lighting can cause life-changing injuries.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers combines Boston-based resources with deep local knowledge to help people hurt by dangerous property conditions in Hyannis and the surrounding Barnstable County communities. This page explains how Massachusetts premises liability law works, what makes Hyannis claims unique, and how our firm builds persuasive cases.

Premises liability is a branch of negligence law that holds owners and occupiers responsible when someone is injured because the property was not kept reasonably safe. Massachusetts uses a reasonable-care standard for virtually all lawful visitors, replacing the older “natural-accumulation” rule and clarifying duties for snow and ice removal in the landmark case Papadopoulos v. Target Corp., 457 Mass. 368 (2010).

While many states still draw sharp lines between invitees, licensees, and trespassers, Massachusetts courts focus on whether the owner acted with reasonable care under all the circumstances. Trespassers are owed only protection from willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, but a special doctrine, the attractive nuisance rule, extends a duty of reasonable care to trespassing children who are lured by hazards such as swimming pools or construction sites.

Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence system. An injured person may recover damages as long as their own fault does not exceed 50 percent; any award is reduced in proportion to their share of fault (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85).

Most premises liability lawsuits must be filed within three years of the injury (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A). Missing this deadline almost always bars recovery.

Beyond statewide building codes, Hyannis property owners must comply with Barnstable ordinances governing sidewalk snow and ice removal. For example, Chapter 206 of the Town Code restricts pushing snow onto public ways and allows vehicles that block plowing to be towed. Failure to follow such rules can serve as evidence of negligence.

Hyannis combines coastal weather, heavy pedestrian traffic, and a mix of older and newly renovated buildings. Frequent sources of claims include:

• Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall incidents on wet grocery aisles, uneven boardwalk planks, or freshly waxed restaurant floors. Slips and falls are among the most litigated personal injury accidents on Cape Cod.
• Snow- and ice-related falls in hotel parking lots, ferry terminals, and mall walkways when owners delay clearing precipitation.
• Inadequate security at nightlife venues that leads to assaults in dimly lit parking areas.
• Swimming-pool accidents stemming from missing self-latching gates, absent lifeguards, or cloudy water that hides hazards.
• Retail store display collapses or falling merchandise at large chains inside the Cape Cod Mall.
• Marina and dock hazards, including unsecured gangways or slippery algae-covered surfaces near Hyannis Harbor.

A successful case must prove four elements:

1. Duty – The defendant owed a duty of reasonable care.
2. Breach – The duty was violated by an unsafe condition or failure to warn.
3. Causation – The breach directly and foreseeably caused the injury.
4. Damages – The plaintiff suffered compensable harm (medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering).

Massachusetts requires evidence that the owner either created the hazard or had actual or constructive notice of it long enough to fix or warn about the danger. Maintenance logs, surveillance footage, weather data, and witness statements are crucial. Our investigators often pull Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority bus surveillance or cellphone videos to show how long a spill or icy patch existed before a fall.

Premises liability lawsuits arising in Hyannis are typically filed in Barnstable County Superior Court, located eight miles away in Barnstable Village. The court has jurisdiction over civil cases involving more than $50,000 in damages, and its docket moves faster than many urban venues, making early preparation vital.

Immediate actions can strengthen a future claim:

• Obtain prompt medical treatment, Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis maintains electronic health records useful for proving injury severity.
• Report the incident to management and request a written copy.
• Photograph the hazard, surrounding signs, footwear, and lighting conditions before they change.
• Preserve clothing and shoes; tread patterns and contaminants often become evidence.
• Collect names and phone numbers of witnesses, including seasonal workers who may leave Cape Cod after Labor Day.
• Avoid posting photos or comments about the event on social media.
• Contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.

Massachusetts law allows compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, and assistive devices
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium for spouses
• Wrongful-death damages, including funeral costs and loss of companionship

Punitive damages are rarely available in negligence cases unless the defendant’s conduct was grossly negligent or willful.

Our firm has represented injured Massachusetts residents for more than three decades and maintains a focused premises liability practice. Key advantages include:

• Local insight with statewide reach – Investigators know Hyannis’s Main Street storefront layouts, ferry-terminal maintenance contracts, and seasonal staffing patterns that affect liability.
• Rapid evidence preservation – We send spoliation letters within 24 hours to secure surveillance footage before retail defendants delete recordings.
• Expertise in complex hazards – From snow-clearing protocols to ADA ramp-slope standards, our attorneys draw on engineering and meteorology experts recognized by Barnstable County courts.
• Trial-ready reputation – Insurance carriers are aware we routinely bring cases to verdict when offers fall short, improving settlement leverage.
• Client-centered communication – Regular updates, Spanish-language support, and digital document signing keep the process transparent and convenient, even for clients who return home after vacation injuries.

All cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis; no legal fee unless we secure compensation.

Owners, tenants, property-management companies, snow-removal contractors, and event organizers may share responsibility. Fault is apportioned under the comparative negligence statute.

Yes. Since Papadopoulos, property owners must act reasonably to address both natural and unnatural accumulations.

Generally, three years from the accident date, but gathering evidence early is critical.

Most cases settle after discovery, but we prepare every claim as if it will be tried before a Barnstable County jury, which often prompts insurers to negotiate in good faith.

The attractive nuisance doctrine can impose liability even when the child was trespassing.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries on unsafe property in Hyannis or anywhere on Cape Cod, reach out today:

• Phone: 617-777-7777
• Online: Use the secure form at jeffreysglassman.com
• Office: 1 International Pl., 18th Floor, Boston, MA 02110

Initial consultations are always free, and our attorneys are ready to protect your rights and pursue the full compensation you deserve.