Burlington Premises Liability Lawyer
Premises liability pertains to accidents which occur due to dangerous conditions on someone’s property, such as slipping and falling on unmaintained sidewalks, getting bitten by an unleashed dog, or being assaulted on a property that has inadequate security.
If you or a loved one have been injured on a property where dangerous conditions existed, contact a Burlington premises liability lawyer to discuss your situation and determine your legal options so that you can make an informed decision going forward. Let a determined personal injury lawyer advocate for you.
Common North Carolina Premises Liability Accidents
North Carolina premises liability accidents come in many forms; however, some of the most common injuries are caused by:
- Defective and dangerous conditions of the building, its property, and contents
- Dog bites
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Fires
- Ice and snow accidents
- Inadequate building security or lighting leading to injury or assault
- Inadequate maintenance of the building, its parking lot, or lawn
- Slip and fall cases
- Swimming pool accidents
- Toxic fumes or chemicals
- Water leaks or flooding
Premises liability accidents can result in injuries requiring emergency room visits, hospital stays, medical costs, lost income, and emotional and physical pain and suffering.
Property Visitors
While North Carolina property owners generally have a legal duty to keep all areas of their premises safe for the public, liability in these cases often depends on why the injured person was on the property. Premises liability law differs depending on whether that person was an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser.
Types of Property Visitors
Invitees are those who have specifically been invited to enter the property by the owner, the tenant, or anyone who controls the property. That invitation can be express or implied, but generally includes relatives, friends, and neighbors. The person in control of the property has a duty to keep the property reasonably safe for anyone invited onto it.
Licensees are individuals who have express or implied permission from the owner, tenant, or person controlling the property to enter it. However, licensees generally enter a property for their own purposes, such as salespeople. The person in control of the property has a lesser duty to licensees than to invitees and merely has to warn them of dangerous conditions that create an unreasonable risk of harm which are not apparent.
Trespassers are those who enter a property without permission of the owner, tenant, or person controlling the property and there is generally no duty to warn such visitors of dangerous conditions.
Exceptions
Children are an exception to this rule. The property owner has a duty to exercise reasonable care in maintaining conditions on the land such as swimming pools that could foreseeably attract children to the property and pose a risk of harm to them. Premises liability accident claims can be complex. However, an experienced Burlington premises liability lawyer can explain how these laws pertain to an individual’s particular situation.
Contacting a Premises Liability Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been injured on someone else’s property, it is important to keep in mind that North Carolina’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is only three years from the injury date.
Equally important to remember is that most North Carolina premises liability claims will involve insurance company representatives whose main objective is to compensate you as little as possible – if anything at all. A skilled Burlington premises liability lawyer can protect your interests in these negotiations. Get in touch with a compassionate premises liability lawyer and know that you are good hands.