Wake Forest Premises Liability Lawyer
Property owners owe a duty of care to people they invite onto the property, such as tenants, customers, and houseguests. When they fail to live up to their responsibilities, they may be held liable for any harm that results.
If you suffer injuries that could have been prevented if someone had only taken proper care with their land, a dedicated personal injury attorney could help you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and other aspects of an incident. For help with constructing a compensation claim, be sure to get in touch with a Wake Forest premises liability lawyer.
When Could a Property Owner Be Liable for Harm?
There are many types of situations where a landowner or property manager’s lack of responsibility may cause a Wake Forest resident to suffer harm and therefore incur liability on the former’s part. Some common examples include:
- Falls due to slippery surfaces
- Injuries caused by hidden conditions
- Trip and falls caused by loose carpeting on stairs
- Attacks due to inadequate security
- Animal-related injuries
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals
- Injuries caused by falling objects
A property liability lawyer in Wake Forest could review the circumstances of a particular incident to determine whether one or more parties may bear responsibility for causing an injury. If the property owner is found liable, the injured person may be able to successfully recover compensation, often through the property owner’s insurance company.
What are the Duties of Property Owners?
Those who own property are required to take certain actions to ensure the safety of people who are on their property for a legitimate purpose. Property owners may even owe duties to those on their land illegally.
Among these responsibilities is a duty to repair or warn visitors about dangerous conditions. For instance, if a liquid is spilled on the floor of a retail store, the store’s managers would be expected to take reasonable actions to clean it up, and to either warn patrons about the spill or block access to the floor until the situation can be remedied.
In addition, property owners have a duty to conduct reasonable inspections of their property to see if dangerous conditions exist. Dedicated legal counsel could help collect evidence to show that a landlord had been informed of a hazardous condition by tenants, but took too long in taking action to address the problem.
Finally, property owners may even be held liable for the illegal actions of third parties on their property. If they fail to provide property security measures, for instance, they may be held accountable if someone is attacked on their property.
What are the Statute of Limitations in Wake Forest?
North Carolina General Statutes §1-52 allows an injured individual three years in which to file a claim for compensation for a personal injury. In many cases, the statute of limitations does not start running until the harm becomes apparent or should have become apparent. For instance, if exposure to a dangerous substance on someone’s property caused harm does not cause noticeable damage until months after the instigating incident, the injured person might have more than three years to file a lawsuit for recovery.
However, it is usually in the best interests of a potential plaintiff take action long before the statute of limitations becomes an issue since the most effective evidence showing liability is typically available shortly after the incident that caused the injury. A premises liability attorney in Wake Forest could help collect and preserve evidence so that it can be used in negotiations and, if necessary, at trial.
Talk to a Wake Forest Premises Liability Attorney Today
If you have suffered an injury on property owned by another person or entity, it may be a good idea to consult a knowledgeable Wake Forest premises liability lawyer to learn if you may be entitled to compensation to offset pain and suffering and other effects. To learn what may be possible in your case, call now.
