Premises Liability Lawyer Charlotte, NC
When you have been injured on another person’s property you may be entitled to financial compensation with the help of a Charlotte, NC premises liability lawyer to represent your case. The lawyers specialize in personal injury law, specifically dealing with cases where someone is injured on another person’s property due to unsafe conditions or negligence. If you are in need of an lawyer today, contact one at Ted A Greve & Associates for help.
What is Premises Liability Law?
Premises liability law is the legal term for when a property owner or occupier is held responsible for any injury that occurs on their property due to unsafe conditions. This type of law holds property owners accountable for the safety of their property, and for the injuries that may result from any negligence on their part. If a person sustains an injury as a result of a hazardous condition on the premises that the owner should have known about, they could be held liable for any damages. Examples of hazardous conditions include slippery floors, broken stairs, poorly maintained equipment, and inadequate security measures. Premises liability law is a complex area of law, and requires experienced legal representation from a Charlotte premises liability lawyer to ensure that victims receive the compensation they deserve.
Covered Accidents
There are several different types of accidents that may be covered by premises liability law. Some of the most common types of premises liability accidents include:
- Slip and Fall Accidents – Slip and fall accidents occur when an individual slips and falls due to a dangerous condition or slippery surface on a property.
- Dog Bites – Property owners may be held liable if their pet injures someone while on the owner’s property.
- Inadequate Security – If a property owner fails to provide adequate security measures which then results in an injury to a guest, they may be held liable.
- Negligent Maintenance – Property owners are required to maintain a safe and secure environment on their premises.
- Swimming Pool Accidents – Property owners must take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of anyone using the pool on their property.
Consult with an experienced Charlotte premises liability lawyer at Ted A Greve & Associates who can help determine who is liable and how much compensation may be recovered.
Filing Your Premises Liability Claim in North Carolina
Filing a premises liability claim may seem like a simple task as long as you have the help of a Charlotte, NC premises liability lawyer from Ted A Greve & Associates to represent you. If you were on someone else’s property and became injured in some way (a dog attacked you, you slipped and fell), it may seem open-and-shut. However, given the negligence laws in North Carolina, there is very little wiggle room, and an insurance agent proving that you are 1% at fault for the accident can ruin your entire claim. It is important that you speak with a lawyer as soon as you are ready to file a claim so that you can have your evidence in order and be prepared to face whatever an insurance agent has to throw at you.
How long do I have to file my premises liability claim?
It is possible to have all of the right evidence for your premises liability claim but still not get the compensation you deserve. How does this happen? If you end up filing your claim too late and miss your deadline, a court won’t even consider it. This can be worrisome to many people, but as long as you are aware of the exact date of the accident and know when to file, this should not become a problem. In North Carolina, you will have 3 years to file your claim from the date of the injury.
Is there any way I would be able to file a claim after 3 years?
Under normal circumstances, you will only have 3 years to file a premises liability claim. In rare circumstances, you may be able to extend this deadline. This can happen if you are a minor or if you have a disability that makes it difficult to file your claim within the standard amount of time. In these circumstances, a court may grant you an extension, but you should never go into a claim counting on this and you should certainly not wait until the last minute to ask for this extension.
What kind of evidence would be beneficial to my case?
Because insurance agents only need one shred of evidence showing that you were partially at fault for the accident, it is crucial that you work with your lawyer as soon as possible to begin compiling evidence for your premises liability claim. You would benefit from having evidence such as:
- Eyewitnesses
- Video or security footage
- Photographs of the scene of the accident
- Medical records
I feel awkward filing a claim because I got injured at a friend or family member’s house. Should I file a claim?
You should absolutely file a claim with the help of a Charlotte premises liability lawyer. Remember, filing a premises liability claim is not the same as taking this person to court over a criminal charge. When you become injured on someone else’s property, you deserve to have compensation for things like medical bills and lost wages. You are not filing a claim against the person. You are filing with their insurance company and ensuring you are able to move forward from this and recover like you need to. While this may make things awkward at first, avoid making it personal.
Who Is Liable?
In most cases, the property owner or the person responsible for the property can be held liable for the accident. Depending on the specific circumstances of the accident, other parties may also be held liable. Visitors are classified into three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Invitees are visitors who were invited onto the property for a business purpose, such as a customer or client. Licensees are visitors who were given implied permission to enter the property, such as friends or social guests. Lastly, trespassers are individuals who have entered the property without permission.
Property owners have the highest duty of care to invitees and must exercise reasonable care to protect them from injury. This means they must inspect their premises regularly and fix any potential dangers in a timely manner. Licensees and trespassers are owed a lesser duty of care, but the property owner must still warn them of any known hazards. It is important to note that many states have laws which limit or even eliminate liability for certain types of accidents, such as slip and fall incidents.
Consult with an experienced Charlotte premises liability lawyer at Ted A Greve & Associates who can help determine who is liable and how much compensation may be recovered.