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When you are hurt in an accident on property belonging to others, those individuals may be liable for your resulting medical expenses, lost wages, and more. However, liability depends on the reason that you were present on the property, whether the property owner reasonably acted to keep you safe, and various other factors.
Analyzing these factors and determining whether you have a valid legal claim related to your injuries might necessitate the advice of a Beaufort premises liability lawyer. An experienced Beaufort personal injury attorney could carefully examine the facts of your case and help you hold the at-fault parties accountable for their behavior.
Premises Liability Claims in Beaufort
A variety of situations may lead to premises liability claims, both on public and private property. Some of the incidents that might result in premises liability claims include slips, trips, and falls due to:
- Wet or slick floors or spills of liquid or other products
- Uneven or cracked pavement or flooring
- Broken or unsteady handrails on stairs or balconies
- Poor lighting in parking lots, walkways, in stairwells
Holes, uneven areas in yards, or bodies of water on the property could also lead to accidents. A premises liability lawyer in Beaufort could assess these circumstances and determine the viability of any legal claims that an injured person may have.
Classifications of Visitors
A property owner’s liability depends on the type of visitors on their property. For example, property owners typically do not owe a duty of care to adults who trespass on their property. However, owners are not allowed to intentionally harm trespassers.
What is the Duty of Care Owed to Licensees?
Property owners owe only a limited duty of care to licensees, or those who enter the property with the owner’s consent and for their benefit. Such reasons could include hunting or trying to sell something to the owner. Premises owners have no duty to keep their property safe for usage by licensees or otherwise look for dangers on the property.
What is the Property Owner’s Responsibility to Invitees?
In contrast, property owners may be responsible for injuries that invitees, guests, customers, or service providers sustain while on their property. Invitees include customers in stores, guests to private gatherings, and pest control technicians whom property owners have asked to provide services. In this situation, property owners must reasonably maintain their property and warn others of any potential hazards that they know of or should have reasonably been aware of.
A premises liability attorney in Beaufort could examine different situations and help evaluate the nature and the extent of the duty that property owners owe to an injury victim.
Call a Beaufort Premises Liability Attorney Today
Under South Carolina law, injury victims usually must file premises liability claims within three years of the date of their injuries. Failure to meet this deadline can result in the denial of any claims for damages.
For help gathering the necessary documentation and filing a claim within the statute of limitations, consider retaining legal counsel as soon as possible. A Beaufort premises liability lawyer from Schiller & Hamilton could provide valuable advice and support at every step of the claims process. Call today to schedule a consultation with an attorney.