When you lawfully enter another person’s property, a landowner typically owes you a duty of care. State premises liability laws establish that most property owners must protect you from hazards on their estate. Liability statutes can be complex, but a knowledgeable personal injury attorney understands the nuances of these legal frameworks.
If you were injured while visiting someone else’s property, you should not try to resolve the matter on your own. An experienced Georgetown premises liability lawyer could determine whether another person’s negligence caused your accident and help you seek justice.
Different Premises Have Varying Liability Standards
Premises is a general term that refers to all aspects of an individual’s property, such as land, buildings, structures, renovations, improvements, or stores. It could even include infrastructure like sidewalks, parking lots, or lawns, depending on the nature of the space.
Different premises serve different purposes, which could cause the duty of care that a property holder owes visitors to vary. Property that is open to the public for business, for example, will likely have a different liability requirement than a private home. A seasoned property liability attorney in Georgetown could further explain how the type of space influences a duty of care.
Standards of Care for Different Types of Visitors
While the type of a property partially determines a defendant’s liability, the legal duty owed by the property owner can also change depending on whether the plaintiff was invited or permitted to spend time at the location.
Invitees
An invitee is a person who enters a property with either implied or expressed consent, often for a business purpose. Their reason for visiting is usually beneficial to both parties since a visitor will purchase goods or services and a business owner will profit.
A business or property manager owes invitees a strict duty of care. Property owners must warn visitors of potential hazards to avoid an accident. Invitees typically have a strong legal standing if they were injured by the negligent actions of a property owner.
Licensees
From a legal standpoint, licensees deserve a less substantial duty of care than invitees. These individuals visit another person’s property for personal reasons, without benefit to the landowner. Social guests are a common example of a licensee. Property holders do not owe these visitors the same level of protection from hazards, so licensees typically have less legal rights if they were injured during a visit to a property.
Trespassers
Property holders owe trespassers hardly any duty of care. Since these individuals were not invited to a site, a landowner is not required to protect them or inform them of any potential dangers.
Any invitee or licensee who sustained injuries during a visit to someone’s estate might deserve financial reimbursement. A skilled Georgetown attorney could verify an injured person’s legal status at the time of their visit and help them implement premises liability laws.
Filing a Premises Liability Claim on Time
The process of creating a premises liability lawsuit begins with filing a formal complaint. When navigating this procedure, a plaintiff must ensure that they submit their claim on time.
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003, for instance, requires an injured person to file their complaint within two years of their accident.
Beginning a premises liability lawsuit immediately after an injury is crucial because it could give a proactive Georgetown lawyer more time to assist a wounded plaintiff with the legal proceedings.
Discuss Your Options with a Georgetown Premises Liability Attorney
When a visitor sustains injuries on another person’s property, they might endure severe physical suffering or experience financial setbacks. Injuries typically happen when a property owner breaches a duty of care that they owe an invitee or licensee.
If you were invited to someone’s land and were injured due to their negligence, you might be able to collect economic damages to help lessen your burdens. A well-practiced Georgetown premises liability lawyer could analyze the specifics of your accident and help you determine the best course of action.
Call our offices today to learn more about your options.