Gainesville Premises Liability Lawyer

When you are invited to another person’s property, the owner has a legal obligation to ensure that they maintain their premises so that you and other visitors do not become injured. While property owners have this duty of care, visitors still occasionally suffer injuries.

Gainesville property owners have a legal duty to keep the premises safe, but the scope of that duty depends on several factors. If you were injured on someone else’s property, a skilled personal injury attorney could help you determine if the owner owed you a duty of care.

Pursuing compensation against a landowner on a premises liability claim can be challenging. Investigating these claims can take time, and proving them in court requires certain legal skills. A Gainesville premises liability lawyer has the skill and experience to recover the compensation to which you are entitled.

Common Premises Liability Claims

Any danger on someone’s property could result in a premises liability claim. However, some hazards in a premises liability claim are more common than others. Understanding the common causes of a premises liability claim could assist a Gainesville lawyer in developing a case for compensation. Some common causes of such a claim may include:

• Inadequate lighting
• Accumulated snow or ice on a proprietor’s sidewalk
• Broken floorboards
• Potholes
• Exposed wiring
• Chemical exposure

Depending on the duty a property owner owes a visitor, they could face liability if they fail to address any of these types of hazards. In some cases, merely notifying guests of potential hazards could be enough.

Proving Landowner Fault

State law outlines the circumstances under which a property owner could owe a duty to a visitor. According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated §51-3-1, this duty extends to anyone with an express or implied invitation to enter the property. A landowner must exercise ordinary care to ensure their property is safe and free of any hazardous conditions. If a hazard is impossible to remove or fix, a landowner must provide guests with a notice or warning of the danger.

To win a premises liability lawsuit, a Gainesville attorney must demonstrate that the property owner owed the claimant a duty and failed to meet it. The law gives a property owner some leeway as they are not responsible for any injuries if they took reasonable efforts to address a hazard. However, if a plaintiff can prove that the property owner failed to take the necessary steps to secure the property, they could recover monetary compensation.

An important aspect of these cases is whether or not the plaintiff was invited onto the property. This invitation does not have to take the form of a direct invitation. In many cases, it is clear that the general public is invited to enter the property without ever interacting with the owner. An example of this would be prospective customers entering a shop or other business.

Reach out to a Gainesville Premises Liability Attorney

Getting the most out of your premises liability claim can be difficult. Gathering evidence to prove your case and being aware of the legal requirements also could be challenging and time-consuming.

Fortunately, you do not have to take on this challenge alone. A Gainesville premises liability lawyer could serve as both your legal advocate and your point of contact with opposing counsel. To get started on your claim, schedule your case evaluation right away.