What You Should Know About Premises Liability Lawsuits
If you are injured on someone else’s property in the Birmingham area, the property owner (or the party renting the property or charged with maintaining the property) may be liable for your injuries. There are many different kinds of accidents and injuries that can give rise to premises liability lawsuits, and it is important to understand how Alabama law affects personal injury cases involving premises liability. No matter what type of premises liability case you have, one of our experienced Birmingham injury lawyers can assist you. In the meantime, the following are some key things you should know about premises liability claims in Alabama.
Premises Liability is an Area of Personal Injury Law
First, it is important to understand that premises liability law is not an entirely distinct area of the law. Rather, premises liability lawsuits are one type of personal injury lawsuit that a person may be eligible to file in Alabama. Under the law, when a person suffers personal injuries because of a defect or hazard on somebody else’s property, that party responsible for safely maintaining that property may be liable for injuries.
There Are Many Different Types of Premises Liability Cases
Many different kinds of premises liability lawsuits can exist, including but not limited to the following:
- Slip and fall cases, or trips and falls;
- Swimming pool accidents;
- Elevator and escalator accidents; and
- Negligent security claims.
In many types of premises liability cases we mention above, the injury results from the property owner failing to maintain the property in a reasonably safe manner, resulting in liability for any injuries that occur. For example, a retail store or restaurant might fail to clean up a liquid spill in a timely manner, leading to a slip and fall accident. Or, for instance, a homeowner might fail to safeguard access to a swimming pool, leading to a drowning accident.
Negligent Security Claims Are Types of Premises Liability Cases But Are Distinct
Negligent security claims can be a bit more complex since they involve a third-party’s wrongdoing. With a negligent security claim, a person who is injured as a result of an assault or other criminal act by a third party may be able to file a claim against the owner of the property where the assault occurred.
These types of claims may be possible in situations where the property owner failed to properly light a parking lot, for example, or to higher a security guard. At the same time, negligent security claims can also happen when, for instance, a hotel owner fails to repair a broken lock on a hotel room, leading to a third-party breaking into the room.
You Must Consider the Time Limit for Filing a Lawsuit
Under Alabama law, most premises liability lawsuits must be brought within two years from the date of the accident or incident that caused your injuries. The statute of limitations may differ in cases where the injury occurred on public property, such as in a public park or in a courtroom. A Birmingham personal injury lawyer can evaluate your case and can tell you precisely how much time you have to file your lawsuit. Accordingly, it is critical to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Contact Our Birmingham Premises Liability Lawyers
Do you need help filing a premises liability claim? A Birmingham premises liability lawyer at our firm can assist you if you were injured or suffered from another’s wrongdoing. Contact Goldasich, Vick & Fulk today for more information.
