Have you been hurt due to a dangerous condition at someone else’s home or on their other private property? North Carolina law requires homeowners and owners and occupiers of other real estate to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. If you have suffered an injury because someone fell short of this duty, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
The premises liability attorneys at Riddle & Riddle, can help you secure the maximum financial recovery you deserve for injuries suffered on someone else’s private property. We know that Justice Counts. That’s why our Goldsboro personal injury lawyers fight for the rights of injured people across North Carolina.
Although many people think of claims against businesses and government agencies when they think of premises liability cases, the reality is that homeowners and individuals who own real estate can also be held responsible when their negligence harms someone else. In most situations, homeowner’s insurance or other forms of coverage are available to pay benefits.
Are you ready to find out whether you may have a claim? Contact Riddle & Riddle, now for a free consultation, claim review and answers to your questions. We are ready to put our more than 160 years of combined experience to work for you.
Common Accidents That Happen on Private Properties
Whenever an unreasonably dangerous condition exists at a home or other private property, there is an accident waiting to happen. Some examples of accidents at residences or on other private properties include:
- A child falls into an unsecured swimming pool and drowns.
- A visitor is attacked by an unrestrained dog with vicious tendencies.
- A delivery person suffers a fall when a poorly maintained front step gives way.
- A neighbor slips and falls on an icy walkway that has not been shoveled or treated.
- A dinner guest falls down a staircase due to a loose handrail.
- Guests at a cookout are injured when a rotten deck collapses under them.
These are just a few examples of situations that could potentially give rise to a premises liability claim involving an accident on an individual’s property. If you have been hurt while visiting someone else’s home or land, and you believe that an unreasonably dangerous condition was the cause, you should discuss your situation with an experienced premises liability lawyer like those at Riddle & Riddle.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim for an Accident on a Private Residential Property?
It is not just businesses that may be held responsible for accidents on their properties. Under North Carolina premises liability law, individuals who own or occupy properties with unreasonably unsafe conditions may also be held liable for the injuries they cause.
Who Gets Sued and Pays Out for the Damages?
Although the premises liability claim will usually be brought against the individual who owns or is otherwise responsible for the property where the accident occurred, it is typically an insurance company that will actually defend the claim and be responsible for paying damages.
Most property owners carry homeowner’s insurance or another form of coverage that includes liability insurance that applies to premises liability claims. Because victims of personal injuries caused by dangerous conditions on private properties are often friends, neighbors, relatives or otherwise acquainted with the owners, they may be reluctant to bring a claim for their losses.
It’s important to remember that, in most cases, the insurance company will be the one actually paying the claim – not your friend, neighbor or relative. In fact, this individual has likely paid years of insurance premiums to cover this very sort of incident.
Will This Increase the Property Owner’s Insurance Premiums?
It is possible that an insurance company may increase the property owner’s premium if the company pays out on a premises liability claim. This may be particularly true with dog bite claims, according to an article in the New York Times. The item reports that insurance companies may also exclude a dog from further coverage if it has been the subject of a premises liability payout.
What Happens If I Was Working at the Time of the Accident?
Many kinds of jobs bring workers into the homes and onto the private properties of others. A few examples include delivery drivers, plumbers, landscapers, housekeepers and home health nurses.
If you suffered an on-the-job injury while at an individual’s home or on their property – and the accident resulted from an unreasonably dangerous condition – you may be entitled to compensation through a premises liability claim in addition to recovering workers’ compensation benefits.
Hurt on Someone Else’s Private Property? Talk to a Goldsboro Premises Liability Lawyer Now
Consulting with an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney is the best way to find out what type of compensation you may be entitled to after an accident caused by a dangerous condition at an individual’s home or other private property. With offices in Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville and Kinston, the lawyers at Riddle & Riddle, are ready to review your situation now – no matter where it happened in North Carolina.
As one of the state’s largest personal injury law firms, we have the resources and experience to thoroughly investigate your accident and injuries to identify all potentially liable parties and all potential sources of insurance coverage. Our attorneys have the knowledge necessary to build a solid claim for financial recovery on your behalf.
You may be entitled to money to pay for your medical bills, your lost wages, your pain and suffering and other losses. At Riddle & Riddle, we believe that Justice Counts and we are ready to put our more than 160 years of combined legal experience to work for you.
Let’s talk about your claim. Call us or contact us online now for a free claim review, consultation and legal advice about your options. The consultation comes with no strings attached, and we charge nothing in attorney’s fees unless and until we are successful at recovering compensation for you.