If you or someone you love suffered a serious injury while on somebody else’s property, whether that property was public or private, the owner of the property may be held responsible under the theory of “premises liability” and may be required to pay compensation for the resulting harm.

In Charlotte, people are often injured when they slip and fall on slippery floors or unsafe stairs, or trip and fall on uneven or cracked surfaces. Such accidents can occur in restaurants and schools, parking lots and parks, stores—even on sidewalks. While we are all expected to be careful, and to avoid obvious dangers, sometimes there isn’t much that we can do to protect ourselves. Property owners (or tenants in possession of a property) are expected to maintain their properties in a reasonably safe condition, because they are the ones most likely to notice hazardous conditions and correct them—or provide sufficient warnings to their patrons and visitors.

If you were injured by a hazardous condition on someone else’s property, you may be able to get compensation for your medical bills (both past and future), your pain and suffering, any wages you have lost as a result of the injury, and more. However, in North Carolina you may be barred from receiving any compensation if the property owner or tenant can prove that your own negligence contributed in any way to your injury. Unlike most other states, in which the negligence of the plaintiff (i.e. the injured person) would be compared to the negligence of the defendant (in this case the property owner or tenant), North Carolina has retained the doctrine of contributory negligence, which bars relief if the injured person was even 1% negligent.

Thus, in any premises liability case, the defendant and their insurance company will do their utmost to show that the injured person was negligent. As you struggle to recover your health, you will need the help of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who can investigate the accident thoroughly, collect sufficient evidence (about the conditions that led to the injury, about the owner’s failure to remedy the condition, and about the extent of your injuries), and negotiate and argue effectively on your behalf.

Based in Charlotte, the attorneys of Myers Law Firm have built a reputation of success in a variety of personal injury cases, including premises liability ones. We also represent families who are pursuing wrongful death claims as a result of the death of a loved one. We offer each client our dedicated efforts, our extensive knowledge of North Carolina law and familiarity with the local legal community, and the utmost level of support at each stage of the case.

The timeframe during which you may bring a premises liability claim is limited by North Carolina’s statute of limitations. To protect your rights, contact us today to schedule a free consultation: call our Charlotte office toll-free at 1-888-376-ATTY (2889), email us at mattmyers@myerslegal.com, or fill out and submit our online “Contact Us” form.