Every property owner in George County has certain responsibilities. In addition to paying property taxes and complying with any local ordinances, these property owners must also maintain safe premises for any invited guests.
If you or a loved one were injured due to a negligent property owner, you may have a viable premises liability claim. These cases could be complicated without the help of a seasoned George County premises liability lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney could help you get the compensation for your damages.
A property owner does not owe the same duty of care to every visitor. Their duty depends in part on whether the visitor is there lawfully, as well as on the purpose of their visit. A skilled George County premises liability attorney must determine the category of visitor that applies to the injured claimant before moving forward with a compensation claim.
There are three categories of visitor, and each is owed a different duty by a property owner. The categories include invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
An invitee is a visitor that has permission to enter and remain on the premises. This permission could be express or implied. A common example involves customers entering the premises of a business. An invitee enters the premises for the benefit of the property owner. The property owner owes them the duty to ensure the premises is safe and to warn the invitee of any hidden or unforeseen dangers.
While a licensee does not enjoy the same protection as an invitee, a property owner still owes a licensee a duty of care. A licensee, like an invitee, has permission to enter the property. However, they do so for their benefit. While a premises owner has no duty to ensure that the premises are reasonably safe, they must warn a licensee of any hidden dangers.
A trespasser is anyone that enters a property without permission. While the landowner owes them no duty in most cases, a trespasser could pursue damages if the property owner injures them intentionally.
In some cases, both the landowner and the visitor could have taken steps to prevent the injury. The court will not prevent a plaintiff from recovering compensation entirely due to their role in the injury. However, state law does require a jury to reduce the amount of damages awarded in proportion to the visitor’s degree of fault.
According to Mississippi Statute 11-7-15, a visitor could recover damages even if they were 99 percent at fault. Their compensation award will be reduced by their percentage of liability for the accident and their injuries.
Even if you were partially at fault, you could have a viable claim for damages if you suffered an injury on another person’s property. The compensation for damages could cover medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, as well as pain and suffering.
You do not need to handle your case alone. A George County premises liability lawyer can guide you through the process from beginning to end. Call today to discuss your case and legal options.