There are a few key statutes of limitations for a premises liability claim in Georgia. Although not every statute of limitations will be relevant to you, knowing some of the basics can help. Relevant statutes of limitations that may apply to a premises liability case in Georgia include the following:
- Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §9-3-33 outlines a general statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those related to premises liability. It states that you have two years to file a lawsuit in most cases.
- OCGA §36-33-5 relates to filing a claim against a municipality. It states that you have six months to initiate the process.
- OCGA §36-11-1 outlines the time you have to file a lawsuit against a Georgia county, which is one year.
- OCGA §50-21-26 relates to claims made against the State of Georgia. If you need to pursue this type of premises liability claim, you have one year to do so from the date of the incident.
When you have a lawyer working on your side, they will help you identify the relevant statute of limitations that applies to your case in the State of Georgia. They will also examine any other state-specific laws that may be pertinent to your circumstances. Some federal laws may also come into play.
Personal Injuries and Premises Liability
When a property owner fails to maintain their property properly, they put their visitors at risk of personal injury. The most common types of accidents that result in premises liability cases are slip and falls. These incidents may result from a lack of yard or building maintenance, low lighting, unmarked wet floors, and similar factors.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, more than 800,000 hospitalizations occur each year due to a fall that results in a head or hip injury. Property owners are responsible for addressing concerns that may lead to such injuries. If you or a loved one suffered an accident due to a property owner’s negligence or misconduct, you may be able to seek compensation.
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Other Statutes May Apply in a Georgia Premises Liability Case
Before you can pursue any compensation that may be available to you, you need to understand state laws that may become relevant. This may include a statute of limitations, as well as other personal injury laws, such as the following:
- OCGA §51-3-1 states that property owners owe anyone invited to their property a duty of care. If a property owner invited you to their home or place of business and their negligence caused you personal injuries, they may be liable for your medical bills, lost wages, and other recoverable damages.
- OCGA §51-3-2 shows that licensees deserve a similar duty of care when visiting a property.
- OCGA §51-3-3 presents a bit of an exception, as it shows that anyone who is trespassing on a piece of personal property is not owed the duty of care. In these cases, the only duty of the property owner is to avoid causing “a willful or wanton injury.”
How an Attorney Can Help You Navigate the Statute of Limitations in Georgia
When you have a lawyer working on your side, they will identify the statute of limitations that applies to your case and work to build a claim within that time frame. If you received an invitation to a property from its owner and they violated their duty of care, you may be eligible to recover compensation.
Legal teams, property owners, and insurance companies often get involved in these situations, which can become hectic for you if you are stuck in the middle. When you have a lawyer working on your behalf, they will take care of any communications with other parties who were involved in the incident.
This can help to take some of the pressure off of you and your loved ones so that you can focus on getting back to your day to day life. A lawyer will keep you updated as your case progresses. They will also work to recover any forms of compensation you may qualify for in a premises liability case.
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Contact Bader Law Injury Lawyers Today
A range of statutes of limitations may apply to your premises liability claim in Georgia. Interpreting various state, federal, and local laws is often confusing when you are dealing with the fallout of a premises liability incident. You do not have to confront these issues on your own.
If you are confused about your deadline to file a lawsuit and other laws that may apply to your case, it may be time to request help from an attorney. The legal team at Bader Law Injury Lawyers can be there to stand up and lead the pursuit of justice on your behalf.
We will work to establish any liable parties, negotiate for a settlement, and fight to obtain any forms of financial compensation that the negligent property owner may owe you.
Contact our office today to learn more by calling us at (404) 888-8888.
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