Meigs County Slip and Fall Lawyer
Slip and fall accidents can happen in grocery stores, at a friend’s house, in a department store, at a park, and anywhere else. Regardless of where a slip and fall injury occurs, it is important to keep in mind that someone may be responsible for that fall if they had a duty to warn keep the property reasonably safe and breached that duty.
Anyone involved in a slip and fall accident which caused an injury should contact a Meigs County slip and fall lawyer immediately to review the details, determine legal options, and analyze who might be responsible for any injuries sustained.
It is important for Tennesseans to keep in mind the Tennessee’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is only one year from the injury date – one of the shortest time frames in the nation in which to file a lawsuit. If you have been involved in a slip and fall incident, speak with a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Liability in Slip and Fall Accidents
Liability in a Tennessee slip and fall accident will largely depend on where the accident occurred. The law differentiates between whether a property owner (or whoever has control over the property) owes guests a duty to keep the premises safe or to warn of known dangers.
Essentially, anyone on someone else’s property is either an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser.
Invitees and Licensees
Invitees are invited guests and generally include friends, family, and neighbors who have either specifically been invited to the property (for example, to attend a party on a specific date) or those whose presence is impliedly accepted (for example, inviting someone to stop by if they are in the neighborhood). In these situations, whoever controls the property has a duty to keep the property reasonably safe.
Licensees, such as salespeople, yard or swimming pool maintenance workers, and contractors (anyone entering the property for their own financial purposes) generally have express or implied permission from the owner, tenant, or person controlling the property to enter it. However, in these situations, the person in control of the property has a lesser duty and merely has to warn of dangerous conditions that may create an unreasonable risk of harm.
Trespassers
Trespassers are people who enter a property without permission. While there is generally no duty created to warn of dangerous conditions, children are an exception. In these situations, whoever controls the property must warn children of potentially dangerous situations that exist in which children might be attracted (such as an in-ground swimming pool whose surrounding fence has fallen down). In other words, if it is reasonably foreseeable that a child must be curious about a condition, then there is a duty to warn.
Many Tennessee slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries requiring medical attention leading to lost wages, hospital bills, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. A Meigs County slip and fall attorney can determine who may have been responsible for any injuries sustained, whether continued medical monitoring may be needed, and the types of compensation which may be available.
How a Meigs Slip and Fall Attorney Can Help
Tennessee slip and fall accident victims should contact an experienced Meigs County slip and fall lawyer immediately after being injured to make sure they maintain their right to file a personal injury lawsuit against negligent parties within Tennessee’s one-year statute of limitations.
Most Tennessee slip and fall liability claims will involve insurance representatives who may want to settle the matter for far less than it is worth. Make sure to hire a lawyer who can represent your best interests and those of your family. A determined personal injury lawyer can fight relentlessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
