When Your Back Is Against The Wall

North Carolina Premises Liability Lawyers

Serving Clients Throughout the State Since 1997

Both private and public property owners have a duty of reasonable care to guests, visitors, and others who are legally on their premises. This means that property owners are responsible for conducting proper premises upkeep and maintenance, limiting dangerous conditions, and/or warning visitors of any hazards that may exist. When property owners fail to do this, they put innocent people at risk.

If you were injured on someone else’s property and you believe a negligent property owner, manager, or another party was at fault, reach out to the team at Lanier Law Group, P.A.. Our North Carolina premises liability lawyers can help determine if you have grounds for a claim and, if so, what compensation you may be entitled to receive. We are prepared to put decades of experience and our aggressive, personalized approach to personal injury law on your side.

Put a heavyweight in your corner. Call Lanier Law Group, P.A. at (855) 757-4204 or contact us online to request a free consultation today.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability refers to the responsibility of property owners to keep reasonably safe premises for visitors. This applies to anyone who is legally on the property, such as an invited guest, a customer, an employee, a tenant, or anyone in a public place, such as a park.

However, the law does not typically afford such protections to those who are unlawfully on public or private property, such as trespassers.

To bring a premises liability claim in North Carolina, you will need to prove the following elements:

The property owner owed you a duty of care (in other words, you were lawfully on the property)
A dangerous condition existed
The property owner knew of or should have known of the dangerous condition
The property owner failed to take reasonable action to fix, address, or warn of the dangerous condition
You were injured as a result
Due to your injuries, you suffered damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.)

“Dangerous conditions” vary but often include things like spilled merchandise, accumulated water or ice, improper signage, unsafe swimming pools, improper or inadequate maintenance, unsafe stairs, lack of proper hand rails, and more.

Types of Premises Liability Claims We Handle

At Lanier Law Group, P.A., our North Carolina premises liability attorneys are well-versed in these types of claims. We know the law, and we know how to thoroughly investigate all aspects of your claim to build a solid case on your behalf.

We represent clients in all types of premises liability cases, including those involving:

Whether you were injured in a grocery store, slipped and fell at work, or were assaulted in a parking garage that lacked security lighting and personnel, we can help. Each of our premises liability lawyers is dedicated to fighting for the justice and maximum compensation you deserve.

North Carolina’s Premises Liability Laws

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property in North Carolina, understanding the state’s premises liability laws is crucial to pursuing a successful claim. North Carolina has specific laws that govern property owner responsibilities, the legal status of visitors, and how fault is determined in premises liability cases.

Contributory Negligence & Premises Liability

North Carolina follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, one of the strictest rules for determining fault in personal injury cases. Under this law, if the injured party is found to be even 1% at fault for the accident, they may be barred from recovering compensation. This can significantly affect your premises liability claim, as property owners often argue that the injured person contributed to their own injury by not paying attention or by engaging in risky behavior.

Duty of Care to Visitors

North Carolina law requires property owners to exercise a duty of reasonable care to maintain safe premises for people who are legally on their property.

The level of care a property owner owes depends on the legal status of the visitor:

Invitees: These are individuals invited onto the property for the owner’s benefit, such as customers in a store. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care, including regularly inspecting the property and promptly fixing any hazards.
Licensees: These are individuals who enter the property for their own benefit, such as social guests. Property owners must warn licensees of any known dangers but are not required to inspect the property for hazards.
Trespassers: Property owners typically do not owe a duty of care to trespassers, except in certain situations, such as when the trespasser is a child. In cases involving children, property owners may be held liable under the "attractive nuisance doctrine," which requires them to address hazards that may attract children, like swimming pools or construction sites.

Premises Liability for Trespassing

North Carolina law generally does not provide protection for individuals who are trespassing on private or public property. However, there are exceptions, particularly for children who may trespass due to an "attractive nuisance." Property owners can be held liable if a child is injured by a dangerous condition on the property, especially if the hazard was something likely to attract children, such as a swimming pool without proper fencing or a piece of equipment left in a yard.

Additionally, if a trespasser is injured due to a willful or wanton act by the property owner, such as setting traps or intentionally creating dangerous conditions, the owner may be held liable for the injuries.

Landlord & Tenant Premises Liability

In North Carolina, landlords have a duty to maintain safe conditions on rental properties. This includes common areas such as hallways, staircases, and parking lots. If a tenant or visitor is injured due to a dangerous condition that the landlord knew about or should have known about, the landlord could be held liable.

However, tenants also have responsibilities. If a tenant is aware of a dangerous condition inside their unit and fails to notify the landlord, they may have difficulty proving landlord negligence in a premises liability claim.

North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability Claims

In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for filing a premises liability claim is three years from the date of the injury. This means you have three years to file a lawsuit against the property owner or manager. If you fail to file your claim within this timeframe, you may lose your right to seek compensation, no matter how strong your case is.

Types of Premises Liability Cases in North Carolina

Premises liability cases in North Carolina can arise from a variety of situations, including:

Slip and fall accidents in stores, parking lots, or other public areas
Inadequate security leading to assaults in parking garages, apartment complexes, or public venues
Dog bites when a property owner fails to restrain a dangerous animal
Swimming pool accidents due to lack of fencing or supervision
Exposure to hazardous substances, such as mold or lead, in rental properties

Request a Free Consultation with a Premises Liability Lawyer

With multiple office locations throughout North Carolina as well as a large team of experienced attorneys and legal staff, Lanier Law Group, P.A. is equipped to handle your premises liability claim. We can discuss your premises liability case options at our Asheville, Charlotte, Burlington, Durham, Piedmont Triad, Greenville, Fayetteville, Raleigh, or Wilmington office.

If you can't make it out to one of our offices, we can travel out to meet with you. We offer free initial consultations and provide our services on a contingency fee basis—if we don’t recover compensation in your case, you don’t pay.

To learn more about how our premises liability attorneys in North Carolina can help you, contact us at (855) 757-4204 now. Our phone lines are open 24/7.

We Won't Back Down

When Results Matter Most, Work With Lanier Law Group

First Name
Please enter your first name.
Last Name
Please enter your last name.
Phone
Please enter your phone number.

This isn't a valid phone number.
Email
Please enter your email address.

This isn't a valid email address.
Are you a new client?
Please make a selection.
How can we help you?
Please enter a message.
- Sign up for our Newsletter
By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request & other information using automated technology. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Acceptable Use Policy

We Fight for Our Clients

*Featured Case Results, Settlements, & Trial Wins From Our Attorneys

$750,000 Apartment Complex Maintenance Negligence
$300,000 Premises/Inadequate Security
Our client was violently attacked with a baseball bat by another customer while shopping at a discount store.
$300,000 Premises Liability
Personal Injury premises liability settlement for a client standing on a ladder painting a closed garage door when the door was inadvertently opened causing him to fall 7 feet onto concrete.
$207,500 Premises Liability
A client suffered a puncture wound and severe nerve damage when he stepped on a nail in the threshold of a door.
$125,000 Premises Liability: Trip and Fall on Apartment Stairway
$70,000 Premises Liability Claim/Homeowner’s Insurance Claim

View All Results

We Never Back Down From a Fight

Featured Reviews, Testimonials & Results

"20 out of 10 stars."
There are times in your life you are so hurt and feel life has a grudge against you. Nothing in your life is going right. I lost the most important person in my life to death, of which I knew mistakes were made because I witnessed it with my own eyes. When you contact a law group you most of the time get all business and a matter of fact conversation. I want all to know that from the first phone call they listened to my lengthy story, sobbing most of the time with so much compassion. They never made any promises but offered assurances that no stone would be unturned. They fulfilled every word they said. They restored faith that I had lost. Until you are in a position like mine you can never know how invaluable Lanier Law Group is. They were wonderful while maintaining their professionalism. They treated me like a family member. They really do care about their clients. But most of all they are the best at what they do. I worked in the court system for years so I knew how attorneys and law firms basically operated. Understanding the law and it's interpretation is the ultimate key to winning any case. Also know that if an attorney/attorneys study and review your case and know that you don't have a chance in a court of law and are big enough to tell you that instead of giving you false hope, you then my friend have a group with valuable shared values. I have so much respect for everyone in this Law Group. I recommend Lanier Law Group, P.A. to anyone who needs representation, they are in your corner. 20 out of 10 stars.

- Diane W.
"Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members"
I started working with Lanier Law Group in 2020 on my Social Security Disability case. They from start to finish were awesome. My case manager Janet Hanks and attorney, Ashley Sappenfield were always available to answer all my questions. I did not have to do much but sit back and let them handle whatever was needed. My case took too long (2 years) and if I did not have Janet and Ashley My case would still not be approved. I would recommend Lanier to anyone to get the job done and approved. Do not go to another firm with your case, who promise the world and do not see it to completion and do not think another firms would have worked as hard as they did on my case. Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members to handle any cases of this type and other legal services they provide. They went above and beyond!

- Phillip J.
"So thankful for your expertise and professionalism"
Mrs. Gonzalez did an awesome job of explaining everything in detail and keeping me informed on the status of my case. Despite poor customer service with the insurance company, Mrs. Gonzalez was able to fix what they could not. Mrs. Gonzalez was very helpful with helping me understand things that I was not aware of when dealing with insurance claims. I am so thankful for her expertise and professionalism.

- Mario H.
"Always ready to answer any questions I may have"
The staff kept me well informed in a more than timely manner and was always ready to answer any questions I may have.

- Timothy M.
"The Lanier Law Group provided excellent customer service!"
The Lanier Law Group provided excellent customer service! My main contact was Denise.

- Malinda P.
"Great experience"
Great experience. Tish was very helpful as my case progressed and explained all of the steps to me, leaving me with very few questions. Shea was also very helpful during the negotiation process.

- Nyesha B.

View All Reviews

Don't Hire Just Any Firm

Take Control of Your Case Today With the Help of Lanier Law Group

We Never Back Down
Our attorneys are confident taking cases to trial and will always seek to maximize your compensation.
We're Here For You 24/7
Regardless of when you contact our firm, we're here to make sure that you get the answers you need. We also offer weekend appointments and consultations.
We're In Your Corner
Every case we take on has a team of dedicated professionals assigned to make sure that we're delivering the best possible service and results.
We Come Prepared

After an injury, every second counts. We are available to meet with you in person, virtually, or at your location to provide the highest quality legal counsel.

Work With Lanier Law Group