In the unfortunate event that you have recently slipped and fallen on someone else’s property due to dangerous property conditions, you may be entitled to significant compensation. In South Carolina, if you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, you are within your rights to file a claim against that party to seek financial compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. If you decide to pursue legal action against a negligent property owner, it is wise to retain the legal services of a skilled Chesterfield County Premises Liability Lawyer who can help you file a claim within the right time frame.
What is the statute of limitations for filing a premises liability claim in South Carolina?
As mentioned above, property owners are responsible for ensuring their premises are safe for all those that enter the property. When they fail to uphold their legal duty, they can be held liable for any damages that occur as a direct result of their negligence. If you are someone who has been injured due to a property owner’s negligence, it is important to understand the time limits for personal injury claims. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for premises liability claims is three years. Essentially, you have three years from the date of the accident to take legal action against a negligent party. If you fail to file a claim within this deadline, you will be barred from ever pursuing legal action to collect compensation for your damages in the future.
However, if you are someone who suffered an injury on a state or city-owned property, the time limit will be different. When you are injured on property owned by the government, you have to file a claim within two years of the date of the accident under the South Carolina Torts Claims Act. If you fail to file a claim within this period, you will lose your right to seek compensation for your losses stemming from the accident.
Further, filing a claim within the right time frame does not automatically mean you will be able to recover compensation for your damages. You will still be required to fulfill the burden of proof. Essentially, you will have to prove that the property owner’s negligence directly caused your injuries. Proving negligence can be difficult. With that being said, it is in your best interest to hire a determined Chesterfield County premises liability lawyer who can help you gather pertinent evidence to corroborate your claim.
For more information on filing a premises liability claim, please contact one of our adept team members. Our firm is committed to helping our clients seek reasonable compensation for their damages.