Lawful visitors to a property are either invitees, such as friends and family with express permission to enter the property, or licensees, such as individuals present on the property for business purposes. If such a lawful visitor suffers injuries or other damages due to a property owner’s negligence, he or she may sue for medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, and lost income from missed time at work. Plaintiffs can only sue for the direct results of a property owner’s negligence.
If an injury occurs due to a hazard on publicly owned land, the injured party will have a more difficult time securing compensation. Most municipalities and local governments place strict time limits on filing claims against government agencies. Additionally, some government agencies are immune to civil actions from private citizens and have specialized claims processes for filing grievances. Regardless of the situation, an injured person should address his or her medical issues as soon as possible, and then reach out to a reliable personal injury attorney to take the next steps.