Accidents can happen anywhere, even on publicly owned land. Injuries from these accidents might include slipping and falling in a post office or suffering a shock from exposed wiring in a park. While these incidents normally result in a standard negligence case, pursuing legal action against the local, state, or federal government can be complicated.
If you were hurt in one of these accidents, a Henderson public property injury lawyer can help. You have the right to seek compensation, but there are unique challenges that come with suing the government. Let a skilled premises liability attorney advise you of your options.
A person could sustain an accidental injury in a public space in many ways. While hazards exist everywhere, legal action is only successful when there is evidence the city or state in charge of that building or plot of land failed to take reasonable steps to prevent an injury.
One of the most common factors in these cases is a failure to notify the public of a dangerous hazard. In some cases, like steep cliffs or sinkholes, the government cannot take steps to eliminate the risk completely. In these scenarios, it has a duty to warn those using the property of the possible dangers.
Other cases might involve failing to maintain a public space safely. These might include allowing a handrail in a courthouse to loosen or refusing to repair cracked sidewalks that represent a tripping hazard.
What matters most is the failure to act reasonably in the face of a dangerous hazard. A Henderson public property injury lawyer could pursue damages when these failures lead to an accident.
Some challenges in these cases do not exist in standard personal injury claims against individuals or companies. State and local governments are treated differently and enjoy rights and privileges that private individuals do not. A Henderson public property injury attorney could explain how these cases stand out.
Government entities and those who work for them enjoy sovereign immunity, which is complete protection from personal injury lawsuits. While governments may be immune, they can voluntarily waive these protections in some cases, including when an employee’s negligence results in injury. Depending on the situation, the defense might aggressively seek to enforce these immunity protections and have a case dismissed by the court.
Every personal injury lawsuit filed in Henderson must comply with the statute of limitations. While this deadline applies to cases across the board, additional time limits are exclusive to government injury claims. A plaintiff will typically need to notify the government of their intention to file a lawsuit within a matter of months after an injury, and failing to do so could cost them their chance at compensation.
Falls and other accidents on government-managed property can lead to serious injuries, and seeking justice is more challenging compared to most cases. The good news is that you have the right to hire legal counsel to assist you every step of the way. Reach out as soon as possible for a private consultation with a Henderson public property injury lawyer. You pay no fees unless we win your case.
