Lawsuits over injuries are some of the most common in the United States. Many of these cases are governed by premises liability laws. These laws are complex when they deal with relationships between individuals. But there is another set of laws pertaining to injuries sustained while on government property. In the state of New York, those injured on government property must act fast to ensure that they can eventually file a lawsuit.
Premises liability and the relevant statutes
Premises liability is the idea that people who own property may be liable for injuries that others suffer while on their property. Those injuries have to be connected to negligence on the part of the property owner. They also have to be related to the victim acting like a reasonable person while on another person’s property. These reasonable actions could include visiting or performing hired work on the property. If the owner of property does not ensure that these activities can be performed safely on their property, they can be held liable for any injuries that may occur.
There are several New York laws related to premises liability. One of the most important is the statute of limitations. People injured on private property have three years to file a lawsuit. However, those injured on public property only have 90 days to file and serve the attorney general or to inform the attorney general of their intent to file and serve. This strict statute greatly reduces the amount of time accident victims have to prepare the basics of their case.
What to do
The most important element in any premises liability situation is time. A person who is injured on government property in New York must act fast. They must secure medical documents and other evidence that will serve as the basis for their lawsuit. Paying attention to the calendar is an important step in ensuring that this type of a lawsuit has a chance of succeeding.