What is the Statute of Limitations for a Premises Liability Claim?

Premises liability is the legal right a victim has to hold the owner of a property responsible for the injuries and losses they suffer because of the owner’s negligence. The statute of limitations for premises liability claims in Rhode Island is three years. 

That means you have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim through the court system. Rhode Island premises liability lawyers encourage you to do so much sooner.

What the Statute of Limitations Means to Victims

The statute of limitations in Rhode Island for premises liability is a very specific rule that limits a person’s ability to file a claim for compensation of losses beyond three years from the date of the incident, according to RI Gen. Laws § 9-1-14. 

If you wait longer than this, the court does not have any obligation to hear your claim, and the insurance company is not required to pay out the claim. This statute of limitations applies to cases such as:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Broken or damaged pavement
• Cluttered floors that lead to tripping
• Amusement park accidents
• Inadequate lighting
• Dog bites
• Construction site accidents
• Swimming pool accidents

If you were hurt in an accident on another person’s property due to their negligence, contact our premises liability attorney at Gemma Law Associates for hands-on support and guidance. Expect our attorneys to work to prove your losses, build your case’s evidence, and pursue compensation that covers your losses. Set up a free consultation today to discuss your case with our legal team.

Why You Should Not Wait to Seek Legal Action

Though the Rhode Island statute of limitations is for three years from the date of the accident, there are benefits to pursuing legal action long before this. Doing so could help you to maximize your compensation and minimize the risk of your case being denied. Consider some of the reasons why you should contact an attorney now.

• Lack of evidence: The longer you wait, the harder it may be to find evidence to back up your claims.
• Witnesses change their minds or are no longer available: If your case has any type of speculation, it could take a long time to work through the legal system. Witnesses may no longer be willing to help you.
• Your risks grow: Right after an accident, it is easier to document how your injuries relate directly to the incident. Over time, other accidents and injuries could add some concern to this, making it harder for the court to be certain of your losses stemming from the accident.

While acting sooner rather than later is important, do not settle your case too quickly, either. You should wait until you have recovered as much as possible from your injuries or have a better idea of what your future holds.

The sooner you contact our premises liability attorney, the sooner we can navigate this process for you, so be sure to review our prior case results today.

How Our Premises Liability Attorney Will Guide You

Meet with a premises liability attorney to discuss your accident and clarify your right to pursue compensation for your losses. As you do, we will begin investigating your case and building evidence to support you. From the first meeting onward, there are several key ways we do this for you.

• Evaluate liability in your case. One of the most important steps we take is to determine who is responsible. This could be more than one party. We document that you had the right to be on the property at the time of the accident and that you should have expected to be safe there.
• Investigate your case thoroughly. Our objective is to find all available evidence to back up your claims. We will use whatever tools we need, including accident recreation professionals and expert witnesses.
• Develop your claim to maximize your losses. You may be owed substantial losses after your accident, including economic losses, noneconomic losses, and punitive damages, depending on the details of your case. We explore all possible ways for you to document your losses.

Once we have all of the information available, we pursue the claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company and negotiate the best possible terms in your case. 

Our attorney then works to file a lawsuit if the insurance company does not settle fairly with you. This takes time, which is yet another reason why you should not put off getting in to see our premises liability attorney or reviewing our FAQs section.

Damages Owed in a Premises Liability Case

The specific losses paid in a premises liability claim are dependent on the evidence you present to verify the damages you have. The more evidence you have in this, the better. Some examples of the types of losses you may have include:

• Medical bills from the accident and for your recovery from injuries
• Mental health costs, including treatment for PTSD and depression
• Lost wages and benefits from being unable to work
• Any property damage related to your case
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and turmoil

The key is to remember that you must document all of your financial losses within that 3-year statute of limitations, which takes a lot of effort and time to implement. 

As your premises liability attorney in Rhode Island, you can expect our legal team to work hard to establish these losses and build your case. The sooner you contact our legal team to discuss your case, the sooner we can answer your questions about the value of your case.

Call Our Premises Liability Attorney in Rhode Island for Fast, Reliable Legal Support

You may be unsure if the statute of limitations for your premises liability claim has passed or if there is enough time to take action. To find out what your legal options are, contact our Rhode Island premises liability lawyer to discuss your case openly, and allow us to provide you with steps to get your case into court faster. 

Gemma Law Associates offers free consultations for victims of premises liability injuries, and we offer exceptional legal representation.