When you suffer injuries due to unsafe property, you may worry about medical bills, lost wages, and lingering pain. The Columbia premises liability statute of limitations sets how long you have to file a lawsuit. If that deadline passes, you may lose the chance to seek money damages, and time limits are not always clear from incident reports or insurance forms. An experienced premises liability attorney from our firm could review when the incident occurred, when you understood the seriousness of your injuries, and whether any rule applies. At Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, we explain how the legal theory of negligence fits with those deadlines and could help you decide what to do before important dates pass.
How Do Time Limits Work in Premises Liability Claims?
A statute of limitations is the law that sets how long you have to start a lawsuit in court. Pursuant to § 15-3-530(5) of the South Carolina Code of Laws, this filing deadline generally requires that you file a premises liability claim in Columbia within three years from the date you knew, or by reasonable diligence should have known, that you had a cause of action.
These rules address court filings, not simply reporting the incident to a landlord, store, or insurer. Waiting until the end of the period makes it harder to investigate what happened, speak with witnesses, and show a breach in the standard of care by the at-fault party. You may find it helpful to speak with an attorney early, even while treatment is ongoing, so that a lawsuit could be filed in time if settlement talks stall.
Different time frames may apply when a government entity is involved. Pursuant to § 15-78-110, claims under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act could include shorter limitation periods and added notice requirements. We could also explain special rules for children and how any exception may change the time you have to act.
Evidence and Deadlines in Premises Cases
Filing deadlines in Columbia premises liability cases are only one part of a strong claim. As months pass, property owners fix hazards, businesses overwrite surveillance footage, and witnesses forget details. Deadlines and evidence problems often grow together, especially if you try to recover first and collect information later.
To support a claim under the legal theory of negligence, you will need proof that an at-fault party failed to act as a reasonably careful owner or occupier would have, and that this breach in the standard of care caused your injuries. Helpful evidence in premises cases could include:
- Medical records that show when you first reported the injury and your initial symptoms
- Photographs or videos that show the hazard and the surrounding area close to the time of the incident
- Incident reports or correspondence that describe how the property owner or insurer responded
- Statements from witnesses who saw the condition of the property or heard staff talk about similar problems
As the deadline approaches, these materials become harder to locate and preserve. Whetstone Perkins & Fulda could help you request medical records and therapy notes that show how your injuries developed and could move quickly to secure maintenance logs and surveillance footage before they are lost.
Contact a Columbia Premises Liability Attorney To Learn About the Statute of Limitations
Managing pain, appointments, and changes at home is demanding, and keeping track of filing deadlines and legal requirements can feel overwhelming. At Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, we could help you monitor key dates and prepare a claim for timely filing.
If you suffered injuries on dangerous property, understanding the Columbia premises liability statute of limitations is essential for protecting your injury claim. You do not need to handle legal statutes or insurance correspondence on your own. Our team could personally manage your case while you are healing. Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we could help you today.
