As a general rule, New Jersey property owners can limit their liability by placing warning signs throughout their premises. However, the presence of a warning sign doesn’t necessarily preclude an injured victim from obtaining compensation for medical bills, lost wages or other damages related to an accident.
Was the sign easy to understand?
A sign that can’t be seen from a reasonable distance is unlikely to adequately warn people about the danger that they might encounter. The same may be true of a poster, placard or other signage that is written in a language that you don’t speak, read or otherwise communicate in.
A warning sign could actually undermine a property owner’s case
Let’s say that a property owner posted a warning outside of his or her home alerting others to the presence of a dog inside. If a person was bitten, scratched or otherwise harmed by the dog, the property owner may argue that the victim assumed the risk of getting hurt by stepping foot on the premises. However, the victim may argue that the warning was an admission that the dog had the potential to be vicious. That may make it easier to obtain a favorable outcome in their personal injury claim.
If you are hurt while another person’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. An attorney may use pictures, videos or witness statements to establish that you were hurt because of another person’s negligent actions. Cases may be resolved through mediation, arbitration or litigation, and if you do decide to file a lawsuit, it must generally be filed within two years of the date of your accident.