Ignoring The Signs: No Liability Signs And What They May Or May Not Mean
Everywhere you go there are signs. There are signs while you drive, there are billboards that advertise, and there are signs in stores. Some signs that you will see in stores, parking garages, and other businesses are signs that denounce any liability for accidents or issues that may occur while on the property. Here are some things that you need to know about these no liability signs and their impact on any trouble that you may have with the business.
A sign doesn't mean it is legal
In stores you may see signs that say that the store is not liable for any stolen items, accidents that happen on the property, or other types of personal injury. If an incident does occur, the store management may swiftly point out that they had a sign warning you that they are not responsible. It is important for you to know that signs do not determine the law for personal injuries. Instead of believing the management when they say that you do not have a case against them, speak with a personal injury lawyer, like those at Walz Law Office.
Duty of care applies to companies
Companies and businesses, especially those who interact with the general public have a duty of care towards customers and their belongings. Duty of care means that there is an expectation for the business to reasonably act with items that are left directly in their care. If you are paying for services, such as car parking services or if you are leaving your items in the care of a particular store, they have reasonable duty of care with your items. If an employee is to damage your car, or if a jewelry item was stolen that was left in the care of your jeweler, they have a duty to compensate you for your loss. Signage that states otherwise doesn't give cause for them to not fulfill the law's standard of care.
The signs may have some jury bearing
While the signs of a business do not absolve it of liability automatically, it is possible that a jury could take some consideration into the signs being posted. For instance, many professionally run parking lots warn customers not to leave valuables out or that the lot is not responsible for crimes that happen on their property. If another customer who comes into the lot steals your property, and it was left in plain view, a jury could find the company not responsible or somewhat less responsible. The best way to insure a favorable outcome is to have your personal injury attorney gather all of the facts and present a case laying out why the business is culpable.
Share