Every Atlanta property owner has a duty of care to the people on their properties (even if they weren’t invited). However, this legal responsibility is different depending on how the guest is classified. Therefore, it’s good to know the differences between licensees, invitees, and trespassers.

Licensees

Licensees are people visiting properties without contractual obligations or business dealings with the property owners. Therefore neighbors, social visitors, and family members all fall under the designation of a licensee.

A property owner has a few duty of care obligations to licensees:

• Warning/marking potential hazards;

• Preventing pets from attacking.

• Taking care of known dangerous conditions.

While licensees are social visitors, invitees are those visiting for mutually beneficial purposes.

Invitees

Invitees are people visiting properties for specific business purposes.

Invitees include:

• Contractors;

• Roofers;

• Gardeners;

• Babysitters;

• Dogsitters.

Property owners have the highest level of liability to invitees because of the financial nature of the relationship. Therefore, property owners should always mark and identify potential hazards for invitees. Additionally, property owners should listen to invitees concerning any worries they have regarding the safety of the property.

Trespassers

Trespassers are people who are on someone’s property without permission. Surprisingly, property owners can be liable for injuries trespassers receive while trespassing. Specifically, a property owner cannot willfully create hazards to deter or injure trespassers from trespassing.

Additionally, property owners must take reasonable measures to safeguard their properties for trespassers if the existence of trespassers is likely.

Injured on Someone’s Property?

If you sustain injuries while on someone’s property as a licensee, invitee, or trespasser, you might have the right to file a premises liability claim. Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC can evaluate the facts of your case to determine the next steps!

Call (888) 425-6070 now for a free consultation for your premises liability claim.