Serving injured visitors
in Durham and across NC
When a property owner’s carelessness leaves you hurt, they can be held responsible. Our Durham premises liability lawyers fight for the compensation you deserve.
When you walk into a store, apartment building, or hotel, the last thing you expect is to leave in an ambulance. But all it takes is one broken handrail, one slick floor, or one neglected smoke alarm to change everything.
At Johnson & Groninger PLLC, we represent people in Durham and across North Carolina who’ve suffered serious, life-altering injuries because property owners failed to do their job. If you were hurt on dangerous property, don’t settle for being ignored—or offered a lowball check that barely covers your urgent needs. Contact us today.
Premises liability means that if someone owns or controls a property—whether that’s a grocery store, apartment complex, parking lot, or office building—they are legally responsible for keeping it reasonably safe for visitors.
That includes:
When they don’t? And someone gets hurt? That’s a premises liability case.
Premises liability covers a wide range of accidents. At Johnson & Groninger, we’ve seen it all. The most common claims we handle include:
Spills, slick tiles, rain-soaked entryways, and unmarked wet floors can lead to devastating falls. Falls aren’t minor—especially for older adults, where hip fractures or head injuries can be deadly.
Cracked pavement, unmarked steps, loose flooring, or poor lighting can cause serious trips and injuries—often leading to broken bones, back injuries, or torn ligaments.
Some properties—like apartment complexes, hotels, or bars—have a duty to keep visitors safe from foreseeable crime. If you were assaulted or robbed and it could’ve been prevented with better lighting, cameras, or security patrols, you may have a case.
Landlords who ignore fire codes, disconnect smoke alarms, or allow buildings to fall into disrepair can be held liable when tenants are seriously hurt or killed in fires or collapses.
Big box stores and warehouse-style retailers often stack merchandise high. When shelving collapses or heavy items fall on customers, someone is to blame.
North Carolina uses a harsh legal doctrine called contributory negligence. That means if the property owner can prove you were even 1% at fault, you may lose your entire case.
That’s why you should never go into a premises liability claim alone—or assume that the facts “speak for themselves.” They don’t. Property owners and insurance companies will try to flip the script on you.
We don’t let them.
At Johnson & Groninger, we handle every case like it’s headed to trial. Here’s what that means for you:
We get on site. We preserve security footage. We gather maintenance records, employee logs, safety reports, and prior complaints. We talk to witnesses and retain building code experts when needed.
The key to a winning case is showing that:
We connect every dot and block every excuse.
Not just ER bills. We pursue:
And if the property owner showed willful disregard for safety? We’ll go after punitive damages, too.
That depends on where and how the injury happened. We’ve filed claims against:
Premises liability isn’t just about where you were hurt—it’s about who had control of the area. We investigate every angle to make sure no responsible party escapes accountability.
We’ve helped people win compensation when they were told they had “no case.” Why? Because we dig deeper. We find the paper trail. We track down the proof.
Our firm has a long track record of securing significant results in serious injury cases—including:
We don’t take easy wins. We take the cases that matter.
The sooner we get involved, the more we can do to preserve evidence and strengthen your claim.
You were hurt on someone else’s property. It wasn’t your fault—and you shouldn’t be left holding the bill. At Johnson & Groninger, we’re here to hold negligent property owners accountable and fight for what you’re owed.
Durham-based. Statewide reach.
Free consultations. No fee unless we win.
Possibly. Warning signs are required for temporary hazards, but they don’t excuse long-term neglect. If a property owner knew about a recurring issue (like a leaky cooler or broken handrail) and failed to fix it, that’s negligence.
Landlords have a legal obligation to maintain safe premises—especially in common areas like stairwells, hallways, or laundry rooms. If your injury happened due to poor lighting, fire hazards, or broken safety features, you may have a strong case.
You generally have 3 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina. But don’t wait. Critical evidence—like camera footage or repair logs—can disappear fast.
Yes, if they were negligent. Businesses have a duty to protect customers from foreseeable hazards. If they cut corners on maintenance, staff training, or safety procedures, they can be held liable.
In North Carolina, even 1% fault can bar recovery. That’s why it’s essential to have an experienced trial team push back on that narrative and prove the property owner was entirely to blame.
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if you win. If there’s no recovery, you owe us nothing.
We represent clients statewide, with offices in Durham and Charlotte. Whether you’ve been injured at work or hurt in a crash, we’ll meet you where you are.
