Everybody has seen a warning sign somewhere, in fact you can probably think of several just off the top of your head. Displaying a proper warning sign is vitally important in removing liability should an accident unfortunately happen. Whether it’s someone slipping on an icy road, accidentally touching a corrosive chemical with their bare skin, or a car getting in an accident due to an unexpected road hazard, a proper warning sign can absolve a property owner of some or all liability in these instances.

However, not just any sign will do. Many warning signs must comply with state and federal regulations before they can be considered a legal absolution of liability, and a failure to do so could reap extensive consequences should an accident still result. A skilled North Carolina personal injury Attorney can help you go over the facts and evidence of your particular case and determine if improper warning signage may factor into it.

Road & Highway Signage

North Carolina’s road signage is very heavily regulated, and must conform to the Department of Transportation’s standards. Road corridors that require extra caution, such as roads that may be icy during winter, or be subject to landslides or wildlife crossings, must have DOT-compliant signage at the entrance to said corridor in order to notify drivers to proceed with caution. If this signage is missing, or even placed in non-conspicuous manner that makes it difficult for a passing motorist to notice, then a driver may not be held liable for any damage to their vehicle or injury to their person.

Any roads under construction must be designated by proper signage, giving drivers ample warning to avoid any potential hazards. If the surface of the road has been altered in any way (such as the placement of steel plates over an open ditch or an open lane with unfinished pavement), sings must be posted to warn drivers of the change in road surface in order to expect the sudden change in ride and avoid any potential accidents as a result.

Signage on private roads is slightly less regulated, however property owners could still be liable under premises liability laws for any damage that happens to someone else’s motor vehicle and any resulting injuries that occur if any obvious unrepaired hazards are not clearly indicated with warning signs.

Premises Signage

Any major hazards, must be marked with a clearly visible sign indicating the danger whenever any invitees (people explicitly or implicitly invited to be on a premises, such as customers at a retail store) or licensees (people not explicitly invited to be on a premises, but whose presence is known and allowed by a property owner, such as service workers or delivery people) may be present. This applies equally to both private and public property.

A common example of this would be a restaurant owner placing a yellow Caution sign over an area where a patron has just spilled their water while an employee goes to fetch a cleanup bucket. The presence of the liquid on the ground is an unexpected hazard, and should another customer slip and fall as a result of the liquid being on the ground, the restaurant owner would be liable. However, by placing a sign indicating a wet floor slip hazard in a conspicuous and easily visible place, the owner could potentially fight back against any injury liability claims that may result from someone slipping.

Work Hazards

Much like premises signage, hazards in a workplace must have signage warning employees as to the presence of any dangers, and, likewise, many employers must also provide training to employees who will be working directly with these hazards as part of their job duties.

The most obvious example is chemical hazards. For certain warnings, such as chemicals hazards, the NFPA diamond signs must be present in their storage places, indicating what kinds of chemicals must be present and their inherent dangers, and any other containers (such as spray bottles), must be clearly labeled.

Any facility hazards, such as exposed electrical lines, large cracks in pavement, step edges, or hot surfaces, must also be indicated with proper signage. The presence of things such as building exits, fire extinguishers, sharp edges, must be clearly designated with a Department of Labor-compliant warning sign.

The Law Office of Donald R Strickland is a North Carolina personal injury law firm who have helped numerous clients through a wide variety of personal injury and workers’ compensation claims. Based out of Durham, our skilled attorney has been given an AV® Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell® and are members of the International Society of Barristers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and The Best Lawyers in America®.If you have questions regarding a personal injury or workers’ compensation claim, contact The Law Office of Donald R Strickland online or call their office at (919) 828-4357 for a free case evaluation.