Personal Injury & Premises Liability

The concept of premises liability typically arises in personal injury cases where a person seeks compensation for injuries and losses caused by a defect or hazardous condition that exists on someone’s property that resulted in them being injured. Like a personal injury case, proving a premises liability case is based on negligence.

Examples of Premises Liability Cases

There are a variety of circumstances that can give rise to a premises liability case–-For example:

• a slippery surface such as a spill in a store
• a construction defect, such as exposed electrical wires or a hole in concrete where people walk
• a poorly maintained stairway, such as a broken stair
• an unmarked broken handrail in a poorly lit hallway
• and many more

Some of the most common examples of premises liability cases involve:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Elevator/escalator accidents
• Swimming pool accidents
• Snow and ice accident
• Accidents caused by faulty, flooring, bad steps, loose handrails and other instances of poor maintenance
• Negligent security

Common Premises Liability Injuries

What Needs To Be Proven For Recovery In A Premises Liability Case?

In order to have a valid premises liability claim, you must be able to show that the property owner (or tenant) is somehow responsible for your injuries and damages. In other words, you must show that they were negligent in their actions or inactions and that this caused you to be hurt. In addition, you will need to show that the property owner knew or had a reasonable time to discover the defect or hazard that resulted in your injuries but did not take reasonable steps to address it or warn you about it.

Premises Liability Negligence

What is Duty of Care?

As it relates to personal injury law, duty of care means that an individual has a legal obligation to behave in a manner that reasonably ensures the safety or well-being of others. Businesses and homeowners have a duty to keep their premises free and clear of any defects or hazards that pose a threat to those who may visit their property and to exercise reasonable care to protect them from harm.

To determine the specific duty of care a property owner owes under California’s premises liability law and how much legal responsibility they have, visitors are grouped into 3 categories:

1. Trespassers – people who enter the property illegally or without the property owner’s consent. A property owner may not be held responsible for the injuries sustained by a person who was on their property illegally or without consent.
2. Licensees – people, such as houseguests, who enter the property with the property owner’s consent, but for their own convenience or purposes. If the homeowner has knowledge of a hazardous condition in their home and does not to warn the visitor, they may be held legally responsible for any injuries the person suffers as a result.
3. Invitees – people, like customers in a department store or patrons in a restaurant, who have been invited to enter into the property to transact business with the property owner or for shared interests. Businesses have a legal duty to keep their premises safe, protect their customers, and to prevent injuries from occurring

What Compensation Can I Receive For A Premises Liability Claim?

• The cost of past and future medical care
• Past and future lost wages
• Compensation for damage to property
• Pain and suffering

Always seek the assistance of an experienced premises liability attorney if you intend to sue the property owner or negotiate a payout with the insurance company.

Why You Need An Experienced Premises Liability Lawyer To Handle Your Claim

If you have been injured in a premises liability accident, it is important that you speak to an experienced attorney as early as possible. This is important because there is evidence that has to be preserved and communications that have to be sent to the owner of the property in order to preserve your right to compensation.

Furthermore, you need an attorney to appropriately evaluate your case, determine what it is worth, and identify the types of compensation you are entitled to. You need someone to make sure that you receive fair compensation for your losses with careful analysis of what occurred on the premises to prove it was the result of negligence and not a personal fault.

Without an attorney, you may end up not being fully compensated for your losses because you are simply unfamiliar with California law and can’t prove your case without help from those with legal expertise. It is therefore really important that you hire a competent, experienced, and qualified attorney who has experience with premise liability cases and has helped many clients receive the compensation they deserve.

Call Us Immediately for Free Consultation

Unfortunately, every year, many people experience personal injury accidents and suffer from serious physical injuries that alter their way of life. With our lawyers' professional case handling experience and ability to master all the details of legal liability will clear any doubts and questions regarding how much compensation you could get after the injury. Personal Injury Law Group has successfully resolved hundreds of personal injury cases and recovered millions of dollars for clients.  

Please call us today for a free consultation about your case at (858)-952-1901, and as always, if you don't win you pay no costs and no fees. There is no obligation and our friendly staff and attorneys stand at the ready to champion your case.