Premises Liability
Los Angeles Premises Liability Attorneys
What to Do If You Are Injured on Someone Else’s Property
All property owners, whether they own a private home or a business, are responsible for making sure their premises are reasonably safe for visitors. If you are injured as a result of poor property maintenance or due to a dangerous condition that the property owner failed to address, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your damages, including your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
These types of claims fall under an area of
personal injury law known as premises liability. Premises liability claims can be very complex and difficult to prove; it’s critical that you work with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney who can guide you through the process and help ensure that your rights are protected.
At
Bral & Associates, we have been helping victims of negligence in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California since 1997. Our attorneys have successfully handled over 5,000 claims and have recovered more than $10 million on behalf of our clients, both in settlements and verdicts. We have what it takes to effectively advocate for you and fight for the maximum recovery you are owed.
Types of Premises Liability Claims
Premises liability cases involve accidents and injuries that occur on private, public, or government-owned land as a result of the property owner’s (or another responsible party’s) negligence. Because property owners are generally presumed to owe a duty of care to anyone who is lawfully on the property, they can be held legally liable when they are negligent and that negligence leads to injury or death.
Common premises liability claims involve:
Premises liability claims can be filed against any property owner, from private homeowners to retail and grocery store owners to landlords and municipal entities.
Proving a Premises Liability Claim
Premises liability claims are notoriously complex. In order to prove that a property owner (or similar party) is liable for your injuries and resulting damages, you will first need to establish that the property owner owed you a duty of care.
The duty of care a California property owner owes to someone on his or her premises depends on the nature of the person on the property, what purpose they were on the property for, and whether they were lawfully on the property when the accident happened.
California premises liability law recognizes three types of visitors:
- Invitees: An invitee is someone who visits a property for commercial purposes, such as a customer in a store. They are owed the highest duty of care.
- Licensee: Also known as a social guest, a licensee is someone who visits a property for enjoyment/mutual benefit to the guest and the property owner.
- Trespasser: A trespasser is someone who is not lawfully allowed to enter the property but does so anyway. They are owed the least duty of care.
After establishing that the property owner owed you a duty of care, you must then prove that they breached this duty of care, either by failing to conduct proper maintenance or by failing to repair or warn of a dangerous condition. Note that the property owner must be aware of (or reasonably
should have been aware of) the existence of the dangerous condition; they cannot be held liable for dangerous conditions they did not know existed.
What Are Dangerous Property Conditions?
A dangerous property condition is any condition that poses a foreseeable risk of injury to others. Such hazards are numerous and vary depending on the type of property and its location.
Examples of common dangerous property conditions that often lead to accidents and injuries include:
- Wet floors
- Poor lighting
- Spilled merchandise
- Cluttered walkways
- Exposed wires
- Defective appliances
- Torn carpets
- Unmarked steps
- Broken or missing handrails
- Slippery stairs
- Swimming pools without a locked fence
- Potholes
- Loose dogs/animals
These are just some examples of foreseeable hazards, but there are many others. If you or your loved one was injured as a result of a dangerous condition that the property owner should have known about and repaired, we encourage you to reach out to our Los Angeles premises liability lawyers right away.
How Bral & Associates Can Help
A premises liability accident can lead to
serious, life-altering injuries. You and your family may be facing a number of new financial hardships as you try to stay on top of daily expenses and mounting medical bills. At Bral & Associates, we understand the immense stress such injuries can place on victims and their families. Because of this, we work tirelessly to advocate for you and the recovery you are owed.
You shouldn’t have to face the consequences of a property owner’s negligence on your own. We can help. With decades of legal experience and a proven track record of success, insurance companies and their defense teams know that we won’t back down from a challenge. We are ready to listen to your story, investigate your claim, and prepare your case for the best possible outcome.
Contact us today at to request a free, no-obligation consultation.
