Los Angeles Premises Liability Attorney

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Under California law, anyone who owns property has a legal obligation to keep it safe from hazards. If property owners fail to properly maintain their property and someone incurs injury as a result, they may be liable for damages under premises liability law. In LA, people sustain injuries each year by dangers that owners’ care could have prevented. While many accidents are minor, some result in serious and even catastrophic injuries. If you or a loved one is struggling with medical bills, lost wages, or other damages associated with an accident incurred on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

We Have Success With Los Angeles Premises Liability Cases

The Los Angeles personal injury lawyers Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP are national leaders in personal injury and consumer protection law. Partners have won several landmark verdicts and settlements, including the largest verdict in U.S. legal history in Anderson v. General Motors and the nation’s largest defective-tire settlement in Lampe v. Continental General Tire. Our lawyers are repeatedly nominated or honored with awards for their leadership roles in those and similar cases.

What is The Definition Of Premises Liability?

The term “premise liability” refers to the idea that anyone who allows others on their property has a duty to use “reasonable care” in its upkeep. In other words, entities like businesses, public parks, and government building must maintain their properties to prevent foreseeable injury. Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of premises liability accidents, so much so that it’s sometimes called “slip and fall liability”. However, premise liability law encompasses all kinds of scenarios, including:

Pool accidents
Elevator and escalator accidents
Campus injuries
Matters of negligent security
Trip and fall accidents
Dog bites
Asbestos or lead-related illness (for renters), or
Amusement park injuries

These all have different legal guidelines and insurance considerations, making each case unique. Panish | Shea |Ravipudi LLP has experience with each kind of this complicated litigation. From class action lawsuits to individual plaintiffs with complex injuries, our firm has seen a wide array of premises liability cases in the City of Angels. You can contact our experienced Los Angeles premises liability attorney team for help with your case today!

What Evidence Is Needed To Prove Liability?

While each premise liability case is unique, litigating them requires four unique aspects:

• Showing that a property owner owed the victim a duty of care: Public and private entities owe all “invitees” a duty of care, though this does not apply to trespassers.
• A defective condition existed on the property: This could be one that the owner did or should have known about. Examples include a broken stair, inadequate lighting, lax security, and more.
• The defective or dangerous condition directly led to the victim’s injuries: This needs to be proven without a reasonable doubt; it was the root cause.
• They incurred damages as a result: Examples of injuries include medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

What to Do if I’m Injured on Someone Else’s Property in California?

If you suffer an injury while on someone else’s property in California, remain calm and recognize that there are steps you need to take to protect your legal rights. For example, you should never admit fault for the accident. Do not apologize to the property owner or say that the accident might have been your fault. This will hurt your chances of recovering financial compensation from the property owner’s insurance provider.

Get medical help right away. Even if you feel okay, see a doctor to rule out hidden injuries.
Report the accident. Tell the property owner, manager, or responsible party and ask for a written report.
Document the scene. Take photos or videos of where it happened and note any security cameras.
Collect witness info. Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident.
Save evidence. Keep your clothes, shoes, damaged items, medical records, and copies of the accident report.
Notify insurance. Let your insurance company know so they can reach out to the property owner’s insurer.
Talk to a lawyer. A Los Angeles premises liability attorney can review your case, gather evidence, and file your claim.

How Long Do I Have To File A Premises Liability Claim?

In California, you usually have two years from the date of your accident to file a premises liability claim.

Exceptions include:

Discovery rule: One year from when the injury was discovered (or should have been discovered).
Government property: Six months from the accident date.
Wrongful death: Two years from the date of death.
Minors: Two years after the 18th birthday.
Special circumstances: The deadline may pause if the defendant leaves the state.

Missing the statute of limitations means losing the right to compensation. Speak with a Los Angeles premises liability attorney as soon as possible to protect your claim.

How a Los Angeles Premises Liability Attorney Can Help

A premises liability attorney in Los Angeles will have the experience, knowledge, resources and commitment to build the strongest possible injury claim on your behalf. The right lawyer can be invaluable if you or a loved one has been seriously injured while on someone else’s property in California.

An attorney can assist you in numerous ways, such as:

Providing legal knowledge and expertise: a premises liability attorney specializes in this area of personal injury law. Your lawyer can help you understand the nuances, relevant statutes and legal precedents involved in your case.
Investigating your accident: a law firm can send investigators to the scene of your accident to interview witnesses, gather evidence, obtain records and take other steps to support your premises liability case.
Determining liability: after a comprehensive investigation of your accident, your lawyer will analyze the circumstances surrounding your injury to determine the liable party/ies. This could be the owner, occupier or controller of the property.
Negotiating with insurance companies: your lawyer can take over insurance claim negotiations and deal with a claims adjuster on your behalf to fight for a fair settlement for your injuries.
Assessing your damages: you can trust a lawyer to accurately evaluate the worth of your premises liability case. Unlike an insurance company, your lawyer will want to maximize your payout – not minimize it.
Filing court documents: an attorney can take over confusing legal processes and paperwork for you, as well as file your claim before the applicable statute of limitations.
Hiring experts: if necessary, a lawyer can hire expert witnesses who are highly qualified to provide testimony that supports your case, such as property safety experts or medical professionals.
Representing you in court: Although most premises liability cases in Los Angeles reach settlements, an attorney has the power to represent you in court, when necessary. Your lawyer can present evidence, cross-examine witnesses and make legal arguments on your behalf.

Throughout a Los Angeles premises liability case, you can trust your lawyer to give you sound legal advice and guidance, ensure that you are treated fairly, and fight for the case results that you need to move forward. Most importantly, hiring a lawyer will give you peace of mind to focus on your recovery while he or she handles a claim on your behalf.

Contact A Los Angeles Premises Liability Attorney

If you or a loved one suffered an injury from a fall or unsafe conditions on someone’s property, we want to hear from you! You might be due compensation from the property owner because of their negligence. Contact the LA premises liability lawyer team at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP in Los Angeles about your case! Call us today! (310) 477-1700