Riverside Premises Liability Lawyer

Business owners and property owners alike have a responsibility to uphold and maintain the safety of their buildings so that everyone who lives, works, or visits the premises are safe and are able to go about their day without any delay. If the property owner notices a hazard, but chooses to ignore the problem, then they are committing an act of negligence that can result in legal repercussions. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a premises liability incident, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses. Whether you slipped on a wet floor in a shopping mall, tripped on debris at a grocery store, or fell on a broken step at a neighbor’s home, your injuries can be severe and life changing. It is imperative that you hire a personal injury lawyer who will look out for your best interests and get you the full and fair compensation you deserve.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of personal injury lawyers are ready to take on your premise liability case and serve as your personal legal representative. We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of legal experience, and our attorneys have handled a variety of premises liability accidents from simple slip and falls to accidents caused by negligent property owners.

We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation to our deserving clients and we will continue to do our duty and give them the best legal representation possible. As premises liability laws are dependent on severity of the accident and the liability of the property owner, any small detail can have a large effect on a victim’s case. As such, should you have any questions or concerns about your case, our 24/7 legal team is available to answer them in great detail.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.

Defining California Premises Liability Law

Premises liability refers to a legal concept that holds property owners responsible for injuries that could have been preventable if the owner was more attentive to ensuring the safety of the property. According to California Civil Code 1714(a), the injured party must have proof that the injury was caused by the defendant’s negligence or recklessness and that the owner has a duty of care to reasonably maintain their premises in order to file a premises liability claim.

Common Premises Liability Injuries Cases

A premises liability accident can originate from a variety of different scenarios, however, the most common cases found in Riverside are slip and falls, inadequate maintenance, attractive nuisances, and negligent security measures. As property owners have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of their visitors, they need to be vigilant and take account of every possible situation that may arise. If they are negligent in their duty, then it is important to understand the differences between each type in order to get a better grasp of what a premises liability case may entail.

Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip and fall accident is when a person slips/trips and falls due to hazards on the floor. Examples of this include wet floors, uneven surfaces, loose rugs or mats, icy sidewalks, or randomly placed debris on walkways. Due to the nature of a slip and fall accident, they are one of the most common types of premises liability lawsuits that can be filed, because it can happen to anybody.

A Slip and Fall fact sheet by the National Floor Safety Institute has determined that roughly 21% of hospital emergency visits are related to accidental falls, with slip and fall incidents making up about 12% of total falls. However, it is important to note that any falls caused by the victim’s own volition or clumsiness does not make them eligible for a premises liability accident. Instead, victims must prove that the property owner failed to provide them a safe area and their negligence resulted in personal injuries derived from slip and fall accidents.

Inadequate Maintenance

Inadequate maintenance claims are when a property owner fails to maintain the safety and general operational standards of a building and people become injured as a result. Broken stairs, malfunctioning elevators and escalators, uneven floors, bad electrical wiring, and even malfunctioning amenities are all popular instances of inadequate maintenance claims that can potentially cause severe injuries to people. Due to the amount of possible sources, the severity of any suffered injuries will be varied on a case-by-case basis.

Negligent Security

Negligent security is when a person becomes injured due to a lack of security measures from the property owner. While the victim should be pressing charges against those who have intentionally harmed them, the property owners can also be held liable for not implementing security measures for foreseeable acts of crime.

A good example of this is a research brief from the Department of Justice that has cited an armed robbery incident at a convenience store, where the owner was held liable for a young man’s death due to the lack of security personnel and designing the store in a way that incentivizes a successful robbery. With that in mind, it is also a property owner’s duty to ensure that their property is not only safe from violent crimes, but prevents the possibility of one occurring.

Attractive Nuisances

An attractive nuisance refers to an object or landmark that attracts children onto a person’s property and they become injured as a result. The object/landmark can range from man-made structures such as swimming pools and trampolines to natural features on a property such as lakes and caves.

While California does not have an attractive nuisance doctrine that can hold land owners accountable for any injuries children have sustained for wandering onto their property, the state does enforce a general duty to prevent those from entering their property by installing preventive measures such as signs and fences. Any failure to implement preventative measures can result in property owners being held liable for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and any other medical expenses that are derived from the incident.

Proving Liability in a Premises Liability Cases

In order to prove liability in a Riverside premises liability claim, you must establish the accident was due to the property owner’s negligence in maintaining a safe and reasonable environment. Any accidents that have occurred due to your own volition and clumsiness does not count as a legitimate means of pursuing compensation.

Unsafe hazards such as not following building compliance laws, broken stairs and escalators, not putting up warning signs for dangerous areas, and neglecting general safety measures are all reasonable grounds for a premises liability case. Should you sustain an injury, it is important to document the scenario as much as possible and present the details to a personal injury attorney. From there, they will determine if you have the grounds for a claim and continue from there.

What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Premises Liability Claim?

According to section 335.1 of California’s legislation, all premises liability claims have a time limit of two years from the incident date. Should a victim wait to file a claim, they risk running into the statute of limitations and they would not be able to pursue any compensation for their injuries. Which is why, it is important that you file a claim as soon as possible if you have gotten injured on someone else’s property.

The Benefits of Hiring a Riverside Premises Liability Lawyer

Hiring a Riverside premises liability attorney can produce a number of benefits for those who are looking to file a claim. As premises liability attorneys are well versed in personal injury law, they understand the legal process and can help speed up the process by filing all of the correct paperwork at a timely manner. They can also give you legal advice, negotiate with opposing counsel and insurance adjusters on your behalf, and explain the best course of action for your case. Those who hire an attorney will definitely have a better chance of recovering compensation for your losses than those who file a claim without an attorney.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here To Help 

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury due to a negligent property owner, you may be entitled to obtain compensation for your losses. As filing for a premises liability claim can be a long and confusing process especially if you are unfamiliar with the legal process, it is important that you hire an experienced personal injury attorney who can look out for your best interests.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of Riverside premises liability attorneys are ready to take on your case and serve as your personal representative during this time in your life. With over 20 years of legal experience, our attorneys handled a variety of cases from injuries due to a property owner’s negligence to slip and fall accidents and they are confident that they can get you the maximum compensation for your losses.

We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our duty and guide them throughout the legal process. Our team of premises liability lawyers are well versed in the California court system and are experienced in negotiating on our clients behalf with insurance companies. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your case, our legal team is available 24/7 to address them in full detail.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation today, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by completing our easy online contact form.

Most Frequently Asked Questions About Riverside Premises Liability Claims 

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability in California?

The statute of limitations for a premises liability case is two years from the incident date, because it is categorized as a personal injury claim under section 335.1 of California’s legislation. Should you file a claim after that two year mark, you will automatically waive your right to pursue compensation towards the responsible party and any attempt to file will result in your case being dismissed in court.

What Types of Conditions Does a Riverside Property Owner Have to Fix or Warn Visitors About?

Property owners are responsible for addressing and warning visitors about various conditions that can cause harm. This can include structural problems, plumbing and walkway issues, and any compliance issues to the building. Should the property owner be negligent in their duty to fixing or addressing these problems then they can be held liable for any accidents that happen to a person’s property.

How Do You Determine if a Riverside Property Owner Breached Their Duty of Care?

In order to determine if a duty of care has been breached, it is important to find out if the property requires the owners to establish a duty of care to begin with, and if there are any reasonable measures to prevent foreseeable harm. If a property owner purposefully invites people onto their property knowing that there are dangerous conditions around, then they can be held liable for breaching their duty of care if someone gets injured from a dangerous condition on the property.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive in a Premises Liability Case?

For premises liability cases, the total awarded compensation amount will be dependent on the severity and scale of the sustained injury. For example, should a victim sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury due to an unsafe walkway that could have been fixed or appropriately cordoned off, then the victim can win anywhere within the five to six figure range.