The premises must be secure and free from anything that could injure a guest when they enter another person's property.

However, property owners and occupants are not necessarily responsible for maintaining their properties. Suppose an accident happens due to a hazardous situation on the property. In that case, people in charge of it may be held accountable for the resulting damages under the idea of premises responsibility.

The good thing is that experienced lawyers who specialize in premises liability exist. They have years of experience zealously fighting for the rights of those who have been injured on someone else's property and who are familiar with the nuanced differences in premises liability law that might influence your claim.

Find out more about the factors surrounding premises liability in the sections below.

The Obligation to Remove Hazards and Warn Guests

Owners and occupants of property have an affirmative duty to regularly assess their property and remove any risks that could endanger guests. The property manager is responsible for alerting guests to the hazard or taking precautions against it if the harmful condition cannot be immediately corrected. 

Suppose the exercise of ordinary care would have resulted in the discovery of the hazard on the premises. In that case, premises responsibility cannot be avoided by asserting that there was no awareness of the hazardous state on the property.

When evaluating whether a property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous state, consideration is given to the danger's blatancy, complaints about it, the duration of its existence, if any injuries were caused by it, and whether insufficient efforts were made to correct it.

Premises Liability

According to California law, property owners and occupiers are responsible for keeping their facilities fairly safe. Landowners, occupiers, or controllers are obligated to keep up the state of their property, check it for dangers, correct any problems, and adequately advise guests of any potential risks. 

An injured visitor might launch a case for damages for their injuries under premises liability statutes if the property manager was negligent in maintaining the premises while they were open to the public.

A premises liability lawsuit is comparable to other claims of negligence and bodily harm. The following components must be established in court by the victim of a premises liability damage before they can get compensation for their claims:

• The land was owned, occupied, or under the accused's control.
• The accused used or maintained the property carelessly.
• The victim was hurt on the property as a direct result of negligence.
• The damage actually cost the victim money.

If you sustain harm while on another person's property, numerous parties may be at fault. The liability varies depending on the kind of property and the number of parties involved. For instance, if the accident happens at someone's house, the homeowner is probably the sole one responsible. 

However, if the accident happens at a restaurant as a result of an employee's carelessness, the potential offenders include the following:

• The person
• The restaurant where they work
• Sometimes even the landowner from whom the restaurant leases their building

Liability may lie with the homeowner, business owner, tenant or renter, property management firm, parent company, retail center, restaurant, bar, store, amusement park, or an employee, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Typical Premises Liability Accident Types

Incidents involving premises liability can occur anywhere there is a risk, although some accidents happen more frequently than others. One of the most typical types of premises liability accidents is a slip and fall incident. 

Wet or slippery surfaces, unknown substances on the floor, uneven floors, loose or uneven carpets, exposed cables or cords, broken or missing railings, failure to secure work sites, and failing to post warning signs regarding potential risks are all causes of this.

Construction sites are a further location where premises liability accidents frequently occur. These mishaps consist of the following:

• Crane mishaps
• Electrocutions
• Ladder accidents
• Electrocutions
• Roofing mishaps
• Scaffolding accidents
• Devastating accidents

Hazardous staircases and stairwells, accidents at amusement parks and waterparks, animal assaults, injuries from elevator and escalator use, and mishaps at home are some more common premises liability accidents.

Settlement for Premises Liability Accidents

The accident victim may file a premises liability claim to recover monetary and non-monetary damages for the harm brought on by the hazardous and dangerous conditions.

Economic damages are the actual money losses brought on by the injuries. This covers past, present, and foreseeable medical expenses, property damage, missed wages, and lost benefits and income in the future.

Compensation for less obvious harms, including pain and suffering, emotional anguish, scarring, disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of life, is known as noneconomic damages. The court may even give the victim punitive damages in the most severe premises liability cases. 

In addition to economic and noneconomic losses, this award is significant. Punitive damages are intended to hold the perpetrator accountable for their acts and discourage others from taking similar steps to protect and maintain their property.

However, in California, a victim must often demonstrate that the defendant's acts caused catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, intentionally destroyed proof of liability, or caused the accident or injury to receive punitive damages.

The victim's family may potentially seek additional damages for wrongful death if the premises liability accident resulted in death. Payment for final accident-related medical expenditures, burial and funeral expenses, lost financial assistance, and the loss of a loved one's love, security, and company are all possible damages for wrongful death.

A knowledgeable premises liability lawyer will be able to examine your situation's facts and provide advice on what constitutes full and reasonable payment for your injuries.

‍Conclusion

You could require a victim's advocate in a premises liability action. You might also need an experienced lawyer to analyze your case or have additional queries concerning California's premises liability laws.

You can discuss your claims with a knowledgeable attorney for premises liability. The law firms that take on these matters typically provide a free and private case assessment with an experienced lawyer who will outline your legal alternatives for compensation.

If you need legal advice on premises liability in California, Mendez & Sanchez Law is here for you. Our attorneys will help you through the difficult legal landscape as we pursue the compensation you deserve. 

Contact us right away for personal injury, auto accident, workers compensation, slip and fall, or other legal needs.