Los Angeles Premises Liability Lawyers

What is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is a legal concept that deals with the responsibility of property owners or occupiers to maintain a safe environment for individuals who enter their premises. When someone is injured or harmed while on another person's property due to the property owner's negligence or failure to maintain a safe environment, they may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. This area of law is crucial in protecting the rights of visitors, customers, or tenants, as it holds property owners accountable for the safety of their premises.

Common types of premises liability cases include:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: These are among the most common premises liability cases. They occur when someone slips, trips, or falls on a property due to hazards such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, loose carpeting, or icy walkways.
• Trip and Fall Accidents: Similar to slip and fall cases, trip and fall accidents involve individuals tripping over objects or hazards on the property, such as protruding cords, debris, or poorly maintained walkways.
• Inadequate Maintenance: Property owners have a duty to maintain their premises, including repairing defects, keeping the property in good condition, and addressing issues like broken stairs, faulty handrails, or damaged flooring.
• Negligent Security: Property owners may be liable if they fail to provide adequate security measures, leading to criminal acts or assaults on their premises. This often applies to apartment complexes, parking lots, or commercial properties.
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: When a property owner has a dog or another animal that attacks a visitor, they may be held liable for the injuries caused by the animal if they knew or should have known about its dangerous propensities.
• Swimming Pool Accidents: Property owners with swimming pools must take appropriate safety measures, including installing fencing and providing warnings to prevent accidents like drownings or slip and fall incidents around the pool area.
• Elevator and Escalator Accidents: If elevators or escalators on a property are poorly maintained and result in injuries to visitors, the property owner or manager can be held responsible.
• Toxic Substances and Hazardous Materials: Exposure to toxic substances like lead paint, asbestos, or mold due to the property owner's negligence can lead to premises liability claims.
• Falling Objects: If objects or debris fall from a building or structure on the property and injure someone, the property owner may be liable if they failed to maintain the premises adequately.
• Retail Store Accidents: Customers injured in stores due to hazards like wet floors, cluttered aisles, or falling merchandise may file premises liability claims against the store owner.

To successfully pursue a premises liability case, the injured party typically needs to establish that the property owner was negligent, and their negligence directly caused the injury. Proving negligence often involves demonstrating that the property owner knew about or should have known about the hazardous condition and failed to address it or provide adequate warnings.