There’s a reason why you often see local San Diego businesses place illustrated yellow signs out warning when the floor is wet, or why there may be security on patrol, or why deep potholes in a store’s parking lot are filled in. Much of this is owed to California “premises liability” laws that place a good deal of responsibility on property owners (including homeowners, businesses, and the government) to maintain and secure their property to help prevent injury to their patrons, customers, or guests. This potential legal liability for a property owner’s negligence has made things safer for all of us as we go through our daily lives, but sometimes the precautions taken by a property owner aren’t enough to prevent an injury, or those controlling the premises may not have made any effort at all to keep things safe. When this happens, it’s possible that the property owner fell short of its legal duty to exercise care. How far a property owner must go to fulfill its responsibilities under California law varies with the circumstances, since it depends on how predictable it was that the harm would occur, how burdensome the precautions were to prevent the injury in light of the risks, whether the injury really occurred because of the owner’s carelessness, and so on.
When an owner neglects to make reasonable efforts to keep the property safe, it can cause severe and debilitating personal injuries that could have been avoided. For example, maybe the owner should have made routine inspections, followed certain safety procedures, put up adequate warning signs, or made necessary repairs. Also, what happens when a third party on the premises causes the injury, can the property owner be held responsible for not controlling that person? If it’s proven that under the circumstances an owner should have foreseen the possible harmful actions of third parties, and that an injury was likely to result from those actions, then the answer may be yes. As a result, the types of unsafe conditions and activities that can give rise to premises liability are broad, but a few common examples include:
- “Slip and fall” or “trip and fall” injuries
- Injuries from falling objects, such as at a construction site
- Assault and battery attacks when there was inadequate security
- Dog bites
- Unsafe store merchandise displays
Always remember that if you’ve suffered a serious injury because of a property owner’s negligence, it’s essential that you take immediate action, because evidence that’s important to proving your case can disappear if the owner makes changes to the property after your accident. What’s more, statutes of limitation place a period of time within which you must start your case, and if you were injured on government property, the period is much shorter. In handling your case, we’ll carefully investigate the matter, consult with experts as needed, and thoroughly analyze your case under current California premises liability law to maximize your chances of proving the property owner is at fault. It’s also just as important for you and for your case that you’re treated right away and that your injuries are promptly documented. We’ll work diligently to secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and other financial losses, and skillfully negotiate a settlement whenever it’s to your advantage. Contact our experienced personal injury lawyers for help with serious accidents at San Diego Law Firm at (619) 794-0243.
