You get hurt on someone else’s property, and it is unclear how you will cover your injury costs. If your injury may be the result of someone’s negligence (such as the property owner, property manager, tenant, contractor, etc.) you may pursue compensation through a premises liability claim. Consult with a California premises liability attorney, and they can explain if this may be an option for you.
Let the California personal injury attorneys from Meissner Law Firm help you with your premises liability case. Contact us today.
Why Choose Us at Meissner Law Firm?
- We give your case our personalized attention. You will speak and work directly with our California premises liability attorneys, and we are always willing to meet you in person in either our San Pedro (Los Angeles County) or Newport Beach (Orange County) offices, or another mutually agreeable location
- We are ready to address your legal challenges. In your case, our attorneys can negotiate the terms of an insurance settlement, represent and advocate for you during litigation all the way though trial if necessary.
- We work on contingency. There are no upfront costs, and you won’t incur any legal fees unless we get you compensation.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to a legal doctrine that can hold property owners and occupiers liable if visitors get hurt due to a dangerous condition on their premises under certain circumstances. Generally, if you go to another person’s property, this individual has a duty of care to you. Based on this duty, the individual has to exercise reasonable care. If they don’t, and you get hurt on their property, you may be able to seek compensation from them.
Reasons why people file premises liability claims/lawsuits include:
- Broken stairs, insufficient lighting, and other property hazards
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents
- Inadequate security
- Dog bites
- Elevator and escalator malfunctions
- Unstable structures
A California premises liability lawyer can assess your case and detail whether you have grounds for a claim or lawsuit against a property owner, a landlord, a business operator, contractor, or other parties.
How Does California Law Define ‘Negligence’ in Premises Liability?
Negligence in premises liability cases is defined by California Civil Code § 1714(a). Under this, a person or business is typically expected to know or have reasonably known about hazards on their premises. If this party chooses not to address these hazards, they may be considered negligent. On top of that, they may be held responsible for any accidents or injuries that occur due to their negligent acts.
How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Claim in California?
According to California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, if you get hurt on someone else’s property, you may have up to two years from the date you were injured to ask for compensation from the liable party.
If you lose a family member in a fatal accident on someone else’s premises and are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person (decedent), you may have two years from the date of death to do so.
If the incident occurs due to the fault of a governmental entity, then you could have as little as 6 months to file a claim.
Since there are many factors to assess when analyzing the statute of limitations, it is pertinent to immediately call an attorney to allow enough time to conduct proper due diligence and timely file a claim or lawsuit. Your California premises liability attorney can discuss the specific statute of limitations that apply for your case.
Call Our California Premises Liability Attorneys Today
To get started, contact us online or call us at (310) 833-2335 to speak directly with one of our premises liability attorneys regarding your case.