If you are filing a premises liability claim or lawsuit in Los Angeles, you could receive economic and non-economic damages from a liable party.
According to California Civil Code (CIV) §1714(a), property owners or those individuals who occupy a property must maintain that property or otherwise mark its dangerous areas to perform a duty of care to those individuals who may come across it.
Upon violating that duty of care, the person who suffers from an injury can file a complaint for damages against the property owner or another applicable party.
Economic Damages
The economic damages you have the opportunity to collect in a premises liability claim can include:
- Medical costs for procedures needed before you filed a lawsuit with a local court
- The cost of future medical procedures needed to restore your previous quality of life
- The cost of medical aids, medications, and other means required to restore your quality of life
- Physical therapy
- Psychological counseling
- Lost wages
- Lost employment opportunities
- Funeral and burial costs, if applicable
Non-Economic Damages
You could receive noneconomic damages for a premises liability claim in Los Angeles, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other types of damages that do not come with an assigned dollar value. You can work with a premises liability lawyer to determine whether you have taken on these types of damages and what dollar value they have.
Your Status and How It Affects Your Potential Damages
As mentioned, all parties who find themselves on private property are entitled to a duty of care as established by California. These parties include:
- Invitees. Invitees are individuals who have explicit or implicit permission to come onto your property. These parties most often include close family members, friends, and neighbors.
- Licensees. If you invite a professional onto your property, or if a salesperson chooses to approach your home, you owe those parties a duty of care. That said, your duty of care to these individuals is not as comprehensive as it is to invitees on your property. Even so, you should work to clear away any dangers on your property should you know that these parties are coming or at least mark those dangers with a clear sign.
- Trespassers. Trespassers present an interesting question to the average property owner. While they are not legally allowed to be on your property, they are still entitled to a duty of care. Children, specifically, who are wandering through the area are legally entitled to a duty of care that keeps their well-being in mind. This exception exists because children often fail to understand the intricacies of private property and can hurt themselves while wandering in areas that are not marked as dangerous.
If you are uncertain of your position on another person’s property, but you still wish to pursue compensation for the losses you endured there, you can reach out to a premises liability lawyer to determine what your legal standing may be.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Walk You through Your Rights
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm recognizes that wading through the issue of what damages you could receive for a premises liability claim in Los Angeles can be taxing. That is why the firm wants to help those individuals who need it most. If you believe you have suffered an injury or loss because of a property owner’s negligence, you could take legal action against the party.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you bring together the necessary evidence to establish a liable party and file a complaint against said party within California’s statute of limitations, which is two years, per California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1. In this complaint, you can not only outline the identity of the party you wish to hold liable for your losses but also what compensation you wish to seek.
You do not, however, always have to submit a complaint to pursue compensation after a loss on someone else’s property. Instead, with the help of a premises liability lawyer, you can craft a demand letter and establish negotiations with the party you believe to be liable for your losses. This way, you have the opportunity to come to an agreement with that party without having to seek a court’s input.
Do note, too, that Pintas & Mullins Law Firm offers you access to these services, from legal advice to representation, free of charge. Because the firm works on contingency, you will receive a bill for the aforementioned services only if a court chooses to award you a settlement or if you come to an agreement with a party while using the services of an attorney.
To discuss your case with a Pintas & Mullins Law Firm representative and get more information, call us at (800) 223-5115 today to schedule a free consultation.