Who you can sue in a premises liability claim in Los Angeles will depend on where you were injured. If your accident occurred on a residential property, like a friend’s house, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the owner of the house. However, if you suffered injuries on a commercial property, like a chain store, then you may be able to sue the corporation that oversees the store’s operations.
All property owners and managers have a legal duty of care to keep their premises safe for guests. You may choose to work with a personal injury lawyer who can guide you through the process of recovering compensation for your medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses.
You Must Prove Negligence in a Premises Liability Case
Per California Civil Code (CIV) §1714(a), all property owners, managers, and other parties responsible for maintaining an area have a duty of care to keep an area safe for visitors. All types of visitors, including invitees, licensees, and in some cases, trespassers, can benefit from the civil code’s protection.
If you team up with a premises liability lawyer, to promote your case’s success, they will need to prove:
- Duty of care. The party responsible for an area’s safety has a legal obligation to keep harm from befalling guests.
- Breach of duty of care. The party responsible for an area’s safety failed to uphold their duty of care.
- Causation. Your injuries stem from unsafe conditions on another party’s property.
- Damages. You have incurred financial losses, such as medical bills, as a result of your accident and injuries.
To recover compensation for your expenses, your lawyer will need to prove that another party’s negligence resulted in your injuries and financial losses.
Causes of Premises Liability Incidents
When you work with a premises liability lawyer, they will need to collect evidence that explains how and why your accident occurred. They may even visit the accident scene to check for hazardous conditions.
Some hazardous conditions that can result in an accident include:
- Torn or frayed carpeting
- Uneven stairs
- Stairways without rails
- Areas with poor lighting
- Unmaintained landscaping
- Cluttered walkways
- Slick surfaces, like a freshly waxed floor
- Unrestrained animals
You may not see the reason for your accident here. When you work with a lawyer, they can explain if you have the basis of a premises liability claim or lawsuit.
Recovering Compensation in a Premises Liability Case
After being injured on another party’s property, your ultimate goal may be to recover compensation for your various expenses. Your lawyer can gather the receipts, billing statements, and invoices as they relate to your damages to determine the value of your case.
Whether through an insurance settlement or court award, you may be able to recover the cost of:
- Medical treatment needed to address your injuries or stabilize your condition
- Any assistive medical devices, such as a wheelchair
- Physical therapy as recommended by your doctor
- Psychological counseling
- Lost wages
- Lost opportunity for work or employment
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Funeral costs, if you lost a loved one in a premises liability incident
Your lawyer can review the details of your case and explain what other damages you may be able to pursue. If you decide to file a premises liability lawsuit in Los Angeles, you typically have two years to do so, per California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1. Failure to act within this timeframe could forfeit your right to compensation.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Extends Legal Aid to Personal Injury Claimants
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm knows how disorienting the days after an accident can be. Our team can help you with the legal obligations that go into filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Together, we can work to hold the negligent party accountable for their reckless or careless conduct. A lawyer from our team can represent you throughout the negotiations process or in court, if necessary.
We also represent injured claimants on a contingency-fee-basis. You do not need to pay any retainers, starting fees, or upfront costs for us to get started on your case. You only pay us our attorney’s fees if your case yields a successful outcome.
When you call our team today, we want to hear about your accident and injuries. We may be able to provide insight into who you can sue in a premises liability claim in Los Angeles.
We offer a free case review to prospective clients who wish to learn more about our services. To get started, dial (800) 223-5115.