If you were injured on someone else’s Los Angeles property due to negligence, then you most likely have a premises liability case. You can speak with a lawyer about your case, as you could end up with more compensation than you thought possible. You may be wondering, “Will my premises liability case be settled out of court?” If so, know that it is possible. Your case could reach a resolution quickly, depending on the circumstances.
Where Your Case Might Settle
Most times, premises liability cases are settled out of court. This happens during the negotiation phase, where a premises liability lawyer speaks with the property owner and their insurance company and tries to get you the maximum settlement.
Negotiations may go smoothly, or they could end up in a standoff as lawyers try to wait each other out and see who will fold first. Your attorney will work to get you the best settlement possible, which means they will typically reject the first offer made by an insurance company and continue to negotiate back and forth.
If the case cannot be solved during negotiation, you may end up proceeding to a mediation phase. This happens once an official lawsuit is filed after the first phase of negotiations fail. During this phase, both sides will have a chance to enter discovery, where they can look at important documents, ask questions, and do depositions for their case.
Once discovery is completed, each side begins negotiating again. A mediator may be called in to help the process along. Neither side will want the case to proceed to trial, as that can draw the whole case out even more.
If, however, a premises liability case cannot be settled out of court despite everyone’s best efforts, the case could end up scheduled for a court date. If you hire a lawyer, they will do everything they possibly can to keep your case from going to trial.
How Your Lawyer Will Try to Create a Solid Case for You
If you want to do everything possible to ensure that your case does not end up in court, then you can choose to work with a lawyer on your case. An attorney will aim to keep your case out of court and in the negotiation or mediation phase. To do this, they will need to create a solid case that the other side cannot shoot holes in or try to find loopholes to get out of paying you.
Your solid case may include:
- Security camera footage: If there is security camera footage available of what happened to you, then that could be proof of your claim. Obtaining the footage can be difficult without legal knowledge, which your lawyer will have.
- Medical records: If you sought medical attention right after the incident or called 911 if your injuries were severe, records reflecting that you received this treatment could be hard evidence in your case.
- An official report of the incident: If your injury happened at a store, then you should have filed an official report with the store manager or person in charge at the time.
- Witness statements: Anyone who was present and saw your injury occur is a potential witness in your case. They can corroborate your account of the accident, backing you up and giving the other side less ground to stand on to fight the claim.
- Photos of the accident scene: Taking photos of the scene is always a good idea. For example, if you claim you tripped over a broken concrete barrier in a parking lot, but then the store fixes it before any photos are taken, then it is harder to prove your claim.
Speak with a Los Angeles Premises Liability Lawyer Today
If you were injured on someone’s residential or commercial property because they were negligent in fixing any dangerous conditions that led to your incident, then you might be able to file a premises liability claim against them.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we have helped many victims recover damages from premises liability cases across the country, including Los Angeles. For more than 30 years, our practice has fought tirelessly for those who need our help the most.
If you are concerned about legal fees, we operate on a contingency-fee-basis, which means we do not collect payment from you unless you win financial recovery in your case.
Contact us today at (800) 223-5115 so that we can begin your free consultation. Our legal team will speak with you at length about what happened and provide guidance on your next steps.