Premises Liability Attorney in Orange County, CA

In general, premises liability is a legal theory of property law. Under that theory, a person who controls a property is liable when guests or visitors are injured by an unsafe or dangerous condition on that property.

These injuries usually happen due to hazardous conditions or defects in how the property is maintained. Injuries can be caused by many different sources in a premises liability case. These sources may include slippery floors, broken stairs, dog bites, dangerous swimming pools, and any other hazardous or dangerous condition on a property.

In a premises liability case, you must prove several elements for your claim to move forward. These elements include:

• Proof that the person or organization you are bringing a claim against owned, controlled or occupied the premises at the time of the accident. This may involve property records, commercial leases, tax documents and many other types of evidence. By showing that someone owned or controlled a property when you were injured, you are showing who should have taken steps to protect you.
• Evidence that the person or group you are bringing a claim against failed in the duty to keep you safe. Individuals and organizations have legal duties to keep guests and visitors safe. By bringing in maintenance reports, customer complaints, photo evidence, and other types of evidence, you may be able to show that those responsible for your injuries did not take care of the premises the way they should have.
• You suffered injuries. This can be more challenging than you think. You may need medical records, photos, X-rays, and other types of evidence to show that you were injured in an accident.
• The property owner’s failures or negligence was a major cause of your injury. This is a key part of a claim because it links the failures to your injuries.

In California, you also may need to show whether you played any role in your injuries. California uses a comparative negligence rule in many cases. Under that rule, if you were partly to blame for your injuries, the compensation you are awarded for your injury may be reduced by the amount you were at fault.

For example, suppose a puddle has formed on the floor of a grocery store. A man is staring at his phone and does not notice the puddle. He slips on the puddle and falls, hurting his left leg. The man may share some percentage of fault for the accident. The compensation he is awarded by a jury for the fall is reduced by his percentage of fault.

The calculation of fault under the comparative negligence rule can be very complicated. That is another reason to have an Orange County premises liability attorney on your side during your claim.

Our attorneys handle a wide range of premises liability claims. The types of claims we help with include:

• Slip and fall, or trip and fall, claims. When people slip or trip on hard surfaces or stairs, it can lead to devastating injuries. Broken bones, head injuries, and long-term pain are common outcomes from these types of accidents.
• Dog bites. People who own dogs are responsible for their pets’ behavior. If a dog bites you while you are at someone’s home or business, the owner may be liable for your injuries. Infection, scarring and loss of blood are some of the injuries that a dog bite can cause.
• Swimming pool accidents. Swimming pools can be a fun and refreshing place to spend the day. But they can be extremely dangerous for children and novice swimmers. Slippery surfaces, drowning risks, and chemical imbalances in the pool can all lead to lifelong injuries and even death.
• Injuries stemming from theme park accidents. We go to theme parks and water parks to have a good time. Even so, people sometimes end up seriously hurt. Roller coasters and other rides may malfunction, slippery surfaces may cause falls, and failures to maintain facilities can cause severe harm.

We handle these and many other types of premises liability cases. If you have questions about your case, we are always available to answer your questions. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, reach out today to one of our premises liability lawyers.

A premises liability claim can be an exhausting and overwhelming process. Building a valid claim can take knowledge, time and much effort. An Orange County premises liability lawyer can help you and your claim by identifying those responsible, negotiating for a settlement or fighting for you in court, if necessary.

When you bring a premises liability claim, you must collect key evidence, speak with experts, and gather the proof you need to support your claim. A premises liability lawyer has the expertise and resources to handle all of this for you. The lawyer can pull the available proof together and manage the process of investigating the accident and building a solid case.

After investigating the case and building your claim, the premises liability lawyer can represent you in any negotiations or settlement discussions. As part of that process, the lawyer will talk with insurers and those responsible for your injuries while fighting for the compensation that you deserve. The lawyer will keep you informed about the process, discuss the compensation you may be entitled to, and listen to your decisions on how to proceed.

If those who caused your injuries will not give you the compensation that you need for your injuries, a lawyer can file a lawsuit in court. Premises liability lawsuits may require court filings, a discovery process for evidence, and a trial in court. This can be a confusing process with detailed rules and laws. An Orange County premises liability attorney can take care of everything and manage your case from start to finish.