San Francisco Premises Liability Lawyer
If you were injured on someone’s property, there may be legal options available for you. In California, property owners have to legally remove hazards from their property. If the property owner does not take care of their property, they can be liable for damages if someone is injured. These tragic injuries could have been prevented if the owner had properly cared for the property. Whether you have medical costs, severe injuries, lost wages or other damages from an accident on someone’s property, you can get help through a premises liability Lawyer and seek compensation.
What Is Premises Liability?
The idea behind a premises liability lawsuit is fairly simple. When someone owns a property, they are responsible for it. If the owner is not responsible in how they maintain and care for the property, then they are liable if someone gets hurt.
The property owner has a legal responsibility to prevent unsafe situations on the property, provide adequate security and maintain structures. If you become injured, a premises liability lawyer will help you prove your case in court.
In general, you will need to prove that the defendant owned, leased or occupied the property that you were hurt on. Their behavior must have been negligent, and this negligence must have been a substantial factor in the injury you sustained. If you can prove these key points, then you can win your case and get compensation.
Injury Types
Whether they live in San Francisco or Austin, the owner has to perform reasonable efforts to make their property safe for visitors. When they fail to do this, it can lead to premises liability. There are a number of common reasons why owners end up in a premises liability case.
– Swimming pool accidents and injuries
– Restaurant or retail store liability
– Animal bites
– Inadequate or negligent security
– Slip and fall accidents
– Inadequate maintenance
– Dangerous property
– Fires
– Stairs or porch collapse
– Lead paint poisoning
– Elevator or escalator injuries
– Mercury poisoning
There are exceptions to these rules. For example, if someone is renting an apartment in San Francisco, they are most likely liable for injuries. The landlord might own the property, but the renter is presumed to have control of the property. There are exceptions to this rule in cases where dangerous or concealed conditions existed before the tenant moved in. If the landlord makes negligent repairs, then the landlord is also responsible for any resulting injuries.
What Are the Common Premises Liability Cases?
The most common types of premise liability cases involve slip and falls. These types of accidents can happen for a variety of different reasons. They may be due to cracked sidewalks or uneven walking surfaces. A retail shop may have been negligent in cleaning up food debris or spilled drinks. In some cases, people become injured because of oil spills, wet floors or grease. Faulty staircases, snow, unsecured carpeting, loose floorboards or ice could all contribute to a fall.
Property owners also face a huge liability risk because of their swimming pools. Many premises liability cases involve children getting hurt in an unsecured or unsupervised pool. In most regions of the country, swimming pools need to have at least a fence to keep children and visitors out. If the pool is left open and unlocked, your premises liability attorney can definitely help you build your case.
Another common problem is with building security. Normally, this type of premises liability case occurs in offices or apartment complexes. Property owners have a legal duty to reasonably secure access to their buildings. This is one of the reasons why you will typically see a security guard, locks and doormen in an apartment building. If the owner is negligent in providing security, they could face a premises liability case if they are assaulted or killed by an intruder.
Why Should You Hire an Attorney to Help Your Case?
If you want to get the compensation that you deserve, a premises liability attorney can help. After a you are injured because of the property owner’s negligence, you have to deal with terrible health problems like brain injuries, fractures, neck injuries, paralysis and spinal injuries. Even moderate injuries can lead to significant medical bills.
With a premises liability attorney, you get help holding the business or property owner accountable. Insurance companies and property owners never want to admit that they were responsible, but a lawyer can help you get the settlement that you are entitled to. They can help you build a strong case so that you can get the right results.
Your lawyer can help you interview witnesses and investigate your claim. Copies of the accident report, medical reports and witness interviews can help you bolster your case. Your lawyer will also help you identify all of the responsible parties. This helps you increase the odds that you will get a full settlement.
Insurance companies never want to pay out injury claims. Even when they know that the defendant has a good argument, they will try to settle for as little as possible. An attorney knows the value of your claim and has experience working with insurers. Because of this, your lawyer can tell when you are getting a great offer or when you should ask for more.
Your premises liability lawyer can help you hire expert witnesses, file a lawsuit and negotiate a settlement. They have experience working with these types of cases, so they know how the defendant will try to argue against your case. With the help of a qualified attorney, you can see the just compensation that you deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation.
- This article should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship with anyone. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney in your community.