The Ryan Law Group: Offering the Best Premises Liability Lawyer Los Angeles has to Offer
When you are on someone else’s property, you have every right to anticipate reasonable safety and care. In Los Angeles, and across the state of California, homeowners and landowners have a legal obligation to protect you and other guests from hazards that are both hidden and obvious. If you or a loved one has suffered from a serious accident due to the negligence of a property owner, whether it’s a palace of business or someone’s residence, call the Ryan Law Group for the best premises liability lawyer Los Angeles has to offer, and once you have had a free consultation, we can tell you what your case is worth, we will ensure you are getting the right medical care, and will help you collect the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses, pain and suffering.
What is a Premises Liability Lawyer?
A premises liability lawyer, also known as a premise’s liability attorney, is a personal injury lawyer that specializes in helping victims injured due to negligence on another person’s property. Whether you were injured eating at a restaurant due to a lighting fixture that fell and struck you because it was not properly installed, you slipped on a wet surface while shopping at a grocery store, or you were grilling at a neighbor’s home when their deck collapsed, there are premises liability laws in California that give injury victims the opportunity to collect compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, emotional and physical suffering, and other losses that occurred due to the accident.
We expect property owners and managers to take the proper steps to ensure the safety of their guests and visitors. Unfortunately, in many cases, their failure to adequately maintain their grounds can result in serious injury. If you or a family member has suffered a serious injury because of the negligence of a property owner or manager, please contact The Ryan Law Group today to discuss your case. You could be entitled to significant compensation via a premise’s liability claim.
What are Examples of Premises Liability?
There can be hundreds of accident examples that fall under the umbrella of premises liability, but here are some of the most common accident types in Los Angeles covered by our premise’s liability lawyers:
- Slip and Fall Accidents – Someone may slip on a slippery surface in a store because the manager failed to have the area roped off or display the necessary warning signage, and or he never cleaned and dried the area. Slip and fall victims can suffer from broken bones, severe nerve damage, and catastrophic head injuries, as well as a number of other debilitating conditions.
- Negligent Security – If you go to a concert, club, or event, and there is a lack of sufficient security there to keep crowd control in place, or to prevent dangerous people from entering the grounds with weapons, or that fail to respond to someone in distress and their lack of engagement leads to a severe injury, then the organization hosting the event is likely liable.
- Amusement Park Accidents – According to insurance data, roughly 30,000 people are injured every year on rides at amusement parks, carnivals and fairs. And while fatalities are low, they do happen. Amusement parks are required to meet certain regulations and standards to help ensure safety, and this means they need to regularly inspect roller coaster tracks, their cars, and all components of the ride including its finer components. They are also supposed to hire competent staff trained to look after the safety of each guest. Whether you suffer from a catastrophic injury on a rollercoaster that malfunctions, or you are assaulted by another park guest who got through security with a weapon on his person, you could have a premises liability case.
- Elevator Accidents – If an elevator fails and crashes to the ground floor, or you get stuck for an exceptionally long time and suffer from physical or emotional damages as a result, you could have a premises liability case.
- Water Accidents or Drowning – If a loved one drowns at a public pool, water park, or beach, and a lifeguard is absent from duty, or not qualified to perform the roles of water rescues, you could sue for negligence.
- Residential Malfunctions – If you are helping a neighbor install a dish on his rook, and the ladder breaks causing you to fall, or if an appliance malfunction and shoots scalding water onto your body, or even if the chair you are sitting on falls apart causing you to fall and injure your head and back, you may have a premises liability case entitling their insurance to pay your compensation.
- Injuries Caused by Animals – If someone convinces you to try riding a horse on their property knowing you have no experience, and you are bucked off and receive severe injuries, or if someone’s dog isn’t secured and you get bit, or if an exotic species like someone’s chimpanzee severely injures you, you could have grounds to sue for compensation.
- Personal Craft or Vehicle Accident – If someone invites you to jet ski at their lake house and you get injured, or if you hurt yourself riding their dirt bike or off-road vehicle on their land and suffer from an injury, you could have a premises liability case.
Whether you or a loved one have experienced any of the above mishaps, or perhaps you have suffered from an accident not listed here, call The Ryan Law Group today for a free consultation so that you can fully understand your legal rights and know what your case is worth.
Do You Need a Premises Liability Attorney?
If you have a premises liability case after suffering from an injury or loss due to negligence or lack of care on another person’s property, it is highly recommended to retain legal representation before proceeding with a claim. In premises liability cases, it is highly recommended to retain legal representation before proceeding with a claim. In California, premises liability law is primarily based on negligence (Civil Code 1714). All plaintiffs must prove the following:
- The defendant was responsible for the property, and therefore had a duty of care to uphold the property to acceptable standards
- The defendant failed to uphold their duty of care by being negligent in their maintenance of the property
- The plaintiff was harmed on the premises
- The defendant’s carelessness was the primary cause of the plaintiff’s harm.
This can be difficult to prove without a Los Angeles premises liability attorney, especially if the premises in question is a larger business with a substantial legal team. In addition, even if you were injured on someone’s residential property, you could be eligible for substantial compensation, but the plaintiff’s insurance company will have large legal teams that can easily manipulate people during a vulnerable period to settle for far less than what their case is worth. A premises liability attorney like Andrew Ryan who has experience in these types of cases can provide all the tools and resources necessary to definitely prove that a property owner was negligent and that their negligence led to your injuries.
Determining Duty of Care in Premises Liability Cases
Premises liability cases in California center on the duty of care. A duty of care is a legal obligation to act in a reasonable manner. A property owner in California has a duty to maintain a property with the same degree of care that a reasonable and prudent person would in the same circumstances.
The specific duties of care a property owner owes to someone visiting his or her property change according to the status of the visitor:
- If the visitor is an invitee, the property owner is legally required to check the premises for hidden hazards, repair known defects and issue appropriate warnings.
- If the visitor is a licensee, the property owner does not have to look for unknown hazards.
- If the visitor is a trespasser, the property owner won’t owe him or her any duties of care.
An invitee has an express or implied invitation from the owner to enter the property, while a licensee has legal authorization, if not a direct invitation. A trespasser does not have permission to be on a property. It is important to recognize which type of visitor you were at the time of the accident to understand the duties of care owed or not owed to you by the property owner.
Establishing Liability in a Premises Liability Case
According to CACI No. 1001, if a property owner fails to use an accepted or reasonable degree of care to keep premises in a safe condition, that party has been negligent. Negligence that causes injury or harm to others will make a property owner legally and financially responsible for the victim’s losses.
As an injured party, the burden of proof lies with you during a premise’s liability lawsuit. You must prove you have valid grounds for a claim and are eligible for financial damages. You or your lawyer must establish the defendant’s fault based on a preponderance of the evidence: clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is at least 51% responsible for your injuries.
Evidence you may use to establish liability for a property accident includes photographs, video surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, accident or police reports, medical records, and testimony from experts. A lawyer can help you collect evidence, put together a case and demonstrate a property owner’s fault for the best possible case results.
What Kind of Damages Can Victims Recover from a Premises Liability Case?
A successful premises liability case in California can help you and your family finally move forward. It can provide financial compensation for your past and future losses to restore you to the state you were in prior to the accident. You may be eligible for financial damages from the defendant for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Lost ability to earn
- Disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Out of pocket costs
- Punitive damages
The damages available and the exact value of your premise’s liability case will depend on many factors, including the severity of your injuries. Working with an attorney in Los Angeles can help you demand a fair and full amount for not only existing losses but future needs as well.
What are the Statutes of Limitations on a Premises Liability Case in Los Angeles and All of California?
It is critical to file your premises liability claim before California’s statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a strict deadline for filing; in general, if you miss this deadline, you are barred from recovery. The purpose of a statute of limitations is to encourage timely filing by a plaintiff, both to ensure justice and to make the legal system more efficient.
According to California Code of Civil Procedure Chapter 3, the statute of limitations is 2 years from your accident’s date. If you do not discover your property-related injury or illness right away, you will have two years from the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered it to file. Act quickly to file a lawsuit, as missing your deadline will most likely mean giving up all opportunities to obtain financial compensation.
Why Work with a Los Angeles Premises Liability Lawyer from The Ryan Law Group?
The Ryan Law Group is a full-service personal injury firm that provides exceptional services and stellar results for its clients in Los Angeles and all of Southern California.
- We are a client-focused firm that always puts your needs first. Because we are a full-service firm, we take care of any legal work that you need to make your life a little easier during this time.
- We have a proven record of results, securing several multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.
- We are comprehensive in our approach, utilizing industry experts and other investigators to ensure you are pursuing the maximum possible compensation.
- We operate on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs or legal expenses throughout the proceedings. You only pay if we secure a favorable settlement or verdict on your behalf.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured due to the negligence of a property owner, please contact The Ryan Law Group today for further assistance. Our Los Angeles premises liability attorneys have the experience and knowledge to help you receive the maximum possible compensation for your needs, no matter where you may reside in the state of California.