When a Property Owner Could Be Held Accountable for Your Injuries
Under California premises liability laws, people who have been injured as a result of the negligent management of a property may be entitled to receive compensatory damages. Establishing negligence, however, can depend on a variety of issues, including whether the owner of the establishment owes property visitors a duty of care. When negligence can be established, monetary compensation for the damages incurred from the accident can be recovered.
Property Owner’s Duty of Care
When an accident occurs while on another’s property, determining whether the property owner owed a duty of care to the victim is the first step in figuring out whether there is a valid premises liability case. When assessing whether a duty of care exists, the following issues should be considered:
- Was the injury foreseeable or preventable?
- Were there mitigating actions taken to prevent the risk of injury?
- Were property visitors warned about the risk of danger?
- Did the injured party do anything that could have contributed to the accident?
Establishing Negligence in a Premises Liability Claim
In California, property owners have a legal duty to reasonably ensure there are no dangerous conditions on the premises that could result in the bodily harm of others. This can apply to a variety of places, including, but not limited to: Theme parks, Grocery stores, Shopping centers, and Apartment buildings.
When a person is injured while on another’s property, the following elements must be established to determine whether the property owner was negligent:
- The property owner owed a duty of care to the injured party;
- The property owner violated the duty of care by neglecting to properly inspect the property, failing to provide warnings about the potential risk of harm, or failing to fix the hazardous condition;
- The property visitor was injured in an accident while inside the property; and
- The property owner’s negligence was a direct contribution to the cause of the injury.
Monetary Compensation May Be Recovered with the Support of a Skilled Law Firm
Property owners in the State of California have a legal responsibility to ensure their property is relatively safe to those who enter the property. Property owners who neglect to regularly inspect their property for potential hazards, fail to fix hazardous conditions, and/or fail to warn property visitors about the presence of the hazard can be held responsible when an accident occurs. If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of a dangerous condition inside another’s property, contact the legal guidance of an established law firm. A well-established law firm will ensure the highest amount of compensation is secured.
The Knez Law Group has built a reputation of excellence in premises liability cases in Southern California. The firm understands that following an accident, most injured victims will face hardship, including emotional distress and financial difficulty. As a result, the proficient litigators at the Knez Law Group work diligently and tirelessly to ensure their clients obtain the monetary compensation they need to get their lives back on track. Following a premises liability accident, consider scheduling a no-obligation consultation with the attorneys at the Knez Law Group.
Matthew J. Knez graduated from the University of Redlands in California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing. He then pursued his law degree at the University of La Verne College of Law in Ontario, California, where he earned various awards, including the CALI Award in Torts, and was on the Dean’s List. During his time in law school, Mr. Knez was a member of the Justice and Immigration Clinic, working with individuals seeking asylum in the United States from countries where they faced persecution or threats of persecution. Additionally, he was an Associate Editor for the Law Review and published an article on California family custody move-away cases. Learn more here.