Orange County Premises Liability Attorney

What is a premises liability? Simply stated, this is the type of personal injury claim where the injury was caused by an unsafe condition ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY. 

Case Barnett Law focus on two types of premises liability cases:

Unsafe or defective conditions: An unsafe or defective condition on a property can cause serious injury for visitors or customers. When a property owner fails to provide a safe environment and a person is hurt, the owner is liable for the victim’s injuries. 

Negligent security: Negligent security at schools, churches, apartment complexes and bars can result in serious injuries. Business like bars and apartment complexes are responsible for keeping their patrons safe. They must hire the appropriate people and follow the correct policies and procedures in order to protect the general public. Schools and churches are also responsible for keeping their members safe. Often children are victimized and sexually assaulted when the right steps aren't taken to protect them.  

If you or someone you know is hurt because of the negligence of a business or property owner, Case Barnett Law can help. We treat our clients like family and we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve when you are hurt by a careless property owner.

Click Here to See Our Recent Premises Liability Verdicts and Settlements 

Types of Premises Liability Accidents

There are many ways a person can be injured on someone else’s property. Whether the property is a commercial enterprise or a private home, the owner has a duty to maintain it and ensure that conditions do not endanger visitors or customers. Examples of problems that could lead to a premises liability injury and lawsuit include:

  • Inadequate designs. Properties should be designed safely. For example, if a property lacks appropriate lighting, locks, or fences, or if a property accumulates standing water without proper drainage, then people on the property may be at risk.
  • Inadequate maintenance. Once a property is designed, it must be appropriately built and maintained. Property owners who fail to fix broken stairs, unstable hand railings, broken lights, broken locks, broken walkways, or torn carpeting, for example, could be responsible for any injuries that occur. A skylight that is too easily accessed can result in a brain injury if someone falls through it. 
  • Inadequate warnings. Sometimes it is impossible to address a known risk on the property immediately. In these cases, visitors to the property should be warned of the potential danger. A property owner could, for example, use an orange cone or yellow caution tape to warn a visitor of a risk until such time as it can be fixed.  Improper traffic signage at an apartment complex can result in a pedestrian death 
  • Inadequate security. The necessary security depends both on the location of the property and the use of the property. Businesses should screen employees and make sure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect people from attackers.

The types of personal injury accidents that are considered premises liability claims are:

  • Slip and fall accidents. Slip (or trip) and fall accidents are among the most common type of premises liability accidents. A broken step, walkway, handrail, or even just debris that is left in hallways or walkways can result in slip and fall accidents.
  • Electrocutions. Property owners have a duty to make sure that electricity is up to code and safe. If it is not, then an exposed wire or an electric shock can result in an electrocution.
  • Assault and battery accidents. Inadequate security can result in an attack on someone else’s property. A broken light, for example, may make an attack more likely. Negligent security at a bar or school may result in a serious injury. 
  • Sexual molestation. A sexual molestation, assault, or rape can occur when there is inadequate security on someone else’s property. A broken lock, for example, could allow someone to enter the property and commit this type of crime.
  • Swimming pool accidents. Property owners with swimming pools have a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent drownings and other pool-related injuries on their property. While every case is unique, a property owner may be liable for a swimming pool injury if, for example, the fence around the pool was damaged or missing, there was inadequate lighting, there was inadequate supervision, or there were tripping hazards on the pool deck.
  • Dog bites and animal attacks. Under California law, a dog owner is legally responsible for damages caused by a dog bite if the person bitten was in a public place or was lawfully in a private place. For other injuries caused by dogs or other animals, the general rules of negligence apply and animal owners may be liable for injuries that result from their own negligence.
  • Elevator and escalator accidents. 
  • Amusement park accidents. 
  • Burn and scar injuries. Severe burns are extremely painful and can cause permanent scarring. These types of injuries require long-term treatment which can be costly and painful. Burn victims can expedience the loss of facial features or body parts. Case Barnett Law can help you if you were burned due to someone else's negligence. 
  • Smoke inhalation and heat injuries. When a person inhales toxic smoke they can become seriously injured or ill. The victim will have to undergo treatment and healing as they recover from their injuries.  

Premises liability injuries can occur on any type of property, including apartment complexes, bars and schools. Apartment complexes often have many risk factors for premises liability accidents, including swimming pools, pets, and security measures like lights and locks that may be broken or non-existent. Schools have the responsibility to keep their students safe and bars must provide adequate security to protect their patrons. 

What You Need to Prove

In California, you will have to prove key elements in a premises liability case in order to hold a property owner accountable for your injuries. Specifically, you will need to prove that:

  • The property owner owed you a duty of care. An injured victim will first have to prove that the property owner had a duty to keep him safe. Property owners typically have a duty to keep people safe if those people were invited onto the property or they were legally on the property.
  • The property owner breached the duty of care. Once it is established that the owner had a duty to keep you safe, it must be proven that he breached that duty. In other words, you will need to prove that the property owner failed to provide you with the care that a reasonable property owner would have provided to you in similar circumstances.
  • You were hurt because of the property owner’s negligence. You will need to prove that you were hurt because of the property owner’s breach of the duty of care. Specifically, you will need to establish that your injuries would not have happened but for the property owner’s action or inaction.

In many cases, these elements are clear-cut. However, the insurance representative for the property owner will push back if there is any question about liability, and you will need an experienced premises liability attorney on your side.

How Our Attorneys Can Help You

Many people who are hurt because of a property owner’s negligence suffer serious injuries, such as:

Significant compensation may be available if you were hurt because of a property owner’s negligence. Our team will work hard to get you the settlement that you deserve even when the other side argues that you were hurt because of your own negligence. If the property owner or his insurer will not agree to a settlement that compensates you for your past, current, and future lost income, medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, pain, suffering, and other damages, then we will take your case to trial to get you a full recovery.

It is important to start a premises liability case as quickly as possible. Preservation of video and interviews of witnesses must occur soon after the injury occurs. Businesses have a tendency to lose evidence or forget about injured visitors. Get Case Barnett Law involved early on in your case to prevent evidence from “disappearing,” to make sure that all of your rights are fully protected, and to stay in control of what happens in your case.

Our compassionate legal team wants to know you and to help you recover from your unique injuries. Our firm does not run a legal mill. Instead, we get to know each of our clients individually and we are personally involved in their cases from start to finish. Call us today to learn more about our services and about how we may be able to help you if you’ve been hurt.

Contact Our Experienced Premises Liability Attorneys Today

The sooner you contact our office, the faster we can begin working to preserve the evidence in your case, which is vital for successful litigation. We will get your claim filed and have our investigators working immediately. 

Call us today at (949) 861-2990 for a your free consultation. 

Case C. Barnett
Costa Mesa Personal Injury Attorney practicing in child injury law, car accident injuries and elder abuse law