Costa Mesa Premises Liability Attorney

Many states require property owners to exercise reasonable care in the ownership and maintenance of their properties. California is no exception. Property owners in the state have a duty to maintain their properties and notify others if a hazardous condition exists.

When a property owner is negligent in maintaining his or her property, dangerous conditions may develop. A property owner may be made aware of these hazards and choose to do nothing about them. If these conditions cause injury to others, it is grounds for a premises liability case.

Irvine Premises Liability Cases 

There are many accidents that may occur on a property to warrant a premises liability case. Understanding the types of accidents that may constitute a premises liability case can help you recover any damages that may occur. Accidents or the cause of accidents include the following:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Snow and ice accidents
• Inadequate maintenance of the premises
• Defective conditions on the premises
• Inadequate building security
• Elevator and escalator accidents
• Dog bites
• Swimming pool or diving board accidents
• Fires
• Water leaks and flooding
• Exposure to hazardous materials

Another accident type in California are those occurring on the property of an amusement park. This particular aspect of the law is especially pertinent in Orange County, given that both Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm are located here.

If any of these incidents occur to you or others on a property, be sure to let the property owners know and contact an experienced law firm immediately.

Determining Negligence

If an injury occurs on the property, it may be due to negligence by the owner. Properties that are not reasonably maintained or repaired and display a hazardous condition are grounds for negligence cases.

If you are hurt on a property, the natural conclusion may be that it is the owners fault. This may not always be the case, and it must be proven if it is. Being harmed on a property is not enough; there must be sufficient evidence to cite negligence, which can be shown in the following ways:

• The owner had a duty to maintain his or her property, and he or she breached that responsibility.
• This breach of duty caused a foreseeable injury to someone on the property.
• That injury caused actual damages to the victim that the property owner owed a duty to.

These points are not all inclusive; contact a premises liability lawyer to help you see if your case meets the negligence criteria.

Being Aware

Although it is the owner’s responsibility to maintain the safety of his or her property, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings on any premises. Should you encounter an unsafe area, be sure to tell the property owner. He or she may be grateful you let him or her know, but if the problem is not fixed, you speaking up may help those injured in the future.

If you believe you have grounds for a premises liability case, it is important to contact an experienced law office before talking to anyone about the injury. There is a limit to the availability and amount of insurance, and the injured party may be contacted by an insurance agent asking for a recorded statement. Make sure you do not speak to the insurance representative before consulting a firm with a background in premises liability. The statement may be used against you in court to benefit the insurance agency.

Mission Viejo | Irvine | Costa Mesa

There are many nuances to premises law. That is why at Mann & Elias, we recommend contacting a lawyer that has a background in premises liability cases. If you have been injured on a property here in Orange County, contact us to review how premises liability cases work and how we can help you with your case.