Premises Liability Attorneys in Northern California

Get Experienced Legal Help for Your Injury Claim

Every personal injury case derives from an incident involving an innocent victim who has suffered injuries due to negligent, careless, reckless party’s actions or failures to take action. Premises liability cases are no different. If a homeowner, business owner, or property manager fails to maintain a reasonably safe property and a guest suffers injuries as a result, the responsible party can be held liable for the victim’s damages.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident or as a result of an unsafe property - commercial, municipal, or private property - we can provide you with informative, honest legal counsel and exceptional representation. At the Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley, we handle many premises liability cases that other firms refuse to take.

Our expertise and knowledge in this area make us well equipped to defend your rights and help obtain the best possible recovery on your behalf. Rest assured, the premises liability attorneys at our Chico, Roseville, Sacramento, and Redding offices will dedicate their time and energy to your case.

Understanding Your Compensation for Premises Liability

The potential for damages in a premises liability case is great. In fact, many premises liability cases result in verdicts or settlements upwards of $500,000. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident or any other types of accidents as a result of an unsafe property, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Though each case is unique, many plaintiffs can file for damages relating to:

• Loss of wages
• Medical expenses
• Physical pain
• Emotional suffering
• Future medical bills relating to the injury

If the property owner was woefully negligent in the upkeep of his or her premises or is a business who has a duty to the public to present a safe property, it may also be possible to file for punitive damages, which are monies rewarded as a means of punishing the defendant.

Identifying Common Premises Liability Hazards

In premises liability cases, the defendant is the owner of the premises. The plaintiff is typically considered an invitee or licensee; if the plaintiff is a trespasser and was on a property illegally, it can be difficult to recover damages. It is then established whether or not a property was safe and hazards were reasonably identified.

Hazards that a property owner may be held accountable for include:

• Open pits and excavations
• Standing water
• Crumbling curbs
• Open electrical outlets or wiring
• Overhead objects
• Falling objects
• Ice and snow
• Insufficient lighting

Three of the most common hazards in premises liability claims are:

• Uneven pavement or flooring: The pavement outside of retail stores and public spaces can sometimes be a terrible trip and fall hazard if it has become damaged. Seemingly small cracks in the pavement can create an uneven surface that sends a passerby tumbling. Such cases can be complicated because liability might be unclear. For example, it could belong to the proprietor, a local municipality, or both.
• Lifted carpets and rugs: One of the more dangerous trip and fall hazards is also one of the most innocuous: lifted carpets and rugs. Many people assume fall accidents only happen on slick tile floors, but the truth is that many falls happen due to carpeting that catches a person’s foot as they walk. If you trip on a carpet or rug on someone else’s property, be sure to take a photograph of it to prove it was in a dangerous, unmaintained condition that caused your accident.
• Inadequate security: Certain properties are expected to provide security measures that deter crime. For example, an apartment complex in a neighborhood with a high crime rate, especially property crimes, should hire a security detail to patrol the premises at night. When someone is assaulted, robbed, or otherwise hurt by criminal activity that could have been prevented had adequate security measures been taken, the proprietor could be liable for the damages experienced by the victim of the crime.

What is Negligence in a Slip and Fall Accident?

A property owner or manager can be found negligent and, therefore, liable for a slip and fall accident if they:

• Caused or allowed a slip hazard to exist on their property unattended
• Knew or should have known about the hazard
• Did not do enough to clear the hazard or warn people about it
• Do not prevent someone from slipping on the hazard

As your slip and fall legal team, it will be our job to prove that the property owner was negligent in the care and maintenance of their property. Through that negligence, you were hurt and now deserve maximum compensation.

Your Rights as a Premises Liability Victim

Property owners, including businesses and municipalities, have a legal obligation to maintain their grounds and ensure they are free of hazards. Similar to the failure to warn clause in product liability cases, if hazards are present, it must be brought to the attention of individuals through conspicuous signage.

Victims in premises liability cases have a right to hold the accountable party for injuries and damages incurred as a result of an unsafe property. We all have a right to safe premises that are free of hazards and our firm sees to it that this standard is upheld.

Secure Your Rights with a Premises Liability Lawyer

We urge you to seek legal counsel immediately if you or someone you love has been injured as a result of a slip and fall accident or unsafe premises. The statute of limitations limits the amount of time that you have to seek legal recourse, and once the time period expires, you permanently forfeit your legal rights to damages. A product liability attorney from one of our law offices can determine if you are eligible to file a suit and work on your behalf to ensure your interests are represented.