Los Angeles Premises Liability Lawyers

Holding Negligent Landlords, Property Owners, and Companies Accountable for Serious Injuries

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our Los Angeles premises liability attorneys help injured victims hold negligent property owners, companies, and government entities fully liable for catastrophic injuries. 

We accept cases involving life-threatening, disabling, or fatal injuries caused by hazardous property conditions. Our attorneys only commit themselves to clients who are facing long, hard roads ahead and devastating losses, either due to their severe injuries or a tragic loss in the family. 

We take on these cases because we know these clients need the highest quality representation, which we are prepared to provide. We also understand that every premises liability case is unique, which is why we take the time to fully investigate every claim and determine who may be liable for your losses.

Our Case Results

• $9.9 million: Client suffered a brain injury on dangerous public property
• $8.6 million: Client suffered severe injuries after being hit by a tree
• $7.675 million: Client was paralyzed due to a reckless police pursuit
• $6.7 million: Client was paralyzed after falling over an unguarded curb
• $5.4 million: Client suffered a brain injury due to a reckless police pursuit
• $2.3 million: Client was struck by electric pallet jack at Home Depot

Types of Premises Liability Claims

Here are some examples of premises liability cases we can handle:

If you or someone you love suffered catastrophic injuries on property owned by another person, government body, or business, call (866) 634-4525to schedule a free consultation.

Do I Have a Premises Liability Claim?

If you were injured while spending time on someone else's property, you may have a premises liability claim. Property owners and operators have a duty of care to ensure that their guests and visitors are safe while on the property.

This means that they must take steps to fix any hazardous conditions and warn guests about any potential dangers. If the property owner fails to meet this duty, and someone is injured as a result, then they may be liable for damages.

In this blog post, we will discuss the elements necessary for a successful premises liability claim. We will also provide some examples of common claims in this area of law. Read on to learn more.

The Duty of Care

To have a viable premises liability claim, you must be able to show that the property owner or operator owed you a duty of care and that this duty was breached. The duty of care is the legal responsibility that a property owner has to ensure the safety of those on their property.

This duty varies depending on the relationship between the parties. For example, business owners owe their customers a higher duty of care than they do to trespassers. This is because business owners willingly invite customers onto their property and therefore have a greater responsibility to ensure their safety.

If you can show that the property owner breached their duty of care, then you will need to prove that this breach was the cause of your accident and injuries. To do this, you will need evidence such as eyewitness testimony, photos or videos of the accident, and medical records. It can also be helpful to maintain a journal of how you are feeling from day to day in the months following the accident.

While it may seem simple enough to provide evidence in a premises liability claim yourself, these types of claims can be very complex and typically warrant expert testimony. It is in your best interest to seek representation from a skilled premises liability attorney right away to help with your case so that you have the best chances of success.

Common Premises Liability Claims

There are many different types of injury-causing accidents that can occur on someone else's property. Some common premises liability claims include:

Slip and Fall Accidents

If a dangerous condition exists on a property, and you slip and fall and sustain injuries as a result, you may have a viable premises liability claim. Property owners and operators owe those on the premises a duty of care to keep the facility safe from slip and trip hazards.

In order to have a slip and fall premises liability case for a dangerous condition, it must be shown that the property owner or operator knew or reasonably should have known about the hazard and did not take timely action to warn those on the property about or correct the issue. Failing to fix the issue or warn guests of the hazard constitutes negligence.

Elevator and Escalator Accidents

If you are injured in an elevator or escalator accident, you may have a premises liability claim against the property owner or operator. These types of accidents often occur due to malfunctioning equipment or poorly maintained facilities.

To successfully bring a premises liability claim against the property owner or operator, you will need to show that they knew or should have known about the unsafe element and did not take steps to fix it. You will also need to show that this breach of duty was the cause of your accident and injuries.

Swimming Pool Accidents

After sustaining injuries in a swimming pool accident, it may be possible to file a premises liability claim against the property owner or operator. Swimming pools can be dangerous places, especially for young children. Property owners have a duty to take steps to ensure the safety of those on their property, which includes maintaining the swimming pool and keeping it free of hazards.

Examples of negligent pool area maintenance can include a failure to provide depth markers and no diving warnings as required by the California building code and failure to have an underwater light operational in pools that are open during nighttime hours.

If you can show that the property owner or operator breached this duty and that this breach was the cause of your accident, then you may have a viable swimming pool accident premises liability claim.

Fire and Smoke Injuries

Enduring injuries in a fire or smoke-related accident may warrant a premises liability claim against the property owner or operator. Property owners and operators have a duty to ensure that their buildings are up to code and do not pose a fire hazard.

To successfully bring a premises liability claim for injuries sustained in a fire or smoke-related accident, you will need to show that the property owner or operator knew or should have known about the hazard and did not take steps to alleviate it. You will also need to show that this breach of duty was the cause of your accident and injuries.

Negligent Security

If you are the victim of a crime—such as assault, battery, or rape—while on another person's property, you may have a premises liability claim against the property owner or operator. Property owners and operators owe those on their premises a duty to take steps to ensure their safety. This includes providing adequate security measures to prevent crimes from occurring.

To successfully bring a negligent security premises liability claim, you will need to show that the property owner or operator knew or should have known about the lack of security and did not implement measures to solve the problem that a reasonable property owner would have implemented in the same or similar situation. You will also need to show that this breach of duty led to your accident and injuries.

Toxic Chemical Exposure

Enduring exposure to toxic chemicals and substances may warrant a premises liability case if you are injured as a result. Property owners and operators owe those on their premises a duty to ensure there are no hazardous materials present that could cause harm.

To successfully bring a toxic chemical exposure premises liability claim, you will need to show that the property owner or operator knew or should have known about the presence of the hazardous material and did not take steps to remove it or warn those on the premises. You will also need to show that this breach of duty led to your accident and injuries.

Fallen Tree

If you have been injured by a falling tree, the first step is to seek medical attention. As with any type of personal injury claim, there are time limits for filing, so it is important to act quickly.

In cases involving trees, it is particularly important to take quality photographs of the failed tree or limbs before it is removed from the location and even hire an attorney to visit and inspect the scene along with a certified arborist. Often the evidence you need to prove the mechanism of failure will be the tree itself which may show signs of disease or improper pruning.

To succeed in a premises liability claim for a fallen tree, you will need to show that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and did not take steps to fix it or warn people about it.

For example, if the tree was visibly diseased and the property owner did nothing to remove it or warn people about it, then he or she may be liable for damages if the tree or a tree branch falls and injures someone.

Additionally, if you have been injured by a falling tree on public property, the first step is to determine whether or not the government can be held liable.

To do this, you must consider whether the government entity either caused the hazardous condition or had notice of the hazard with enough time to have protected against it. If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then you may have a premises liability case against the government.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if the tree was located in an area that was in a natural condition on unimproved property, then the entity may have immunity and not be held liable for your injuries.

Moreover, if the tree was located in an area where it would not be reasonable for the government entity to have been aware of the hazard, then the entity may not be held liable if it can show it had no notice of the dangerous condition.

You Must Act Quickly in a Premises Liability Claim

If you have been injured on someone else's property, it is critical to take action quickly. The reason for this is twofold: first, evidence can be lost or destroyed if not collected promptly; and second, there is a statute of limitations in place that limits the amount of time you have to file a claim.

Evidence Collection

It is critical that evidence is swiftly collected and preserved to avoid damage or destruction in any way. The first step is to take pictures or videos of the scene, if possible. This will document the conditions that led to your accident. It is also important to get the contact information of any witnesses who saw what happened. These people can provide valuable testimony about what occurred and how it happened.

The second step is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Contemporaneous medical records documenting complaints and treatment can be strong evidence in your case.

You or your attorney will also want to send out a letter to preserve evidence as soon as possible. For example, in a slip and fall case the best evidence of what happened is often from store surveillance video that may be erased if steps are not taken to preserve it. Video can often be useful to show not only the actual slip, but whether a dangerous condition existed for a time period beforehand that would put the store on notice.

Statute of Limitations

In the state of California, the statute of limitations for premises liability claims is two years from the date of the accident. The statute of limitations refers to the length of time you are legally allowed to submit a case. If you fail to file a case for your injuries within the two-year deadline, you likely won’t be able to recover any compensation for your losses.

Property Hazards Can Cause Extreme Injuries

Many properties can contain hazards that result in catastrophic injuries to customers and visitors. At Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we handle a wide range of premises liability cases involving dangerous floors, inadequately maintained buildings, failure to warn of possible risks, inadequate security, and more.

Any of these conditions have the potential to result in extreme and life-changing injuries, including:

• Spinal cord injuries and permanent paralysis
• Severe traumatic brain injuries
• Amputations of limbs or extremities
• Third and fourth-degree burns
• Internal organ damage and internal hemorrhaging
• Electrical injuries and electrocution

All of the above injuries can result in permanent disabilities, permanent disfigurement, and death. Victims have their lives completely changed in an instant—all because someone else did not take proper care to ensure a property was in a reasonably safe condition.

How Our Premises Liability Attorneys Fight for You

At our Los Angeles premises liability firm, we know how important it is for our clients to recover every dollar they deserve for their losses, including the costs of past and future medical care, past and future lost income, pain and suffering, and for their permanent disabilities or disfigurement. These damages can add up into the millions of dollars quickly, and we are ready to aggressively pursue such high-value claims.

With over $1 billion recovered for our clients, Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP has a tradition of success in premises liability cases, and we strive to continue this tradition with every case. We welcome the challenge of catastrophic injury claims because we know we have the skill and ability to succeed for our severely injured or grieving clients.

Here’s some of what sets our firm apart:

• Our firm has extensive resources to dedicate to every case, including access to in-house investigators and a network of experts
• All of our lawyers are highly skilled negotiators who know how to fight for a claim in settlement negotiations, even when the other side is aggressive in their approach
• We are also experienced litigators who are never intimidated by the prospect of taking a case to trial
• Other lawyers are aware of our skill and commitment, so they know we mean business and take our attorneys seriously

When you schedule a consultation, you can immediately tell the difference between our firm and other personal injury attorneys. We do not take every possible case, because we want to fully commit to catastrophically injured clients who most need our help.

Call us today at (866) 634-4525or contact us onlineto begin the process of filing a claim. Our premises liability lawyers in Los Angeles are available 24/7 for a free consultation.