If you suffer an injury because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property in Riverside, you may be the victim of negligence.
Negligence means a property owner has not done the bare minimum in terms of abiding by premises safety standards, as laid out in California law.
This could give you the right to recover financial compensation for your injuries.
At Jacoby & Meyers, our premises liability attorneys in Riverside are prepared to help you bring and file a claim in pursuit of justice for property owner negligence.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers
- We are a highly experienced, reputable and successful law firm, with more than 50 years in the industry and $2 billion secured in settlements for our clients.
- Our team of attorneys includes aggressive negotiators and experienced litigators who are prepared to seek justice in and out of the courtroom on your behalf.
- We take cases on a contingency fee basis in Riverside, which means you won’t be charged anything by our premises liability attorneys unless we win your case.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a legal doctrine in California that holds owners liable, meaning legally and financially responsible, for accidents and injuries that occur on their premises.
Under state law, every owner of land or property has a legal duty to keep the premises in a reasonably safe condition for guests, visitors and even trespassing minors.
If a landowner fails to meet the required standards of care, he or she can be held liable for a resultant injury that occurs due to a dangerous or hazardous property condition.
This means the property owner can be held responsible for paying for the victim’s injuries, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
Types of Visitor Classifications
General property owner responsibilities include inspecting a property for new or potential hazards, promptly remedying known or discovered defects, and warning lawful visitors of potential injury risks.
A property owner’s specific duties of care in Riverside vary according to the type of visitor that enters the premises. There are three types:
- Invitee: those invited onto a property for the owner’s benefit or purposes, such as customers in a store. They are owed the highest duty of care.
- Licensee: social guests, workers or contractors who enter with permission or authority but for their own purposes. They are owed a slightly lesser duty of care compared to invitees.
- Trespasser: those who do not have permission or legal authorization to enter a property but do so anyway. They are owed extremely limited duties of care in California.
Understanding a property owner’s responsibilities of care in your particular case requires knowing your visitor classification at the time of the accident.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases in Riverside
In Riverside, you may have grounds to file a premises liability claim against a landowner, land controller, landlord, business owner or another party after any injury caused by a dangerous property element.
Some of the most common types of premises liability claims include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Inadequate security
- Swimming pool accidents
- Dangerous property conditions
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Elevator and escalator accidents
At Jacoby & Meyers, we specialize in personal injury law.
We helped invent this category of law as it exists today in California.
We can take on any challenge or legal issue involved in a premises liability claim, whether your injuries occurred at work, in a bar or restaurant, or at a private residence.
Proving Negligence in Premises Liability Cases
Negligence is the basis for the majority of premises liability claims in California.
Negligence refers to an inadequate level of care, or failing to act according to the required standards of care.
To win a premises liability claim, the injured victim must prove that the property owner or defendant was negligent in maintaining a safe premises.
Proving negligence requires four main elements:
- The landowner or defendant owed the victim a duty of care to keep the premises in a reasonably safe condition.
- The defendant breached the duty of care by causing or failing to fix a hazardous condition.
- The hazardous condition caused the victim’s injury or harm, and this was a foreseeable result of the defendant’s negligence.
- The victim suffered real, compensable damage because of the hazardous condition.
Premises liability cases in Riverside must be proven using evidence.
Do your best to gather evidence by taking photographs of the accident scene or hazardous condition, keeping the clothing and shoes you were wearing, looking for surveillance footage of the accident, and gathering eyewitness statements.
Common Injuries in Premises Liability Accidents
Dangerous property conditions in Riverside can put visitors or the public at risk of serious injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft-tissue injuries (sprains and strains)
- Back and neck injuries
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Burns and scalds
- Dog bite injuries
- Drowning and brain damage
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death
You should always seek immediate medical attention after an accident in Riverside, even if you feel fine.
Your adrenaline may be masking initial injury symptoms.
Why You Need a Riverside Premises Liability Attorney
California’s premises liability laws can be confusing and difficult to navigate on your own as an injured accident victim.
A premises liability lawyer will have all the information, education and experience you need for a strong claim to damages without the stress.
A lawyer can conduct a comprehensive investigation of your accident to determine what caused your injury and how the accident may have been prevented with proper care taken by the property owner.
Your lawyer can preserve and gather evidence against all liable parties to support your claim.
A lawyer will work hard to maximize your financial recovery by holding someone accountable for your injuries.
An attorney can accurately calculate your damages and negotiate a fair settlement with proven legal tactics.
If it is required, a lawyer can also take on a property owner in court in Riverside on your behalf.
Contact a Riverside Premises Liability Attorney Today
Jacoby & Meyers is the personal injury law firm of choice in Southern California.
We’ve been voted #1 Personal Injury Law Firm six years in a row.
Discover the Jacoby & Meyers difference for yourself – contact us for a free consultation if you’ve been injured on someone else’s property in Riverside.
We will listen to your story and guide you through the steps toward justice. Call (951) 720-3007 anytime, day or night.
Because you deserve justice.