Sacramento Premises Liability Lawyer

In a city as busy as Sacramento, it’s no surprise that there should be numerous incidents involving premises liability in the area. Premises liability incidents cover a wide range of accidents that are caused by dangerous, hazardous, or otherwise harmful conditions on private, public, or commercial properties. A property owner or manager’s failure to properly maintain their property and ensure a safe environment for visitors may result in serious injury and other damages on these sites.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a premises liability accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and property damage. The top-rated team of Sacramento personal injury attorneys at OnderLaw is here to help. We’ve been handling similar cases since our firm was founded in 2002, and we are ready to guide you through the process of building a strong premises liability case. If you’re ready to take the first step towards seeking restitution, give us a call. We’ll schedule a free, confidential case evaluation to determine the best next steps for your premises liability case.

Property Owner/Manager Responsibility in California

In the state of California, property owners and managers are required by law to be responsible in particular ways. These responsibilities can look different, depending on whether the property is private, public, or commercial.

• Private property managers (landlords, lessors, etc.) are required to maintain a “habitable” environment for their lessees/renters. This means that they must ensure safe and sanitary conditions, making repairs when necessary. If a private property manager fails to provide a habitable environment and/or respond to notifications of hazards or potential hazards on their property, they may be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result of these hazards and/or potential hazards.
• Public and commercial property managers (those who manage government and municipal properties, those who manage businesses/enterprises, etc.) are required by state law to repair dangerous conditions on the premises and to warn visitors/customers of the dangerous conditions pending repair. These managers and property owners are also liable for the actions of their employees, meaning that if an employee fails to notify the manager of hazards or potential hazards, the manager may be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result. This includes any security-related incidents. Public and commercial property managers are responsible for overseeing property use, enforcing safety checks for all equipment, and ensuring all equipment is being used properly.

Common Places Where Premises Liability Claims May Arise

Because there are several types of premises liability claims, there are numerous locations at which a premises liability accident may occur. The type of property at which you were injured may play a role in determining the type of compensation you may receive as a result of your injuries. Such locations are often divided into three categories:

• Private property includes all property owned by an individual or member of the private sector. These may include homes, apartments, private land, or private educational institutions.
• Public property includes all municipal or government-run properties. These may include public educational institutions, libraries, post offices, parks, bus and train stations, and roads.
• Commercial property includes all property owned by a corporation or enterprise. These may include amusement parks, stores, shopping malls, farmland, or hotels.

If you’ve been involved in an accident that took place on property that another individual or entity managed or owned, you may be entitled to compensation for any losses or injuries you sustained.

Types of Premises Liability Accidents

Because of the wide range of locations at which a premises liability accident may occur, there is an equally wide range of accident types. The type of accident in which you were involved may be an important factor in determining what kind of compensation you can expect. If you’ve been involved in any of the following types of premises liability accidents, you may be entitled to compensation:

• Swimming pool accidents
• Amusement park/water park accidents
• Faulty equipment accidents
• Mechanical malfunction accidents
• Hazardous/toxic materials accidents
• Structural integrity accidents
• Construction site accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Falling objects accidents
• Slippery floor accidents
• Stairway, escalator, and elevator accidents
• Security negligence accidents
• Animal bite accidents
• Employee negligence accidents

Compensation for Injuries on Private Property

In any premises liability case, you may be entitled to either or both economic and noneconomic damages. Because such damages are a result of an accident that occurred on private property, they may look different than those associated with public or commercial property accident damages.

You may sustain any of the following types of injuries in a private property premises liability accident:

• Drowning
• Dismemberment
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Contusions
• Paralysis
• Brain trauma
• Spinal cord damage
• Animal bites

When pursuing compensation for these injuries, there are two types of damages for which you might seek reimbursement. Economic damages describe the financial costs associated with an accident, such as medical expenses, repairs to personal property, or lost wages as a result of recovery time for injuries sustained. Noneconomic damages are the intangible pain and suffering costs associated with an accident, such as emotional trauma, loss of companionship, loss of mobility, or loss of enjoyment of life. The type of damage(s) you are eligible to pursue will determine what you can expect in terms of compensation.

Compensation for Injuries on Public Property

If you’ve sustained injuries from an accident that occurred on public property, you may be entitled to compensation for economic and/or noneconomic damages. Because public property includes all government and municipal-run properties, there is a wide range of injuries that you might sustain from an accident on public property. A few examples of such injuries include:

• Exposure to hazardous/toxic materials
• Broken bones
• Dismemberment
• Paralysis
• Dehydration
• Spinal cord damage
• Brain trauma
• Internal organ damage
• Animal bites

There are several factors that play a role in determining how much compensation you’ll be entitled to. The level of negligence exhibited by the property manager and/or their employees, the severity of your injuries, and the severity of the hazardous conditions all play a role in determining compensation. If you’ve been injured on public property, be sure to take note of any of the following factors:

• If the on-site management was notified of a hazard or potential hazard. For public properties, such potentially hazardous areas may include construction sites, stairs, wet floors, elevators, escalators, roads/railways, and swimming pools.
• If the proper security measures were in place at the time of the accident. In public property settings, this may include police officers at a government-sponsored event, park rangers, school police officers/security guards, security cameras, electronic security systems, and university law enforcement.
• If the on-site equipment had passed all performance checks. In public property cases, this equipment may include construction equipment, smoke alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, road/railway infrastructure, public transport vehicles, and buildings/structures.

Compensation for Injuries on Commercial Property

Because of the wide range of types of commercial properties, there is, again, an equally wide range of injuries that you may sustain from accidents that occur on these properties. These properties include businesses, amusement parks, and other enterprises. Some injuries that you might suffer from an accident that occurs at a commercial property may include:

• Dismemberment
• Broken bones
• Exposure to hazardous/toxic materials
• Brain damage
• Spinal cord damage
• Paralysis

You may seek compensation for economic and/or noneconomic damages suffered in a commercial property accident. There are several important factors to keep track of when determining the level of negligence exhibited at the scene:

• Whether the equipment was in proper condition and had passed all performance checks. For commercial properties, such equipment may include elevators, escalators, amusement park rides, water slides, construction equipment, and farming equipment.
• Whether there were any hazards or potential hazards present and if the property manager had been notified of such hazards. In commercial instances, these hazards may be slippery floors, faulty lighting, structural inconsistencies, and damaged elevators/escalators.
• Whether the proper security measures were in place at the time of the accident. In a commercial setting, security measures include smoke alarms, smoke detectors, electronic security systems, law enforcement officers, security officers, security cameras, and fire extinguishers.

Need Help? Call OnderLaw Today

Being injured on someone else’s property can raise many questions of liability, negligence, and compensation. Trying to find answers to these questions can be challenging, especially if you are building a premises liability case on your own.

With the help of a lawyer from OnderLaw, you can rest assured that your case is in capable hands. Our top-rated team of premises liability attorneys will help you communicate with the insurance companies, gather evidence, and build winning strategies in your personal injury claim.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your premises liability case, call us today. We’ll schedule a free, confidential case evaluation and determine the best course of action for your personal injury case.