When you go to the grocery store, a friend’s house, or a public space, you expect that it is reasonably safe. However, dangerous conditions that go unaddressed can hurt guests. Property owners are liable to their guests for injuries sustained due to negligence.
When you are injured on someone else’s property, speak with a Westlake Village premises liability lawyer. After a slip and fall, you could need medical treatment, including hospital care, surgery, and physical therapy. The cost of your medical bills can add up quickly. Our experienced personal injury attorneys could review what happened and help you pursue a claim against the property owner’s insurance.
Premises Liability Laws
The law of premises liability holds landowners liable for accidents and injuries on their property. However, property owners are not responsible for every injury that occurs on their land. The injured guest must be able to show negligence, meaning the property owners owed a duty of care to the guest, breached that obligation through their conduct, and caused the guest harm.
Whether a property owner is responsible for a visitor’s injuries depends on the type of property and the visitor’s reason for being there. Guests can be divided into three distinct categories:
- Invitee: An invitee has the owner’s express or implied permission to be there, typically for a business or commercial purpose. Examples include customers at a store or a mail carrier delivering a package to a home. Landowners owe the highest obligation to invitees.
- Licensee: These visitors are often social guests, such as friends, relatives, or neighbors.
- Trespasser: Landowners owe no legal obligation to trespassers who do not have permission to be on the property. However, in limited circumstances, property owners may be responsible for injuries to child trespassers under the attractive nuisance doctrine.
Both invitees and licensees who are injured on someone else’s property could have a claim against the property owner. A premises liability lawyer in Westlake Village could determine whether an injured person has a case for negligence.
Types of Premises Liability Claims
There are many ways a guest can be injured while visiting someone’s home or business, so homeowners should frequently inspect their land for potentially dangerous conditions that could harm guests. Some common examples of situations that could result in a premises liability case include:
- Dog bites
- Inadequate lighting
- Slip and fall accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Water-related accidents, including flooding or slippery floors
An experienced lawyer in Westlake Village with knowledge of premises liability could determine the cause of an injury that occurred on someone’s property.
Recoverable Compensation for Premises Liability Injuries
Those injured on someone else’s property can pursue compensation through the homeowner’s or business owner’s liability insurance. No one wants to file a lawsuit against their friend or neighbor, and filing against a business can seem daunting, but a claim can get injured guests the compensation they need to cover their medical bills. Injured parties in premises liability incidents can recover the cost of their medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A Westlake Village premises liability lawyer can handle negotiations to secure a favorable settlement or jury verdict.
Speak With a Premises Liability Attorney in Westlake Village
At Block LLP, we understand the aftermath of a serious injury can be financially and emotionally overwhelming for you. We could review the accident, your injuries, and other relevant factors to estimate damages and negotiate with the property owner’s insurer as appropriate.
Hiring the right attorney can make all the difference in your case. When you retain a Westlake Village premises liability lawyer, you benefit from our years of experience. Private, commercial, and public property owners must keep their land free from hazards that could harm their guests. When you have questions about your rights, call us and set up an initial consultation.