California Premises Liability Lawyer

Unsafe conditions can exist anywhere, from a major retail store to a private residence. Our firm has experience representing clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries in a wide variety of situations.

Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Accidents

These are the most frequent types of premises liability cases. They occur when a person slips or trips on a hazard that should have been addressed by the property owner. These incidents are often dismissed as simple clumsiness, but they can cause serious injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries. Common causes include:

• Wet or freshly waxed floors without proper warning signs
• Spilled liquids or food debris in grocery store aisles
• Uneven or cracked pavement on sidewalks or in parking lots
• Torn carpeting, loose floorboards, or cluttered walkways
• Poor lighting in stairwells or hallways

Whether an accident happens at a large shopping center in Redding or a small business in Chico, the owner has a duty to inspect their property and correct these types of hazards.

Drowning Accidents

Northern California’s greatest asset is its natural beauty, with tourism being a major industry. Families from all over come to enjoy Whiskeytown Lake, the Sacramento River, and Lake Shasta. Unfortunately, these areas can also be the site of terrible tragedies. 

Drowning accidents at public pools, water parks, lakes, or private residences often result from negligence. This can include a lack of proper fencing, malfunctioning gates, the absence of life-saving equipment, or inadequate supervision. These cases are devastating, and we are committed to helping families find answers and accountability.

Inadequate Security

Property owners in certain contexts have a duty to provide reasonable security measures to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal acts. When they fail to do so, and someone is assaulted, robbed, or otherwise harmed, the owner may be held liable. This is particularly relevant for apartment complexes, hotels, parking garages, and concert venues. Examples of inadequate security include:

• Broken locks on doors or windows
• Poor lighting in common areas and parking lots
• Lack of functioning security cameras
• Failure to hire or properly train security guards

Holding a property owner accountable for a third party’s criminal act requires a careful analysis of whether the crime was foreseeable and if reasonable security could have prevented it.

Dog Bites

In California, dog owners are typically held strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets. This means that if a dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, the owner is responsible for the damages, even if the dog had never shown aggressive tendencies before. These incidents can result in severe physical and emotional scarring, particularly for children.

Once you are home from the hospital or initial medical treatment, the reality of the situation can set in. The pain, the mounting medical bills, and the uncertainty about the future can be difficult to process. Taking a few proactive steps can help protect your rights and preserve your ability to seek accountability later.

• Continue All Medical Treatment: Follow your doctor’s orders precisely. Attending all follow-up appointments and physical therapy sessions creates a clear record of your injuries and their impact on your life.
• Document Everything: Write down everything you can remember about the incident itself—the time of day, the conditions, what you were doing, and who was there. Keep a journal of your daily pain levels, medical appointments, and how the injury is affecting your ability to work and enjoy life.
• Preserve Evidence: Do not wash the clothes or shoes you were wearing during the incident. Keep them in a safe place. If you have any physical evidence, like a piece of the broken step you fell on, preserve it as well.
• Do Not Speak with Insurance Adjusters: The at-fault party’s insurance company may contact you quickly. Remember that their goal is to pay out as little as possible. It is best to decline to give a recorded statement or sign any documents until you have spoken with an attorney.
• Stay Off Social Media: Insurance companies often search social media profiles for photos or posts they can use to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. It is wise to refrain from posting about your accident or your recovery.

Taking these steps can provide a strong foundation for a potential claim and help your legal team build the most effective case possible on your behalf.

A successful premises liability claim hinges on proving that the property owner was negligent. This means showing they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition but failed to repair it, protect against it, or give adequate warning. Our approach is meticulous and founded on a comprehensive investigation.

We begin by listening to you. Your story is the most important piece of evidence. From there, our team starts the process of building your case. This may involve:

• Visiting and Documenting the Scene: We act quickly to take high-quality photographs and videos of the hazard before it can be altered or repaired.
• Obtaining Surveillance Footage: Many businesses have security cameras that may have captured the incident. We send formal requests to preserve and obtain this critical footage.
• Interviewing Witnesses: We locate and speak with anyone who saw what happened or who may have knowledge of the dangerous condition.
• Reviewing Records: We can subpoena maintenance logs, inspection reports, employee manuals, and prior incident reports to establish a pattern of negligence.
• Consulting with Professionals: For complex cases, we work with engineers, building code compliance officers, and security consultants to provide clear testimony on how the property owner failed to meet the standard of care.

This diligent work allows us to present a clear and compelling narrative to the insurance company or, if necessary, to a jury.