Maison Law represents victims injured in premises liability accidents in Lancaster. Premises liability is when a person, property owner, company, or government entity fails to maintain a safe environment and someone gets hurt.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a premises liability accident, the Premises Liability Lawyers at Maison Law are here to pursue full compensation for your damages. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
How Can a Premises Liability Lawyer Help Me?
If you suffer an injury on someone else’s property, determining liability can become a complex matter. Depending on the situation, several parties may be liable for your injuries. An experienced Premises Liability Lawyer will help you identify the liable party and file a lawsuit against them to ensure they’re responsible for compensating you for your damages. Common liable parties include:
- A property owner
- A business owner
- The government
- A contractor or subcontractor
- Apartment complex owner
- A manufacturer of defective materials
- Building supply vendor
Damages victims injured in a premises liability accident include:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Loss of income, as well as the reduction in your earning capacity you’ve suffered from your injuries
- Cost of living with your injury, such as making your home disability accessible, purchasing a wheelchair or crutches, hiring a nurse or housekeeper
- Damage done to your property during the accident
- Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident
- Your mental state after a life-changing accident
What the Law Says About Premises Liability
If an individual, company, or government entity fails to exercise reasonable care over their property and someone gets injured, they can be held liable for damages according to California’s Civil Code 1714(a), which states:
“Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person, except so far as the latter has, willfully or by want of ordinary car, brought the injury upon himself or herself.”
Can I File a Premises Liability Lawsuit if I Signed a Liability Waiver?
“Assumption of risk” liability protects business and property owners from lawsuits when their customers participate in risky activities. These contracts are typically used at gyms, theme parks, or recreational sports leagues. Liability waivers will put those protections into words for people to agree to before participating in activities on their property.
However, liability is not a legal “bullet-proof” shield against lawsuits. Otherwise, property owners would be permitted to be as unsafe as they want and free themselves of liability just by using the right verbiage in their liability waiver. A liability waiver can be invalidated if:
- The property or activity violates California or federal law
- The terms of the contract are unethical, or morally wrong
- The property owner used fraud, or misrepresentation to get you to sign the waiver
- You signed the contract under duress
- You were injured due to gross negligence – when someone was injured intentionally, or an obvious danger was ignored and caused someone harm.
A liability waiver, however, does protect business owners from ordinary negligence. So, it is important to understand what you are signing before you go onto someone else’s property and know what you are responsible for. We recommend the following precautions before signing a liability waiver:
- Research online for lawsuits and safety violations for that particular place
- Obey the “safety rules”
- Check with the property owner to see if they have accident insurance for their participants
- Make sure you have active health insurance
What Should I Do After a Premises Liability Injury?
If you’re injured in a premises liability accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. Seeking medical attention is not only important to your health, but it is an essential step to building a strong case if you elect to take legal action, even if you feel you’re not injured. Following medical treatment, it is recommended to:
- Report the injury to management (if applicable). Premises liability accidents require a prompt investigation, especially if they occur on property owned by a corporation.
- Take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements. Hazardous conditions can be removed or remedied very quickly to prevent more accidents, so it is important for you to capture the dangerous environment while it is still there.
- Follow up on your injuries with a doctor. Any injuries you’ve sustained from your accident will become a part of your case and you will need a doctor to corroborate your injuries.
- Contact Maison Law to protect your rights to compensation. Most accident victims find themselves overwhelmed by the incident and fail to realize the enormous impact an injury can have on their lives. Our experienced attorneys can help you understand your legal options and get you the compensation you need to make a full recovery.
FAQs
Q: How long does a premise liability case take to settle in Lancaster?
A: The length of the case depends on the complexity. The more complicated it is, the longer it will take to resolve.
Q: How long do I have to file a premise liability lawsuit in Lancaster?
A: 2 years. The statute of limitations for filing a premise liability lawsuit in California is two years from the date of the accident.
Q: What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
A: There is no upfront money required at Maison Law. Our Premises Liability Lawyers work on a contingency fee, meaning we only get paid if we win your case for you.
Contact a Lancaster Premises Liability Lawyer
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries due to a premises liability accident in Lancaster, the skilled attorneys at Maison Law will help you recover full compensation for your damages. Navigating the legal complexities of liability law can be a nightmare for you and your family, but our firm can help.
We have years of premises liability experience and will aggressively pursue all liable parties to recover everything you are owed after being undeservedly injured. Get expert legal counsel for your premises liability injury and contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation. No upfront money is required for our services and we won’t charge you a dime unless we win your case.
