Injury & Liability Lawyer Scott Glovsky
Serving the Claremont and Pasadena Area
All property owners in Los Angeles, Claremont, and Pasadena owe a duty of care to any visitors on their land to ensure their safety, regardless of whether the property is a private residence, an institution, or a business. In some cases, however, property owners do not take that necessary care to safeguard visitors. When they fail to do this, they may be held liable for any injuries incurred as a result. If you suffered an injury on someone else’s property due to a hazardous condition, it is important to understand what duty of care you are owed by the property owner and how you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries. A skilled premises liability lawyer in Los Angeles, Claremont, and Pasadena can review your claim and work for your best possible outcome. Read on to learn more about how a professional injury attorney could help you today.
Evaluating Duty of Care
Before a premises liability claim can be filed, the property owner’s duty of care will need to be evaluated. In Los Angeles, Claremont, and Pasadena, property owners have a different duty of care depending on the type of visitor that was injured. It is important to establish whether the property owner knew about the danger. If they were not aware of the danger, they may not be held responsible—although this is not always the case for businesses. Businesses often have a greater duty of care to their patrons since they can profit from the visitor entering their property.
The Rights of Trespassers
The court or a premises liability lawyer in Los Angeles, Claremont, and Pasadena may also help injured individuals determine whether they were trespassing on the property at the time. Property owners do not owe trespassers the same duty of care as other visitors, and in some cases, trespassers may not be eligible for any compensation. That too, though, is a matter that can become complicated. For instance, if someone walks through the side yard of someone’s yard regularly as a shortcut to get to another street or a park, they could be considered a trespasser since the homeowner did not invite them onto the property. However, if the homeowner is aware of this trespassing and creates—or fails to resolve—unsafe conditions, they may still be found negligent under premises liability law.
Special Circumstances
Property owners owe children a greater duty of care due to the fact that children are not always aware of inherent dangers and not able to foresee certain risks. A common case where this rule applies is when there is a swimming pool on someone’s property, and the property owner has not taken proper measures to ensure the pool is fenced on all sides and cannot be accessed by children without the property owner’s consent. It is also important to understand that in LA County, a property owner cannot delegate their duty of care to a third party, such as a contractor. This means that if a property owner hires someone to clean their pool or maintain their driveway, the property owner will still be held responsible for any injuries sustained as a result of that job not being done properly.
Working with an LA County Premises Liability Lawyer
If you were hurt while on another’s property and would like to talk more about the compensation you may be entitled to, consider speaking to an LA County premises liability lawyer today. A dedicated premises liability lawyer in Los Angeles, Claremont, and Pasadena could offer you their assistance by gathering evidence, interviewing key witnesses, and maintaining all communication with the party at fault so that you can instead focus on your own medical recovery. Reach out to a determined LA County premises liability lawyer today for your initial consultation.