Whether you invite guests into your home or customers into your business, you have a duty to protect these people from harm, and if you violate that duty — even by accident — you might find yourself facing a lawsuit.
There’s no way to guarantee there will never be a mishap on your property, whether that’s your home, business, or anything else of the sort, but when you’re familiar with a variety of premises liability cases, you’ll be better equipped to prevent them.
With that said, here are five of the most common:
1. Slip and Fall Cases
The term “slip and fall” might conjure up images of people slipping cartoonishly on banana peels, but even though most only involve mild injuries, others can cause serious and even life-threatening harm.
Making matters worse is that slip and fall hazards are everywhere; some common examples include the following:
- Snow and ice
- Puddles and spills
- Uneven stairs or floorboards
- Bad lighting
- Cluttered floors
- Unsecured cords
In order to reduce the risk of slip and fall incidents, make it part of your routine to take a few minutes to inspect your home or business for these hazards.
2. Dog Bite Cases
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause harm; in fact, dog bites make up a significant portion of premises liability cases in California.
California is what’s known as a “strict liability” state when it comes to dog bites, which means that if a person is bitten by a dog, they don’t have to prove that the owner acted negligently or knew the dog had aggressive tendencies in order to receive compensation.
3. Negligent Security
Hiring security guards or installing extra security measures like cameras and lights can help deter thieves and other criminals, but if a business is poorly lit and has no camera system or security guards standing by, it’s practically advertising itself as a place to commit crimes with impunity. If it’s clear that a business’s security is so lax that it can put customers in danger, any of them who wind up injured may be able to sue for damages.
4. Poor Maintenance
Imagine the following: Your home has a creaky deck with a rotting staircase, and though you’ve been making sure to stay off of it until you get a newer, safer one, you invite your friend over and fail to tell him about the deck. He walks out onto it, and the staircase gives way, injuring him.
In such a scenario, your hypothetical friend would more than likely be entitled to damages. Of course, you can still have visitors if parts of your home need repairs, but you have an obligation to tell anyone who stops by about the hazards so they may take the necessary steps to avoid them.
5. Swimming Pool Accidents
Backyard swimming pools are a great way for Californians to cool off, but they can pose a danger to children and adults alike.
If a pool is left unattended and isn’t gated or covered, it’s easy for children to jump or even fall in, and if they aren’t skilled swimmers, there’s a major risk of death by drowning. As such, one of the best ways to prevent accidental drownings is to install a fence that completely surrounds your pool and is difficult to climb.
Has someone been injured on your property?
No matter the level of effort you put into keeping your home or business safe, there’s always a chance that someone will get hurt, and if that happens, having legal representation is vital, lest you be held liable for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional damages.
That said, if you’ve found yourself in such a stressful situation, Saeedian Law Group is ready to help! We’ve been in business since 2009, and with offices in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, CA, we’re convenient to millions of homeowners and business owners like you. Protect what you’ve worked so hard to build by getting in touch and scheduling an appointment with a premise liability attorney today!
