Are Property Owners Responsible for Your Injury?
The short answer: no. As a rule, property owners do not have to pay for medical expenses or injury expenses incurred by a trespasser. Property owners are generally not expected to be able to anticipate a trespasser, so you may not be able to seek compensation. With this in mind, every case is unique and if you believe that you are due compensation, it cannot hurt to speak with an experienced Sacramento premises liability attorney from our team at Eliot Reiner, APLC.
You may be due compensation if one of the following applies:
- The property owner was grossly negligent of dangers on their property and did not post any warnings
- The property was frequently trespassed upon and the owner was grossly negligent despite expected trespassing
- The property owner acted violently or aggressively which caused your injury
- The property owner willingly and knowingly inflicted harm
Your side of the story deserves to be heard, and our team understands that rules always have exceptions. Contact our office today to discuss your claim in a free consultation.
Property Hazards and Injuries
California law requires property owners to adhere to a “duty of care” to protect against certain hazards on their property, and to remedy issues or make their presence known. Although it is not expected to protect against every injury, property owners should not exhibit gross negligence or allow their property to become an obvious hazard to those who are on the premises.
Common hazards include:
- Slip and fall accidents from raised or broken curbs or concrete, oil slicks, or other trip hazards
- Toxic chemical exposure
- Drained or full swimming pools that are not protected by a fence or gate
- Animal attacks
- Broken or dilapidated wooden decks, patio covers, or other structural hazards
A gross negligence applies to obvious, easily detected hazards that the property owner has known about but has not fixed. Although you may have been trespassing, hazards such as exposed electrical wiring, crumbling decks or walkways, and other highly dangerous conditions may warrant a premises liability case.
Request a Free Consultation: (916) 778-3228
If you were on land that was poorly marked, did not display “no trespassing” signs, or did not appear to be private property, you may have unwittingly trespassed. Compile this with an injury, and you might be entitled to a settlement. Our team of Sacramento premises liability attorneys can review your case and discuss your options with you, so that you can make an informed decision about what to do next. Don’t pursue a claim that you are unsure of, let our team help—it pays to be informed.
Call our team today to discus the circumstances of your claim at (916) 778-3228.