Premises Liability Lawyers in Orange County

Premises liability is the area of law that holds property owners responsible when someone is hurt by an unsafe condition on their property. Under California law, homeowners, landlords, and businesses have a duty to keep their property reasonably safe for lawful visitors and to warn of known hazards. It acts as an “umbrella” that covers slip-and-falls, trip-and-falls on broken sidewalks or stairs, negligent security, swimming pool accidents, falling merchandise, and dangerous equipment like broken elevators or escalators.

Get medical attention right away, even if you feel okay — some injuries surface later. Report the incident to the property owner or manager and ask for a written copy of the report. Take photos of exactly what caused your fall — the spill, broken step, or uneven pavement — before it is cleaned up or repaired, and collect the names and numbers of any witnesses. Avoid giving a recorded statement to the property’s insurer, and call an Orange County premises liability attorney as soon as possible.

The person or company that owns, controls, or manages the property is usually responsible — whether that is a store, restaurant, landlord, HOA, or the city that maintains a sidewalk. To be held liable, the owner generally must have known (or should have known) about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn about it within a reasonable time. Sometimes more than one party shares responsibility, and we investigate to identify every potentially liable party and insurance policy.

You generally must show three things: that the property owner owed you a duty of care, that a dangerous condition existed which they knew about (or should have known about) and failed to fix, and that this condition caused your injury. Evidence like incident reports, photos, surveillance video, maintenance records, and witness statements is critical — and much of it can disappear quickly. The sooner we get involved, the sooner we can preserve the proof your case depends on.

Every case is different. The value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills and future care, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you have endured — a minor sprain and a fractured hip or head injury are worth very different amounts. During a free case review, our attorneys evaluate all of these factors, along with the available insurance coverage, to give you an honest estimate of what your claim may be worth.

In most cases you have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit under California’s statute of limitations. If your claim is against a government entity — for example, a fall on a public sidewalk or in a government building — you may have as little as six months to file a formal claim. Because these deadlines are strict, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

It depends on the complexity of the case. Straightforward claims with clear liability and completed medical treatment can settle in a few months, while cases involving disputed fault or serious injuries may take a year or more, especially if a lawsuit is filed. We never rush a settlement before we understand the full extent of your injuries, because doing so could leave money on the table. We keep you updated at every stage.

Yes. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so you can recover compensation even if you were partially to blame — your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 25% responsible and your damages are $100,000, you can still recover $75,000. Property owners’ insurers often argue the hazard was “obvious” to shift blame onto you, which is exactly why having an experienced attorney matters.

If you were hurt on the job, your claim usually goes through workers’ compensation rather than a premises liability lawsuit against your employer. However, if a third party — such as a different property owner, contractor, or equipment manufacturer — caused the dangerous condition, you may also have a separate personal injury claim against them. We can review your situation and pursue every avenue of compensation available to you.

Premises liability cases are often harder to win than people expect, because you must prove the owner knew about the hazard and had time to fix it — and insurers fight these claims aggressively. An experienced attorney levels the playing field by gathering evidence and proving negligence. Leslie Law Firm works on a contingency fee basis, so there are zero upfront costs, your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.

For over 40 years, Leslie Law Firm has helped people injured on unsafe properties across Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Santa Ana, and all of Orange County. We have won large settlements in slip-and-fall, negligent security, and swimming pool cases, and we know how to prove what a property owner knew and when. We are fluent in English, Spanish, and Farsi, we advance all case costs, and there is no fee unless we win. Call (949) 752-7474 for a free consultation.