At the Law Offices of Keith J. Stone, we have been helping Southern California injury victims since 1986. We investigate each case thoroughly and pursue claims with persistence, compassion, and strategic focus. We aim to help you recover physically and financially while holding negligent parties accountable.

Understanding Liability in California Premises Cases

Property owners must regularly inspect, repair, and monitor their premises to prevent avoidable injuries. This duty applies to businesses, landlords, and even private homeowners in many situations. Failing to fix known hazards or respond appropriately to dangerous conditions may constitute legal negligence.

As a premises liability attorney, we examine the details of each case to determine whether the owner knew—or should have known—about the hazard. This can include reviewing maintenance logs, training protocols, video footage, and incident reports. We also work with experts to assess code violations, structural defects, and environmental safety.

Premises liability claims often involve:

• Wet or slippery floors without warning signs
• Broken handrails or staircases
• Inadequate lighting in walkways or garages
• Falling merchandise in retail stores
• Lack of security leading to assault or injury
• Exposed wiring or uneven flooring

If the property owner fails to fix a danger or warn about it in a timely manner and that failure causes harm, they may be legally responsible.

How We Approach Premises Liability Cases

We begin by fully investigating the property and incident circumstances. This includes site visits, interviews with witnesses, documentation collection, and consulting with engineers or inspectors if needed. We want to know whether the hazard was foreseeable, whether safety protocols were followed, and whether similar issues had occurred.

Once we gather the evidence, we build your claim and handle all communication with insurers and property representatives. Our firm pursues the full scope of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs. If settlement isn’t possible, we are fully prepared to take the case to court.

Even if you were partially at fault—for example, if you didn’t see a sign or weren’t paying close attention—you may still be eligible for compensation under California’s comparative negligence rules. We will explain your options and fight for a recovery that reflects your share of responsibility fairly.

How Liability Is Determined in a Premises Injury Case

Suppose you or a loved one has been injured by slipping, tripping, and falling, or by falling debris or merchandise, or by toxic fumes or poisonous food, being assaulted, or suffocating in a dense crowd. In that case, you may need to ask if somebody was negligent. Should your accident have been avoided?

Answering these three questions may help you determine if you have a case:

When is the owner responsible for your injuries?

To answer that question is to find out if the owner or possessor of the premises (or his employees):

• Has caused the dangerous situation resulting in your injuries
• Knew about the dangerous situation but didn’t correct it
• Should have known about the hazardous situation under reasonable management.

The first two situations are clear, but the third one is the most common and more difficult to prove because of the words “should have known” and “reasonable.” A careful analysis of how the property is maintained and how often or for how long this type of dangerous situation occurs will point either towards the “negligence” or “bad luck” angle of the accident.

If you have a question regarding premises liability in California, contact San Diego Premises Liability Lawyer Keith J. Stone. He can answer all your personal injury questions.

What is “Reasonable”?

If a regular inspection and maintenance plan is required to keep the premises safe, a reasonable time should also be granted for the dangerous situation to be detected and repaired.

• Can the owner show such a maintenance plan and prove its execution?
• Are the employees trained to correct the temporary unsafe situations?
• Were the facilities built to code?
• Are there quality and safety plans?
• Were unsafe zones attracting children properly fenced?
• Is there adequate lighting?

As you can see, we ask many questions in these cases that must be addressed to determine if you have a case.

Were you a bit careless, too?

Maybe your child was hurt while you were not paying attention. Or you took a shortcut that was usually not open to the public. You need to consider what a defendant might come up with to put the responsibility squarely back on your shoulders. If you were careless to some degree, it may be held against you to reduce your compensation, but it does not mean the owner shouldn’t pay their part under the “comparative negligence” rule.

Start Your Premises Liability Case With Us

If you’ve been injured due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, it’s essential to act quickly. Evidence can be lost, cleaned up, or covered over—sometimes within hours of the accident. The sooner we investigate, the better your chances of a strong recovery.

We help injury victims throughout San Diego protect their rights and understand their legal options. Our firm works with honesty, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to client service.

Contact us to speak with a premises liability lawyer about your case. We are ready to listen and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.