Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto helps people that have been injured in accidents across the city. You can get hurt in various places and situations, but property owners are responsible for keeping their premises safe. If they fail to do so, you have legal rights. Our firm can help you understand and pursue these rights. Contact us today for a free consultation.
When Do You Need a Lawyer?
Modesto is a beautiful city with all manner of different things to do and places to go. But whether you’re shopping or walking around the city, you could get injured in an accident. This gives you certain legal rights, but your needs are dictated by your injuries.
While minor injuries might not require legal action, more serious injuries or questions about liability–common with premises liability accidents–make having a lawyer beneficial. Our firm will:
- Investigate the accident
- Explain your legal rights and options
- Gather crucial evidence
- Determine liability for your damages
While you must be cautious and avoid hazards, businesses and property owners in Modesto have the legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment. If they don’t do this, and you get hurt, you have legal options. Still, it’s important to understand how these cases work.
Who’s Liable for a Premises Liability Accident in Modesto?
Whether you’re visiting a friend’s house or seeing a show at the State Theater, laws protect you from unsafe conditions. Premises liability holds Modesto property owners or managers responsible for injuries caused by their negligence.
All property owners, both public or private, must make sure their property is safe. If they fail, they can be held accountable for injuries or accidents–this is known as “liability.” While this sets the legal standard, it’s negligence that ultimately gives you the person or company that has to pay for your damages. To establish negligence, you need to show that:
- The property owner or manager had a duty to ensure the premises were safe for visitors.
- They knew or should have known about any dangers through reasonable inspections.
- Their failure directly caused your injury.
While the property owner or manager usually bears most of the liability, it can also extend to others that are involved like:
- Individual employees or workers
- Product makers
- Contractors or maintenance workers
- Tenants or landlords
- Event organizers or promoters
- City or state government
Once you’ve established negligence, you’ll know who’s to blame and who should cover the costs of your accident. However, liability depends on what specifically happened. Moreover, you have legal options, but you still have to do what you can to strengthen your claim.

How Can You Strengthen a Premises Liability Claim?
In a premises liability claim, what you do after an accident can greatly impact your case. If you were in a restricted area or trespassing, the property owner might argue they are less responsible, which impacts how your case plays out. So then, you have to take certain steps to strengthen and protect your claim. Here’s what you need to do:
- Call 911 and get help – Prioritize your health by seeking immediate medical attention. Call 911 for an ambulance and also ask someone in charge (like an employee or manager) for first aid.
- Report the accident to someone in charge – While receiving medical care, tell the property owner, management, or staff about the accident. Request a written report to document what happened, supporting your claim.
- Document the accident scene to show what happened – Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including any hazardous conditions and your injuries. Visual evidence strengthens your case.
- Watch your statements about the accident – Don’t post about the accident on social media or talk with insurance companies until consulting with our lawyers. Your statements can impact your case’s outcome, especially negative ones.
If you’ve been injured due to property owner negligence, legal action can help you obtain financial support for your injuries, despite the fact that the accident was largely preventable. At the same time, every case plays out differently. This doesn’t change your options, however.
What Legal Options Do You Have After a Premises Liability Accident?
As an injury victim, it can be difficult to know what you can do after an accident. This is especially true in a premises liability claim, because it can happen virtually anywhere in the city, including public property. What’s worse, you can be seriously injured in these accidents, ranging from slight bumps and bruises to serious head injuries or burns. When your injuries come about because of negligence, though, you have certain legal options. Namely, you get to file an injury claim to recover damages. Generally, you do this by filing:
- An insurance claim
- A personal injury lawsuit
Both options are fairly similar in terms of how they play out. The main difference is that an insurance claim is outside of court and is much less formal. A lawsuit takes more time and effort, but is usually a fairer process. The ultimate goal of either option is to recover damages like:
- Medical expenses – This covers costs for treatments such as hospital stays, surgeries, medications, therapy, and ongoing care.
- Lost wages – If your injury prevents you from working, you may receive compensation for the income you’ve missed.
- Pain and suffering – These damages cover financial support for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished enjoyment of life caused by the injury.
- Loss of enjoyment in life – These damages are built around the ways the injury has reduced your quality of life or affected personal relationships.
- Property damage – If your belongings were damaged in the accident, you can receive money to repair or replace them.
In California, you have two years from the accident date to file your claim. Missing this deadline means you cannot start a claim and won’t receive financial support for these damages.
What Does a Premises Liability Claim Cover?
Obviously, understanding the legal definition of premises liability is important. But it doesn’t really tell you just how these types of accidents happen in Modesto. While they’re generally caused by unsafe conditions due to negligence, this often results in the following types of accidents:
- Slip-and-fall incidents – These occur due to slippery floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, or lack of handrails on stairs, resulting in injuries like fractures or sprains.
- Dog bites or animal attacks – Owners can be held liable if their pets or animals attack visitors, causing severe injuries from bites or other aggressive behavior.
- Accidents at Apartment Communities — Landlords must keep the grounds safe for you as your family walks sidewalks, down stairs, and plays at playgrounds or pools. Your apartment must also inspected and maintained so that living space is completely safe.
- Drowning accidents – Inadequate safety measures around pools or ponds can lead to drownings or near-drownings, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Stair accidents – Poorly maintained or defective stairs can collapse, causing falls that result in significant injuries like broken bones.
- Falling objects – Improperly secured objects or items placed in unsafe locations can fall and cause injuries ranging from minor cuts to severe head trauma.
- Negligent security – Inadequate security measures such as poor lighting or lack of surveillance can lead to assaults or robberies, causing physical injuries or emotional trauma.
- Burns or fire injuries – Not having fire safety measures, using malfunctioning alarms, or having improper storage of flammable materials can lead to fires that cause burns or smoke inhalation type injuries.
Remember, where your accident occurs matters a lot. Modesto’s diversity and surroundings mean accidents can happen almost anywhere, like parking areas, office buildings, theme parks, restaurants, homes, stores, job sites, apartment complexes, and hotels. Accidents happen suddenly, so acting quickly to protect your health and potential claim is crucial. Our team will be there to help you through the entire process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a claim when I rent a house and get hurt?
Yes. When you rent a property, the owner or manager still has a responsibility to make sure it’s safe. So, if you rent an Airbnb or a house, you have the same rights as you would if you owned the property yourself.
When should I file my claim?
You should act quickly. You have two years from the date of your accident or injury to file your claim. It’s important to link your losses directly to the accident to strengthen your case, so the longer you wait, the harder that is to do.
Should I hire a lawyer if I have minor injuries?
It’s up to you. Regardless of the extent of your injuries, you have the right to file a claim when a property owner or management is negligent and it causes an accident. Typically, though, minor injuries can be taken care of with a quick insurance claim rather than a full lawsuit.
Experienced Modesto Premises Liability Accident Lawyers
Facing a situation where you’re hurt because of a property owner’s negligence is incredibly frustrating. It disrupts your life with medical bills, treatment, rehabilitation, and lost wages. Our Modesto premises liability lawyers at Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto are here to support you through this. We’ll work to hold the responsible parties accountable and secure the result you need to get better. Contact us now for a free consultation to learn more.