Los Angeles Premises Liability Lawyer
| Feher Law
- Top Rated Trial Firm
- Over $170 Million Recovered For Clients
- No Fees Unless We Win
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Los Angeles has a very large stock of rental housing, busy shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, and parking structures, and an injury on any of them can come from a hazard the owner should have fixed. Poor lighting, broken stairs, unsafe pools, and missing security are some of the most common causes.
A Los Angeles premises liability lawyer at Feher Law proves what the owner knew and failed to do, and pursues full compensation for your medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering.
There is no upfront cost, and no fee without a recovery. The review is free.
Key Takeaways
- One duty applies to everyone lawfully on the property. California abolished the invitee, licensee and trespasser categories in Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108, so Civil Code 1714 holds every owner and occupier to the same duty of ordinary care toward anyone foreseeably on the premises.
- Liability turns on notice. You must show the owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to repair it or warn about it, which is why routine inspection records, sweep logs and prior incident reports decide these cases more often than the injury does.
- Your reason for being there is one factor, not a category. It is weighed alongside the foreseeability of harm, the certainty of injury and the burden of guarding against it. The one statutory exception is Civil Code 847, which protects an owner from liability to a trespasser injured while committing a listed felony.
- Public property is a different claim with a six-month clock. Government Code 835 sets the dangerous-condition standard and Government Code 911.2 requires a written claim within six months, against the two years Code of Civil Procedure 335.1 allows otherwise, with Civil Code 1431.2 apportioning any shared fault.
- Feher Law handles these cases on full contingency. You pay nothing unless we win.
Why Choose Feher Law for a Premises Case
Premises cases need quick investigation, because the evidence belongs to the property owner. What we do:
- send preservation letters for video, inspection logs, maintenance records, and prior complaints
- find out who owned, leased, managed, and maintained the property, since each can be a defendant
- use building, fire, and health department records to show what the owner knew
- prepare for trial, because insurers value a case differently when trial is a real possibility
Verdicts & Settlements
$170M+ Recovered for California Workers & Injury Victims
Real case outcomes from Feher Law across personal injury and employment matters, resolved under California law.
See what your case could be worth.
Free, confidential case assessment. Available 24/7.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its specific facts under California law. View full results on our Case Results page.
Why Acting Fast Protects Your Case
Most premises cases are filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1), but a government-owned building or sidewalk brings a six-month claim deadline (Government Code 911.2).
- Hazards are repaired, which removes the best proof of what the condition was
- Security video and access logs are often overwritten in days
- Property managers and security staff change jobs
- Prior complaints and inspection records are easier to demand while they exist
Free consultations. No fee unless we win.
What Our Clients Say
Why California Clients Choose Feher Law
Super Lawyers 2022-2026 | Avvo 10.0 Superb | Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College Graduate
Meet Our Team
Thomas Feher, Esq.
Founding Attorney
Stephen Wiard, Esq.
Senior Trial Attorney
Sandy Luu, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Alex Ballard, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Karen Parra, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Chase Nielsen, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Betsy Gomez
Managing Paralegal
Erica Feher
Chief of Operations
Austin Wallick, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Samantha Marquez
Legal Secretary
Marcela Guzman
Intake Specialist (Employment)
Alejandro Zelaya
Intake Specialist (Personal Injury)
Daniela Ramirez
Litigation Assistant
Marvin Rodriguez
Paralegal
Cassandra De Vera
Law Clerk
What Premises Liability Means
Premises liability is the area of law that holds property owners and occupiers responsible when a dangerous condition on their property injures someone. It covers many settings in Los Angeles: apartment buildings, stores, parking structures, restaurants, hotels, offices, pools, and public buildings. Under California law the question is whether the owner acted reasonably to keep the property safe, not what label applies to the visitor.
Common Premises Hazards in Los Angeles
Common claims include:
- wet floors, torn carpet, and broken or uneven stairs and walkways
- poor lighting in garages, stairwells, and parking lots
- falling merchandise, loose fixtures, or unsecured shelving
- unsafe balconies, railings, and elevators
- unfenced or unsafe swimming pools
- broken or missing security that allows a foreseeable attack
California Law on Property Owner Duties
The starting point is Civil Code 1714, which makes people responsible for injuries caused by their lack of ordinary care. In Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108, the California Supreme Court ended the old tiers of care based on whether a visitor was an invitee, licensee, or trespasser. Today owners owe a duty of reasonable care to keep their property reasonably safe, with a limited exception for felony trespassers under Civil Code 847. In most hazard cases, you must also show the owner knew or should have known about the danger, as Ortega v. K-Mart Corp. (2001) 26 Cal.4th 1200 explains.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Property Hazard
Several parties can be responsible for one hazard:
- Owners and landlords, who control the building and common areas
- Tenants and business operators, who control their space
- Property managers and maintenance contractors, who inspect and repair
- Security companies hired to protect the property
- Public entities, when the hazard is on public property, which brings a six-month claim deadline under Government Code 911.2 and, for dangerous conditions of public property, Government Code 835
What a Premises Claim Can Recover
A premises liability claim can include:
- Medical costs, past and future
- Lost earnings and earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment
- Property loss in some cases
- Punitive damages under Civil Code 3294 when an owner consciously disregarded a known danger
What a Los Angeles Premises Lawyer Does
A Los Angeles premises liability lawyer handles the investigation and the insurance company, and tells you honestly what the evidence shows. We take over what an injured person cannot do from a hospital bed: preserving evidence, identifying defendants, and valuing the claim.
First Steps After an Injury on Someone Else's Property
- Get medical care and tell the provider exactly how you were hurt.
- Report the incident in writing to the owner or manager and ask for a copy.
- Photograph the hazard, the lighting, and the surroundings.
- Collect names of witnesses and staff.
- Save the shoes, clothing, and receipts connected to the incident.
- Do not sign anything from an insurer until you have spoken with a lawyer.
What You Must Prove in a Premises Case
To win, you generally need to show four things: the owner controlled the property, the property had a dangerous condition, the owner knew or should have known about it and failed to fix or warn, and that failure caused your injury and losses. We build each element with records, witnesses, and, when needed, experts such as engineers or security specialists.
Records That Prove a Premises Case in Los Angeles
We also request the building’s maintenance and repair history, earlier complaints, and incident reports, and we check city inspection and code-violation records for what the owner was told.
Negligent Security and Unsafe Conditions at Los Angeles Properties
Property owners must use reasonable care under Civil Code 1714. When violent crime on or near a property was foreseeable, for example because of prior incidents, broken gates, or no lighting, the owner may also be responsible for failing to provide reasonable security. Other common cases include broken stairs and railings, unsafe swimming pools, faulty elevators, and falling objects in stores.
Two Years, or Six Months on Public Property
The usual limit for a premises case is two years from the injury (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). A claim against a public property owner needs a written government claim in six months (Government Code 911.2).
What a Premises Lawyer Costs
Nothing is paid upfront. We are compensated only if your claim succeeds, under a written contingency agreement.
Premises Cases Across Los Angeles County
We represent injured people throughout Los Angeles County.
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Talk to a Los Angeles Premises Liability Lawyer
Injured on someone else’s property? contact Feher Law or call (310) 340-1112.
Notable Recent Settlements
Examples of California cases Feher Law has resolved on behalf of clients in this practice area:
- $2.82M – Premises Liability – Foot Injury
- $2M – Trip & Fall – Brain & Back Injury
- $1.61M – Slip & Fall – Shoulder Injury
- $1.45M – Premises Liability
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its specific facts under California law.
Estimate your case value: try our slip and fall settlement calculator, or talk to a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.
What Premises Claims Recover in Los Angeles
Los Angeles premises liability covers injuries caused by unsafe property conditions. Settlement ranges by case type:
| Case Type | Typical Settlement | Severe / Catastrophic Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Slip and Fall | $10,000 – $200,000 | $500,000 – $2,000,000 |
| Negligent Security / Assault | $50,000 – $500,000 | $1,000,000 – $5,000,000+ |
| Inadequate Lighting | $25,000 – $300,000 | $500,000 – $2,000,000 |
| Drowning / Pool Accident | $100,000 – $1,000,000 | $3,000,000 – $10,000,000+ |
| Construction Site Injury | $100,000 – $2,000,000 | $5,000,000 – $15,000,000+ |
| Premises Wrongful Death | $500,000 – $3,000,000 | $5,000,000 – $20,000,000+ |
The ranges in this table are general illustrations and not a prediction of what any case is worth. Every case depends on its own facts, the evidence, the law that applies, and the insurance available. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This is not legal advice.
Services We Offer
When it comes to your recovery and peace of mind, it’s vital to have an expert by your side that really understands the bigger picture of employment law. Explore the full range of services we offer below.
Frequently Asked Questions
GET A FREE CONSULTATION
Our team is standing by and ready to assist you. Consultations are completely free and confidential. We will help you determine if you have a case.
Last reviewed by Thomas Feher, Esq. – October 2026
- Over $170 Million Recovered For Clients
- No Fees Unless We Win
- We Fight for Maximum Compensation
- Get The Justice You Deserve
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Other Los Angeles Practice Areas
Feher Law also serves Los Angeles clients in these related practice areas:
- Los Angeles Slip and Fall Lawyer
- Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer
- Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
- Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyer
- Los Angeles Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
- Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyer
- Los Angeles Wrongful Termination Lawyer
For a general overview of how we represent Los Angeles County clients across all practice areas, see our Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer page.