Property owners have a legal duty to inspect and maintain their premises. If there are conditions that can cause people to be injured, they must resolve the problem or find a way to warn people of the potential for an accident. Possible accidents on a property include slip and falls from a damaged or broken sprinkler.
Sprinkler systems can be found at a shopping center, school, office building, apartment complex, and many other places we visit on a daily basis. You or your neighbors may have sprinklers for your lawn or shrubs, most likely in the front yard. There’s no denying that these watering systems have an important purpose, but at the same time, they can be the source of injuries from a slip and fall.
Have you been injured from slipping on water and other substances due to leakage from a sprinkler system? If you fell down and hurt yourself because of negligence by a property owner, you have the right to sue them for monetary damages. The lawyers of DTLA are ready to advise you of your rights, so contact us immediately if you had a slip and fall from a broken or defective sprinkler.
Homeowner’s Liability for a Slip and Fall Caused by Damaged Sprinklers
As someone that slipped and fell from too much water leaking from a sprinkler, you may be wondering, “Can I sue the homeowner if I was injured from a sprinkler on their property?”
Yes, you may be eligible for a lawsuit against a homeowner if you were injured from leaking or standing water due to a defective sprinkler system. These accidents are often associated with sprinklers that spray water at the sidewalk. Broken sprinkler heads, worn valves, and even damaged pipes under the ground can lead to excessive leaking from a sprinkler.
Your right to sue the homeowner is based on negligence, as defined by the state’s premises liability laws. Owners are responsible for removing and fixing conditions on their property that can cause injury to others. If there is an accident – either on the property or from a condition on the property – the homeowner may be sued by the victim. Thus, owners of private residential properties must ensure that their sprinklers are in good working order and that there is proper drainage to prevent puddles, growth of algae and moss, and other hazards that can make someone slip and fall down.
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Malfunctioning Sprinklers at Apartment Buildings and Condos
Aside from standalone houses, you also find sprinklers at condo and apartment complexes. These are residential properties that are managed by a leasing or property management company. In the case of an apartment complex, the leasing company may be the owners, or there is a separate owner or set of owners. With a condo, there is likely to be an association that’s responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the property. However, many condo associations hire outside companies for day-to-day operations, and this is the entity that may be responsible for fixing or replacing a broken sprinkler.
These are just some of the factors that make it challenging to figure out who you should go after in a lawsuit. Our slip and fall lawsuit attorneys can help you determine who is liable for your accident. Then, they will take immediate action to recover the compensation you deserve. If you would like to learn more about the process of suing an apartment complex or condo association, contact DTLA Law Group to schedule a free case review.
Slip and Fall Accidents on Commercial Properties
By commercial properties, we are referring to buildings and other types or properties that are used for business purposes. These include shopping malls, hospitals, warehouses, office buildings, restaurants, and stores. Many owners of commercial premises have lawns, trees, and various plants in outdoor areas of their property. Sprinklers make it easy to keep these areas watered throughout the growing season.
Sprinkler systems are especially popular at business parks (also known as office parks). These are large campuses that are home to numerous office buildings. There is a lot of grounds keeping that take place at these properties, and sprinklers are a big part of that effort. But failure to maintain the sprinklers and fix or repair broken parts can cause excessive water leaks on walkways, sidewalks, and even the parking lot.
As with apartment complexes, multiple parties may be liable if someone has a slip and fall accident at an office park. The party you need to sue may be a specific business, the owner of the office park, or a private landscaping firm. In short, these are complicated legal actions with many questions you may have trouble answering on your own. The slip and fall injury lawyers of DTLA are here to guide you through the legal process and ensure that you receive maximum payment from an accident claim.
What is the Time Limit to File a Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for a slip and fall claim is two years in the state of California. There are very few cases where an extension is granted by the court, so if you miss the two-year window, it’s unlikely that you will be allowed to proceed with a lawsuit. Don’t take the chance of missing out on the compensation you need after an accident that was caused by negligence. Contact our law firm and seek help from a lawyer with experience in suing for a slip and fall caused by malfunctioning sprinklers.
Settlement Value of a Slip and Fall Accident Case
Case values for a slip and fall vary considerably from one lawsuit to another. This is due to a variety of factors, including the victim’s injuries and the total value of monetary losses. For certain claimants, $15,000 to $50,000 is a reasonable settlement. Others may end up with $2,000,000 or more, based on the severity of their injuries. The majority of clients we represent receive around $125,000 to $1,500,000 and above. Compensation awards typically include economic and non-economic damages, such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. If you would like to learn the value of your own slip and fall injury lawsuit, give us a call to schedule a free case review.
How Long Does it Take to Settle these Cases?
There is no specific amount of time that we can provide for how long it takes to settle a slip and fall case. As a general rule, injury claims against homeowners take less time than those against commercial properties. A homeowner’s insurance claim for a slip and fall caused by broken sprinklers may be settled within a few months, though 6 to 10 months is a more probable timeline. Lawsuits against apartment complexes and major businesses, on the other hand, can take around 6 to 18 months on average. If a settlement cannot be reached with the insurance company, a lawsuit may be filed. If a lawsuit is necessary, bringing closure to a slip and fall accident case can take 2 or more years.
Free Second Opinion
If you have a pending slip and fall lawsuit against a negligent property owner, you may benefit from a free second opinion on your case. This can be helpful to those that have questions about their legal options or want to verify that their case is on the right track. You may also be dissatisfied with your current lawyer and want to explore the option of switching to another law firm. We are here for you, no matter the issue, so don’t hesitate to call if you need a free second opinion from an experienced slip and fall attorney.
Free Consultation with a California Slip and Fall Lawyer
Injuries from a slip and fall can have lifelong consequences for your body and mind. It can also cause financial hardship due to your medical needs, time off from work, and other unexpected losses. If someone else’s negligence caused you to be injured from a slip and fall, you are entitled to compensation under California law.
DTLA Law Group is a personal injury firm with decades of litigation experience in fall accident injury cases. We have recovered settlements on behalf of countless slip and fall and trip and fall injury victims. We can do the same for you, whether you have a recent injury or have an active claim that was filed with another law firm.
Along with our dedication and experience, we protect all clients with the Zero Fee Guarantee. The responsibility for legal fees is never on your shoulders, as our expenses are included in your settlement check. And if we fail to recover your payment, you won’t receive a single bill from us, as we don’t get paid unless you get paid.
A free case evaluation or second opinion is just a phone call away, so contact our office as soon as possible.
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