Los Angeles Premises Liability Attorneys
Aghnami Law Group represents people injured on someone else’s property throughout Los Angeles. Under California Civil Code Section 1714, every property owner and occupier owes a duty of ordinary care to prevent foreseeable injuries.
When a dangerous condition on a commercial property, apartment complex, parking structure, or public sidewalk causes harm, the person or entity controlling that property may be liable.
Our office at 27201 Puerta Real, Suite 300, Office 44, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 serves premises liability clients across Los Angeles and Southern California. The firm’s founding attorneys, Amir Aghnami and Sanam Aghnami Salimnia, previously represented insurance companies and the corporations that own these properties.
That former defense-side experience exposed how property owners and their insurers build defenses to deny liability. We know how they manipulate inspection logs, delay maintenance records, and shift blame to the injured person.
Call 213-510-1786 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7, charge no upfront fees, and take every case on a contingency basis.
Table Of Content
What Does California Premises Liability Law Require of Property Owners?
The Duty of Reasonable Care
California does not use the traditional categories of invitee, licensee, and trespasser to determine liability. The California Supreme Court eliminated those distinctions in Rowland v. Christian (1968), establishing a single standard.
Every property owner or possessor must act as a reasonable person in managing the property given the probability of injury to others.
This means a property owner must inspect the premises for hidden dangers, repair known hazards within a reasonable time, and warn visitors when a hazard cannot be immediately fixed.
What Is the Notice Requirement?
A property owner is liable for a dangerous condition only when the owner knew about it or should have known about it through reasonable inspection. This is called the notice requirement.
Actual notice means the owner was directly informed of the hazard. Constructive notice means the condition existed long enough that a reasonable inspection would have discovered it. Our attorneys use maintenance logs, surveillance footage, and prior incident reports to prove the property owner had notice.
The Two-Year Statute of Limitations
CCP Section 335.1 gives injured parties two years from the date of the injury to file a premises liability lawsuit. Claims against a government entity, such as the City of Los Angeles or LA Metro, require a government tort claim within six months.
Pure Comparative Negligence
California follows a pure comparative negligence system. A person injured on someone else’s property may still recover compensation even if they share partial fault. The award is reduced by the injured person’s percentage of responsibility, but the claim survives.
What Types of Premises Liability Cases Does Aghnami Law Handle?
Property injuries in Los Angeles arise in locations that millions of people visit daily. Our attorneys handle claims involving:
- Slip-and-fall accidents: wet floors, recently mopped surfaces without warning signs, leaking refrigeration units in grocery stores, and pooling water in lobby areas. Retail locations, restaurants, and hotel common areas are the most frequent settings.
- Trip and fall accidents: Broken or uneven sidewalks, torn carpeting, loose floor tiles, unmarked elevation changes, and poorly maintained stairwells. Apartment complexes and commercial buildings with deferred maintenance generate a high volume of these claims.
- Parking structure falls and injuries: Inadequate lighting, oil-slicked surfaces, missing handrails, and crumbling concrete in aging Los Angeles parking garages create fall hazards for pedestrians and drivers exiting vehicles.
- Negligent security: Assaults, robberies, and other criminal acts in apartment complexes, parking lots, hotels, and entertainment venues where the property owner failed to provide adequate security measures despite foreseeable criminal activity.
- Elevator and escalator accidents: Mechanical failures, sudden stops, and entrapment incidents in commercial buildings, shopping centers, and Metro stations.
- Swimming pool accidents: Inadequate fencing, missing drain covers, absent lifeguards, and failure to post required safety signage at apartment complexes, hotels, and public facilities.
- Dangerous conditions on public property: Broken sidewalks, missing manhole covers, damaged traffic signals, and hazardous conditions in Los Angeles parks and public buildings.
Each case type involves different evidence requirements and different defendants. Our attorneys identify every liable party and pursue the strongest path to recovery.
Why Los Angeles Injury Victims Choose Aghnami Law Group
Former Insurance and Corporate Defense Experience
Our attorneys spent years representing the same types of defendants they now sue: property management companies, commercial landlords, retail chains, and their insurance carriers. Specifically, they saw how these entities respond to injury claims internally.
That background revealed how property owners manufacture favorable inspection records after an incident, how adjusters argue the injured person should have seen the hazard, and how defense counsel delays litigation to pressure lower settlements.
Direct Attorney Involvement
Amir Aghnami, a USC graduate in Economics (Cum Laude) and Loyola Law School alumnus licensed in California and Nevada, works directly on client cases alongside Sanam Aghnami Salimnia. There is no handoff to case managers for critical decisions.
Do You Offer Consultations in Other Languages?
Our attorneys are fluent in English, Farsi, and Turkish. Los Angeles’ diverse population includes residents who prefer discussing sensitive legal and medical matters in their primary language. That access removes a barrier during a stressful recovery.
No Upfront Fees
Premises liability cases at Aghnami Law Group are handled on a contingency fee basis. The client pays nothing out of pocket. Attorney’s fees come from the settlement or verdict. Call (213) 212-4334 to schedule a free consultation.
Where Do Premises Liability Injuries Commonly Occur in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has one of the largest concentrations of commercial, residential, and public properties in the country. Premises liability injuries happen across every type of property:
- Retail and shopping centers: The Grove, Westfield Century City, Hollywood and Highland, and neighborhood strip malls throughout the city. Wet floors near entrances, uneven parking lot surfaces, and falling merchandise are recurring hazards.
- Hotels and hospitality properties: Los Angeles hosts millions of visitors annually. Bathroom slip and falls, pool area injuries, and negligent security in hotel parking structures generate claims against major hotel chains and independent operators.
- Apartment complexes: Deferred maintenance in stairwells, common areas, and parking garages creates fall hazards. Negligent security claims arise when landlords fail to maintain locks, lighting, or surveillance in buildings with known criminal activity.
- Entertainment and sports venues: Crypto.com Arena, SoFi Stadium, and concert venues across the city must maintain safe conditions for tens of thousands of visitors. Overcrowding, wet concourse floors, and inadequate crowd control create liability exposure.
- Restaurants and bars: Kitchen grease near service areas, wet restroom floors, broken chairs, and dimly lit parking lots are common conditions that lead to injuries.
- Government and public properties: Los Angeles sidewalks, parks, Metro stations, and public buildings maintained by the city, county, or state agencies.
Our attorneys identify every responsible party, from the property owner to the management company to the maintenance contractor, and pursue claims against each one.
What Compensation Is Available After a Los Angeles Premises Liability Injury?
The value of a premises liability claim depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of the notice evidence, and the number of liable parties. California recognizes three categories of damages.
Injury Type | Typical Cost Range | Common Location |
|---|---|---|
Wrist or ankle fracture from fall | $15,000 to $75,000 | Retail store, parking lot |
Hip fracture (elderly victim) | $75,000 to $300,000 | Grocery store, apartment complex |
Traumatic brain injury from fall | $100,000 to $1,000,000+ | Parking structure, stairwell |
Spinal cord injury | $500,000 to $3,000,000+ | Construction site, elevator |
Assault due to negligent security | $50,000 to $500,000+ | Apartment complex, parking garage |
These figures reflect medical costs and do not include lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, or emotional distress damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover every measurable financial loss. Specifically, these include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and out-of-pocket costs such as home modifications, mobility devices, or in-home care following a serious fall.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for losses without a dollar receipt. Physical pain, emotional distress, loss of independence, scarring, and the psychological impact of an assault or violent incident fall into this category. California places no statutory cap on non-economic damages in premises liability cases.
When Do Punitive Damages Apply?
Punitive damages apply when the property owner’s conduct was willfully reckless or demonstrated a conscious disregard for safety. In contrast to compensatory damages, punitive awards punish the defendant.
A landlord who ignores repeated warnings about a collapsing stairway or a hotel that eliminates security patrols despite documented criminal activity may face punitive liability.
How Aghnami Law Group Builds a Los Angeles Premises Liability Claim
Evidence Collection and Preservation
Our attorneys begin evidence collection immediately. This includes incident reports filed with the property, surveillance camera footage from the premises, maintenance and inspection logs, prior complaint records, building code violation history, and medical records from treating facilities.
Based on our experience defending these claims, we know that property owners often alter or destroy maintenance records after an incident. We send preservation demands immediately to prevent spoliation.
How Do We Prove the Property Owner Had Notice?
Notice is the central battleground in most premises liability cases. Our attorneys obtain surveillance footage showing how long the hazard existed before the injury, maintenance logs revealing inspection gaps, employee testimony about known conditions, and prior incident reports documenting the same hazard.
Constructive notice, proving the condition existed long enough that the owner should have discovered it, often requires timeline reconstruction from multiple evidence sources.
What Should I Do After Being Injured on Someone Else’s Property?
The steps taken immediately after the injury shape the strength of the claim:
- Seek medical attention: Visit the nearest emergency facility or urgent care. Even seemingly minor falls can cause fractures, concussions, or soft tissue damage that worsens over time.
- Report the incident to the property owner or manager: Request that an incident report be filed and ask for a copy. If the staff refuses, document that refusal.
- Photograph the hazard: Take photos of the condition that caused the injury before it is cleaned up, repaired, or altered. Include wide shots showing the surrounding area and close-ups of the specific hazard.
- Identify witnesses: Collect contact information from anyone who saw the incident or the hazardous condition.
- Call (213) 212-4334: Early legal involvement preserves surveillance footage, prevents evidence destruction, and begins the notice investigation before records disappear.
Each step builds the foundation our attorneys use to establish liability and calculate damages.
FAQ for Los Angeles Premises Liability Claims
How long does a property owner have to fix a dangerous condition?
California law does not specify an exact timeframe. The standard is reasonableness: how long the owner knew or should have known about the hazard and whether they took appropriate steps.
A wet floor that persists for hours without a warning sign creates stronger liability than one mopped up within minutes.
Can I file a claim if I was injured on a public sidewalk in Los Angeles?
Yes. The City of Los Angeles has a duty to maintain public sidewalks in a reasonably safe condition. However, claims against the city require a government tort claim filed within six months of the injury. Missing that deadline eliminates the right to sue.
What if the property owner says I should have seen the hazard?
Comparative negligence allows the property owner to argue that the injured person shares fault. However, the property owner’s duty to inspect, repair, and warn exists regardless of whether the visitor was paying attention. Our attorneys present evidence showing why the hazard was not reasonably visible or avoidable.
Does my landlord's insurance cover my injury in a common area?
A landlord’s commercial general liability policy typically covers injuries occurring in common areas like stairwells, hallways, parking lots, and pool areas. The policy limits and coverage terms vary. Our attorneys identify and pursue every available policy.
Can I file a premises liability claim if I was assaulted on someone's property?
Yes. Negligent security claims hold property owners liable when foreseeable criminal activity causes injury. If the owner failed to maintain locks, lighting, surveillance, or security personnel despite knowledge of prior criminal incidents, the owner may be liable for the resulting harm.
How much is my Los Angeles premises liability case worth?
Case value depends on injury severity, the strength of the notice evidence, the number of liable parties, and available insurance coverage. Every case turns on its own facts. Our attorneys evaluate each claim individually during the free consultation.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Aghnami Law Group represents people injured on dangerous properties across Los Angeles and Southern California. Our attorneys file claims, handle all communications with property owners and their insurers, and build cases designed to recover the full value of the harm caused.
- Office: 27201 Puerta Real, Suite 300, Office 44, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
- Phone: (213) 212-4334
- Availability: 24/7 contact, free consultations
- Fees: Contingency only, the client pays nothing unless we recover
- Languages: English, Farsi, Turkish
Contact Aghnami Law Group today to discuss your Los Angeles premises liability case.
Aghnami Law Group - Los Angeles Office
1801 Century Pk E 24th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Ph: (213) 279-0976
Why Choose Us?
- Free Consultation: We offer free consultation to discuss your case and explore your options.
- No Upfront Fees: We work on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case.
- Proven Track Record: Our experienced attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for their clients.
- Transparent Communication: We keep you informed and involved, providing updates and answering your questions promptly.
- Client Centered Approach: We prioritize your needs and tailor our strategies to achieve the best poossible outcome for you.
Five Star Rated Service!
