Whether an individual homeowner or a state or local government, property owners have an obligation under the law to keep their land and the buildings on it safe for authorized visitors and those with business there. If they are negligent in that duty and you slip and fall, are bitten by a dog, are burned or electrocuted, or injured in a swimming pool accident, you have a right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Homeowners, landlords, store owners, schools, and government facilities are required to:

• Fence off or seal off a swimming pool
• Have a safe diving board and accurate water depth markings
• Keep the floor free of water
• Fix potholes or dangerous breaks in the sidewalk or driveway
• Maintain adequate lighting
• Provide obvious warning signs or cones

Premises liability cases are often caused by:

• Snow or water left on walkways
• Defective electrical wiring
• Poor construction
• Shoddy materials
• Building code violations

Common premises liability injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Electric shocks
• Burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Head injuries

Premises liability covers a wide range of case types, and it’s important when researching prospective lawyers to find an attorney with experience in the area most relevant to your claim.

Attorney Gerald Schwab has experience with:

• Slip and fall cases
• Dog bite cases

Slip and Fall

Slip and fall accidents may not seem like a big deal at the time, but studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for all children up to 19 years old, and the leading cause of injury deaths for Americans aged 65 and older. They’re also the leading cause of injury and death in the workplace.

You may have tripped on loose carpeting at the mall, slipped on a spill at the grocery store, or caught your shoe in a crack in the sidewalk – in each example, you would be entitled to seek compensation from the individuals or organizations responsible. Attorney Gerald Schwab can assert your legal rights in a premises liability lawsuit.

Dog Bites

Pets can be a wonderful addition to family life – or they can be a menace to visitors or strangers on the street. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year, nearly half of them in the emergency room. Studies also show that about 50% of all dog bite victims are children, most often in the 5 – 9 age range.

California law requires pet owners to make reasonable efforts to protect people from any injury or harm their pets may cause. If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, whether in someone's home or on public property, the pet owners are liable in most cases, even if they are your family members, friends, or acquaintances. If it was the pet of someone you know, you may feel you shouldn’t take legal action. You should know, though, that such incidents are often covered by the owner’s homeowner’s insurance, so any compensation to you would not come out of their personal assets.

Because the defendants in premises liability cases are usually large insurance companies and corporations with enormous financial resources, you need an attorney who cannot be intimidated. You need an attorney who will fight aggressively on your behalf. You need an experienced attorney who will not make mistakes in preparing your claim, during negotiations, or in trial that could reduce the amount of compensation you receive. You need Gerald Schwab.