Tag Archives: injury
Are Property Owners Liable For Contractors’ Mistakes?
NON-DELEGABLE DUTIES CAN CREATE LEGAL LIABILITY FOR LAND OWNERS WHEN A CONTRACTOR ACTS NEGLIGENTLY Many property owners hire contractors and assume, if anyone is injured during construction, that the contractor will bear the legal liability for the injury. However, this is not always true. California law imposes certain duties on the owner or possessor… Read More »
The Duty to Protect Against Third Party Crimes
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS MAY GIVE RISE TO A DUTY TO PREVENT FORESEEABLE CRIMES Generally speaking, the law does not require people to protect others against the possibility of third party crimes. However, property owners (and those in possession or control of land) may have such a duty where a legally-recognized “special relationship” exists between the… Read More »
How Do Courts Evaluate “Duty” Under Premises Liability Law?
STATUTES MAY ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DUTY Sometimes, the land owner’s duty (or the duty of someone who possesses or controls real property) is established by statute. Statutes–the formal word for laws created by a legislative or administrative body–establish various duties with which persons who own, control, or possess real property must comply. Where… Read More »
Are Former Owners Liable Under Premises Liability Law?
FORMER OWNERS ARE NOT GENERALLY LIABLE FOR HARM OCCURRING AFTER TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF PROPERTY Generally speaking, premises liability law creates potential liability for people who own, possess, or control land at the time when an injury or damage occurs. This is true even if the hazard existed when the owner purchased… Read More »
What is a Statute of Limitations?
STATUTES OF LIMITATION LIMIT THE TIME A PERSON HAS TO BRING A LEGAL CLAIM OR ACTION Generally speaking, the law favors certainty. For this reason, the law disfavors people being required to defend a lawsuit after too much time has expired. When lawsuits are not brought within a reasonable time, it becomes more difficult… Read More »
Understanding “Causation” in Negligence Cases
NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS HAVE FOUR PRIMARY ELEMENTS To prevail on a claim for negligence, an injured plaintiff must prove all four of the basic elements of the claim: 1. The existence of a legally-recognized duty the defendant owed to the plaintiff (or, in some cases, to the public at large – of which the plaintiff… Read More »
When Has a Person Breached the Duty of Care?
WHAT IS A BREACH OF DUTY? Generally speaking, a “breach” of a duty occurs when a person acts (or fails to act) in a way that violates an applicable, legally-recognized standard of care. Sometimes, people behave in a careless or insensitive manner – or even with hostility – but if the conduct does not… Read More »
Understanding the Legal Difference Between Misfeasance and Nonfeasance
A person’s legal obligations may include a duty to act (an affirmative duty to take some action), a duty to refrain from acting (a duty not to take certain actions), or both. Legal duties may also take on different characteristics in different circumstances, and may include both the duty to act affirmatively in certain situations… Read More »
Can A “Good Samaritan” Be Held Liable For Negligence?
WHEN “GOOD SAMARITANS” ACT NEGLIGENTLY, LEGAL LIABILITY MAY OCCUR The Biblical story of the “Good Samaritan” describes a person (a Samaritan) who voluntarily helps an injured man he discovers lying by the side of the road. In the Bible, the Samaritan is praised for his actions – as, indeed, society does (and should) consider… Read More »
Who Is Legally Liable For Dangerous Conditions on Property?
PREMISES LIABILITY LAW DOES NOT APPLY ONLY TO OWNERS OF PROPERTY. Premises liability law creates duties, rights, and remedies relating to real property and improvements on real property, like buildings, recreational equipment (e.g., swimming pools), and certain kinds of landscaping. The potential liability associated with premises liability applies to any person (including corporations and other legal… Read More »
