Premises Liability Lawyer in Thousand Oaks & Westlake Village

Name: Premises Liability
Brand: The Swanson Law Group
Rating: 4.9 (72 reviews)

At The Swanson Law Group, we represent individuals who’ve suffered serious injuries due to dangerous property conditions. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a slip, trip, fall, or other accident on another’s premises, contact our premises liability lawyers in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. We’re here to investigate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Workplace Accidents Slip & Fall Accidents

Premises Liability Statistics

Premises liability is one of California's most common types of personal injury claims. These cases arise when individuals are injured due to unsafe or hazardous conditions on someone else’s property, such as:

Wet floors
Broken handrails
Poor lighting
Lack of security

According to the City of San Diego HHSA, unintentional falls were the leading cause of non-fatal injuries requiring hospitalization across nearly all age groups in the state. In fact, fall-related injuries account for over 650,000 emergency department visits in California each year.

In the workplace, slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of injury across California industries. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that these incidents resulted in over 20,000 non-fatal injuries in California workplaces in a single recent year (BLS State Occupational Injuries).

Premises liability cases in California may involve:

Retail stores
Apartment complexes
Amusement parks
Construction sites
Government buildings
Private homes

California Premises Liability Laws

California law requires property owners, managers, and occupants to maintain their premises reasonably safely. If they fail to repair, warn of, or prevent dangerous conditions, and someone gets injured, they may be held legally responsible under premises liability law.

Under California Civil Code § 1714(a), everyone is generally responsible for injuries caused by their lack of ordinary care in managing property. This statute forms the foundation of most premises liability claims, including cases involving:

Slip and falls
Inadequate maintenance
Defective stairs or handrails
Falling objects
Poor lighting
Negligent security
Dog bites
Dangerous conditions on public property

California courts have further clarified this duty in case law. In the landmark case of Rowland v. Christian, the California Supreme Court established that property owners owe a duty of reasonable care to all lawful visitors, not just invitees (Rowland v. Christian, 69 Cal.2d 108 (1968)).

To prevail in a premises liability claim, the injured party must generally prove:

The defendant owned, leased, occupied, or controlled the property
The defendant was negligent in maintaining or using the property
The plaintiff was harmed
The defendant’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing the harm

In some cases, even public entities (like cities or counties) can be held liable under the California Government Code §§ 830–840.6, which governs dangerous conditions on public property (see also Cal. Gov. Code § 835).

Premises liability claims are subject to California’s two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions, meaning injured individuals typically have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1).

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Who Can Be Held Liable for a Premises Liability Injury?

In California, anyone who owns, leases, occupies, or controls a property may be held legally responsible if someone is injured due to a hazardous condition on that property.
Depending on the circumstances, a premises liability claim in Thousand Oaks or Westlake
Village could involve one or more of the following parties:

Residential property owners or tenants
Commercial property owners
Business owners and operators
Landlords or leasing agents
Property management companies
Retail store or shopping center owners
Hotel, motel, or resort operators
Event venues and amusement parks
Government entities responsible for public property

Determining who is legally at fault requires a thorough investigation of who had control over the area where the incident occurred, and whether they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm.

Hurt on Someone Else’s Property? We’re Ready to Help.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property—like a slip and fall, broken stairs, poor lighting, or a preventable assault—getting the right legal team on your side is essential.

At The Swanson Law Group, your consultation is always free, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win. We’re here to listen, guide you, and fight for the compensation you need to heal and rebuild.

We do more than just handle your case—we support your recovery. We’ll help you access trusted doctors and specialists without upfront costs, so you can focus on getting better while we handle the rest.

Our team investigates every detail to hold negligent property owners accountable—whether they failed to fix a hazard, post warnings, or provide adequate security. We know how to prove fault and pursue justice in even the most complex premises liability cases.

We bring relentless dedication and real results to injury victims across Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and throughout California. If you're ready to take the next step, we’re ready to stand with you. Contact us today.