Bakersfield Premises Liability Lawyer

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property in Bakersfield (for example at a retail store, apartment complex, or local business), acting quickly can significantly strengthen your claim. Key steps include:

• Seek medical attention right away—even if your injuries seem minor—to establish a medical record linking the property condition to your harm.
• Preserve evidence of the hazard: take photographs of the dangerous condition (e.g., uneven pavement, wet floor, broken stairs), gather witness contact information, and hold onto your shoes/clothing if relevant.
• Report the incident to the property owner or manager and request a copy of the incident/accident report (if applicable).
• Avoid giving detailed recorded statements to insurance companies without first consulting a local attorney, because you may inadvertently weaken your claim.
• Contact a Bakersfield premises liability lawyer who understands Kern County local issues (e.g., local building codes, parking lot maintenance practices, commercial property inspections).

In Bakersfield and broader Kern County, liability for a premises-injury doesn’t just lie with the “owner” in a narrow sense. Possible liable parties may include:

• The property owner or landlord who holds title or leases the property.
• The tenant or business operator in control of the premises (for instance a store chain leasing the space).
• A property manager or maintenance company responsible for upkeep (lighting, walkways, security).
• In cases involving public or governmental property (parks, city sidewalks, transit stations) the local government entity may also be liable — subject to special rules and administrative claim deadlines.

In California, including Kern County, a typical premises liability lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of the injury.

However, there are important local/regional variations:

• If the injury occurred on property owned by a public entity (city, county, state, school district), you may have to file a government claims notice first, often within six months of the incident. Failure to meet it can bar the case entirely.
• Because Bakersfield has major public infrastructure (sidewalks, parks, government buildings) a premises liability lawyer familiar with Kern County will track the correct deadlines and administrative claim requirements.

Under California law (including premises liability claims in Kern County/Bakersfield), you can recover compensation even if you bear some fault for your injury — this is due to the pure comparative negligence rule.

Here’s how it works practically:

• If you were injured on someone else’s property, and your conduct contributed (for example, you ignored clear warning signs, or you were distracted while walking), your total compensation can be reduced proportionally to your percentage of fault.
• For example, if your damages are calculated at $100,000 and you’re found to be 20% at fault, you would recover $80,000.

If you win a premises liability case in Bakersfield, you may be entitled to several kinds of compensation:

• Economic damages: medical expenses (past/future), rehabilitation costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, property damage.
• Non-economic damages: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium (in some scenarios).
• In certain cases, punitive damages may be available if the property owner’s conduct was especially egregious (though these are rare in premises liability).