San Francisco Premises Liability Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

San Francisco Premises Liability Attorney

Property owners in San Francisco — whether private individuals, commercial businesses, or public entities — owe a duty of care to people who come onto their property. When a dangerous condition on a property causes injury, the property owner or operator may be held liable. San Francisco's built environment creates a distinct set of premises liability exposures: older building stock with deferred maintenance, steeply graded sidewalks subject to heave and cracking, Muni station platforms, dense retail corridors, and hotel and hospitality facilities hosting millions of visitors annually. Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured on dangerous premises throughout San Francisco and San Francisco County. These claims are filed in San Francisco Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street.

The Duty of Care Under California Law

California premises liability law is governed by Civil Code § 1714, which imposes a duty of ordinary care on property owners and possessors to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. The California Supreme Court in Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108 established that the duty applies to all persons on the property. A property owner who knows or should know of a dangerous condition and fails to repair it or warn of it has breached the duty of ordinary care.

Public Entity Premises Liability

Claims against the City and County of San Francisco or SFMTA for dangerous conditions on public property are governed by Government Code § 835, which requires the claimant to establish that the property was in a dangerous condition, that the condition created a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury, and that the public entity had actual or constructive notice. Claims against any public entity require a government tort claim under Government Code § 911.2 within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling may apply depending on the facts.

Types of Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability encompasses multiple categories of injury claim. Slip and fall accidents on wet floors, uneven surfaces, or broken sidewalk panels are the most frequent. Dog bite injuries on private property are governed by Civil Code § 3342, which imposes strict liability on dog owners for bites occurring in public places or on private property where the victim was lawfully present. Negligent security claims arise when inadequate security measures fail to prevent foreseeable criminal attacks. Pool accidents involving inadequate fencing, supervision, or safety equipment create liability under Civil Code § 1714 and under Health and Safety Code § 115922.

Filing Deadlines

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against public entities require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. None of these deadlines are self-executing and tolling may apply — contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your case.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents premises liability victims throughout San Francisco on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

San Francisco Premises Liability Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754