If you were injured due to a water leak in a commercial building in California—for example, slipping on a wet floor caused by a leak—you may have a strong personal injury case under premises liability law, but only if certain conditions are met.
💧 Water Leaks in Commercial Buildings – California Personal Injury Overview
🔹 1. Can You Sue for Injuries Caused by a Water Leak?
Yes, if the commercial property owner or business operator was negligent in inspecting, maintaining, or warning about the hazard created by the water leak.
🔹 2. What You Must Prove (Key Legal Elements)
- Dangerous Condition
- A leak created a slippery or hazardous surface (e.g., wet tile, puddled carpet, warped floorboards).
- Notice
- The property owner or business knew about the leak (actual notice), or
- The leak existed long enough that they should have known about it (constructive notice).
- Failure to Act Reasonably
- They failed to clean it up, repair the leak, place warning signs, or block off the area.
- Causation & Injury
- The leak directly caused your accident (e.g., slip and fall), and you suffered a verifiable injury.
🔹 3. Who Might Be Liable
- Commercial property owner (if they control maintenance and structure)
- Tenant business (if they were responsible for day-to-day operations or created the hazard)
- Maintenance contractors (if they failed to repair or inspect leaks properly)
🔹 4. Common Scenarios
- Water leaking from HVAC units, ceiling pipes, or restrooms
- Leaks that occur repeatedly and are not fixed
- Failure to warn patrons (no “wet floor” signs)
- Wet carpets or wood floors that become slippery or unstable
🔹 5. Evidence That Helps Your Case
- Photos or video of the leak and the area where you fell
- Incident report filed with the business or property manager
- Witness statements
- Maintenance records (to show prior knowledge or ignored repairs)
- Surveillance footage, if available
- Medical records documenting your injuries
🔹 6. Types of Damages You Can Claim
- Emergency and ongoing medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress or reduced quality of life
- Future medical care, if the injury is long-term
🕒 Statute of Limitations
- 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit in California
- If the leak occurred on public property (e.g., a county courthouse), you must file a government claim within 6 months
✅ Example:
You slip on a puddle caused by a persistent roof leak inside a commercial office building. The leak had been reported by tenants days earlier, and no warning signs were present. You fracture your wrist. This is likely a strong case, especially if building management failed to act in a timely manner.
Law Offices of James R. Dickinson – 909-848-8448
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Please call us at 909-848-8448 to schedule a free consultation/case evaluation or complete the form immediately below. [Please note certain formalities must be completed to retain the Law Offices of James R. Dickinson, such as the signing of a legal fee agreement [see “Disclaimers”]].