LA Century Law secured a $3,000,000 settlement for a client who suffered catastrophic injuries after falling approximately 25 feet from an apartment window at a senior living property in Los Angeles, California. The insurance company and the Senior Living Facility originally denied the claim altogether and made an offer of $0.
The premises liability case centered on allegations that the property owners and operators failed to provide adequate safety protections at a third-floor apartment window, exposing residents to a foreseeable and potentially devastating fall hazard.
What Happened
Our client had moved into an apartment at a Los Angeles senior living community only weeks before the incident.
We alleged that our client opened the bedroom window and unexpectedly fell approximately 25 feet, landing on a concrete roof below. The lawsuit alleged that the window presented a serious fall hazard: its sill was approximately 16.5 inches above the bedroom floor, while the opening itself measured approximately 20 inches wide by 48 inches high. The complaint further alleged that the window lacked a protective screen, locking mechanism, fall-prevention system, or adequate warning.
These allegations were particularly significant because the property operated as a senior living community. The complaint alleged that those responsible for owning, operating, and maintaining the property knew or should have known that residents could open the window and be exposed to a serious risk of falling, yet failed to take certain precautionary measures. Some of the alleged measures the senior living facility who have taken (but refused) would cost nothing more than a few dollars a window, and their benefits outweighed the risks which martialized in our client’s severe injuries. This was a case of profit over safety.
The complaint further alleged that the property failed to comply with applicable building and safety requirements. According to the allegations, following the incident, the property was cited for multiple code violations, including a violation concerning “defective windows.”
Our Client’s Injuries and Damages
A fall from this height caused devastating physical trauma. The complaint alleged that our client suffered numerous serious injuries, including:
- Nine broken ribs
- A broken shoulder
- Multiple fractures to the back and spine
- A collapsed lung
- A hemothorax
- Head abrasions
- Additional severe and painful physical injuries, some of which were alleged to potentially be permanent
Beyond the immediate physical trauma, the lawsuit sought compensation for the broader consequences of the incident, including medical expenses, economic and non-economic damages, and loss of earnings and earning capacity.
The Legal Claim: Premises Liability and Negligence
LA Century Law pursued claims for negligence and premises liability, alleging that those responsible for the property failed to exercise reasonable care in maintaining a safe living environment.
The case focused on a fundamental question: Should those responsible for a senior living property have taken reasonable precautions to protect residents from the foreseeable danger presented by a large, unprotected window positioned unusually close to the floor?
The complaint alleged that the property owners and operators had a duty to inspect the premises for dangerous conditions, correct hazards that could reasonably be expected to cause injury, and provide adequate warnings or safeguards. It specifically alleged that reasonable precautions should have been taken to address the risk of residents falling through large open windows.
The allegations also addressed an important aspect of responsibility for the unsafe condition: according to the complaint, building rules prohibited residents from making their own repairs or alterations, leaving our client dependent upon property management to address the unprotected window. The complaint alleged that the property’s rules and practices placed responsibility for necessary repairs and alterations—including installation of a window screen—on those operating the property.
Given that the property served senior residents, the lawsuit further alleged that the danger of an inadequately protected window was particularly foreseeable and that reasonable fall-prevention measures should have been implemented.
$3 Million Settlement Secured by LA Century Law
LA Century Law pursued the case on behalf of our seriously injured client and ultimately secured a $3,000,000 settlement.
The resolution provided substantial compensation for a client who suffered life-altering injuries in a fall that, according to the lawsuit, resulted from dangerous conditions that should have been identified and addressed by those responsible for maintaining the property.
The case illustrates why California premises liability cases can extend far beyond traditional slip-and-fall accidents. Property owners and operators may be held responsible when an unsafe condition exposes tenants or visitors to an unreasonable risk of serious injury. When vulnerable populations such as senior residents are involved, reasonable property-safety measures can be especially important.
At LA Century Law, we represent individuals and families in serious Los Angeles personal injury and premises liability cases, including claims involving unsafe apartment buildings, dangerous property conditions, negligent property maintenance, falls, and catastrophic injuries.
Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any matter depends on the specific facts and circumstances.
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