Home Inverse Condemnation Landslide & Subsidence in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Landslide & Subsidence Lawyers

Landslide and Subsidence Lawyers in Los Angeles Who Know How to Win

California's varied climate and weather patterns and geographic and geological factors make our state prone to shifting landforms. Long droughts interrupted by heavy rainfall can weaken natural barriers, further increasing the risk of hazardous earth movement.

Human activities like construction, excavation, and water management also play a significant role in land stability and the integrity of property infrastructure. Thankfully, state law allows victims of land mismanagement to hold negligent property owners liable for damages originating from their land. This liability extends to ensuring proper land maintenance and taking precautionary measures to prevent such events.

If your business or property was damaged due to a landslide or subsidence, contact Peterson Law Group PC today. Attorney John S. Peterson is deeply knowledgeable about California property law, and he's been aggressively advocating for the rights of Los Angeles property owners for over 35 years.

From Griffith Observatory to Sunset Boulevard to the La Brea Tar Pits to our glorious beaches, people in Los Angeles deserve strong legal representation to protect their property rights. The lawyers at Peterson Law Group PC won't back down from negligent corporations, government agencies, unreasonable insurance companies, or anybody else. Our firm has been featured in U.S. News & World Report and selected for the Best Law Firms award by Best Lawyers, and John is a frequent guest on local television and national radio shows.

Call the attorneys at Peterson Law Group PC at (213) 236-9720 to find out how we can help today.

What Are Landslides and Subsidence?

Subsidence is the downward vertical movement of the earth's surface. This may be a gradual or sudden process. A landslide is the rapid mass movement of material down a slope. A landslide may contain rock, soil, and debris.

Subsidence and landslides are caused by several manmade factors:

• Soil erosion
• Lack of vegetation
• Inadequate drainage
• Mining
• Construction
• Deforestation
• Excavation

Legal Remedies When Your Los Angeles Property is Damaged by Landslides and Subsidence

Landslides and subsidence cause astronomical expenses for business and property owners. If a property becomes unsafe due to ground instability, owners may face restrictions on its use or even mandatory evacuation. Insurance policies often contain specific provisions regarding earth movement. Property owners will want to thoroughly review their insurance coverage and understand the extent of their protection against potential landslide and subsidence damage to avoid unexpected financial burdens.

In California, property owners must navigate liabilities and responsibilities regarding landslides and subsidence. State laws dictate how property owners may be held liable for damages caused by earth movements originating from their land.

Compliance with regulatory requirements is crucial to managing landslide and subsidence risks for property owners in California. The state's building codes and land use regulations are designed to mitigate risk, requiring property owners to adhere to strict construction standards and engage in proper land management practices.

Before developing land, owners must conduct surveys and obtain the necessary permits that affirm the land's stability. In addition to state and federal laws, local ordinances also impose regulations that property owners must follow. Noncompliance may lead to penalties, increased liability, and even legal action. It is essential for property owners to stay on top of changes in regulations.

Damages Available for Los Angeles Landslides and Subsidence

Property owners who fail to perform their due diligence may be held liable for the harm they cause to your property and your bottom line. Peterson Law Group PC calls upon a team of expert witnesses — including geologists, biologists, soil engineers, accountants, medical doctors, and economists — to investigate the causes of the earth movement that harmed your property and calculate the damages.

When our investigation is complete, Peterson Law Group PC will file a claim or lawsuit against anyone who committed an act of negligence that damaged your property. It could include the following types of damages:

• Harm to wildlife and natural habitat
• Cleanup
• Relocation
• Temporary housing
• Injuries and fatalities
• Loss of business revenue
• Destruction of infrastructure
• Damaged or destroyed buildings
• Opportunity costs
• Loss of personal possessions

We've Recovered Millions for Our Clients

When choosing a landslide property damage lawyer, a property owner should always consider the attorney's experience with landslides as well as the attorney's courtroom experience. At Peterson Law Group, our attorneys have successfully handled a wide range of landslide cases. Some examples including:

Litigation resulting in Hillside repairs in Agoura Hills, Baldwin Hills, Yorba Linda and other Southern California hillside communities.

• $3 million for a landslide caused by a coastal fire road for the cost of repairing a client's Palos Verdes Estates bluff-top ocean view property.
• Pending cases including a Laurel Canyon property suffering from a major landslide and a debris flow case involving a church campground in San Bernardino County.

At Peterson Law Group PC, our lawyers won't hesitate to bring your case to trial if that's what it takes to get you the settlement you deserve. We've succeeded greatly in these cases, and most defendants choose to settle.

Call (213) 236-9720 to speak with our lawyers today.

Additional Information

• El Niño: How It Can Damage Your Business’s Property
• Natural Disasters & Insurance for California Property Owners
• California Landslide Laws: What Property Owners Need to Know