Choosing an Attorney for a Property Injury Claim
A property-injury claim may turn on who controlled the area, what made it unsafe, and whether that person knew or reasonably should have known of the condition. Those questions differ between a store aisle, rented building, stairway and public sidewalk. When interviewing counsel, provide the exact location and a factual description of the condition. Ask how the lawyer would identify the responsible party and obtain inspection or repair records instead of accepting an immediate fault conclusion.
Hurt Advice editorial guide. Source review: . This guide does not state that the attorney authored, reviewed or approved it. Visit the profile for public licensing and background records.
Review the attorney’s public background, then confirm experience and availability directly.
Raffi Naljian
Founder, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Attorney
Raffi Garabed Naljian is the founder of Naljian Law Offices and an active California attorney under State Bar #238919. A Los Angeles Times profile says he founded the firm in 2008 after beginning his legal career in 1997, and the State Bar lists personal injury, litigation, criminal law, and business law among his self-reported practice areas.
View Raffi Naljian's full verified profilePrimary identity record
Learn more about Raffi Naljian
This is a focused supporting page. Use Raffi Naljian's full sourced attorney profile as the primary identity record for biography, role, languages, office information, and public-record links. Review that profile alongside the issue-specific preparation and public sources below.
The State Bar record lists Raffi Garabed Naljian as an active California attorney, State Bar #238919. Hurt Advice is a separate referral and legal information service, not the attorney's law firm.
How to Evaluate Attorney Fit for This Issue
California civil jury instructions distinguish control of premises, an unsafe condition and notice. Ask a candidate how those elements relate to this location, what record holder they would contact and whether a government-owned area changes the notice or claims process. The right lawyer for the matter can describe a focused investigation and tell you which facts remain unknown; a fall on property does not by itself establish liability.
Consultation worksheet
Property-injury attorney comparison
Use the same location and condition description for each candidate. Record the specific record that would test each answer.
There is no submit or save action. Copy your notes before leaving this page.
Who may have controlled the precise walkway, floor, stair or fixture, and what document would establish that relationship?
What made the condition unreasonable at the time, and what photograph or witness can describe it without hindsight?
Which inspection, complaint, repair or video record might show when the condition became known or discoverable?
Is any government entity involved, and which claim or notice process needs checking now?
Who handles record requests, experts and litigation, and how are expenses approved and repaid?
Sources for this guide
- State Bar of California: Before selecting an attorney
Explains how consumers can check a lawyer’s standing and compare candidates before choosing representation.
- State Bar of California: Fees and billing
Supports asking about the fee arrangement, case expenses, billing and the written scope of work.
- Judicial Council of California: Civil Jury Instructions (2026)
Primary California court instructions, including comparative-fault and premises-liability elements; a jury instruction is a framework, not a ruling on an individual claim.
- California Courts: Discovery in civil cases
Describes ways parties may request information and documents in civil litigation, including records held by another party or nonparty.
- California Government Code section 911.2
Primary statutory text for time to present many public-entity claims; applicability and exceptions require individual review.
Compare Counsel Step by Step
- 1Mark the exact place on a site plan or photograph and list every known owner, tenant, manager or maintenance business without assigning legal fault.
- 2Preserve original scene images, report details and witness names; record whether the condition has changed since the incident.
- 3Verify candidates and compare how each would identify control, notice and records held by others.
- 4Review expense approval, scope, government-claim screening if relevant, and responsibility for litigation before hiring.
Records for Comparing Candidates
- Location-specific photographs, incident report, witness contacts and known condition-change dates
- Known property and management identities, signs, work orders or prior complaints already in hand
- Any camera location, inspection schedule or maintenance record holder identified but not yet contacted
- Candidate notes naming the responsible lawyer, proposed record requests and written case-cost terms
Keep your unanswered questions handy when comparing the attorney’s public profile with your needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Naming the property owner without examining who controlled the precise area
- Assuming every condition required the same type of notice or warning
- Treating an injury on public property like an ordinary private-property claim without checking claim procedures
- Choosing counsel without asking how records held by a business or third party would be obtained
How the Process Typically Works
Pinpoint the place
Identify the exact area, condition and every known party connected to its use or maintenance.
Test the notice theory
Ask counsel what inspection, repair, video or complaint record could show what was known and when.
Set the scope
Confirm government-claim screening where relevant and agree who obtains records and pays case expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an injury on someone else’s property establish a claim?
No. The premises-liability jury instructions require a fact-specific assessment of control, an unsafe condition, knowledge or reasonable discovery, and causation. Ask counsel which element is presently uncertain and what evidence could address it.
What if a contractor maintained the area?
The relationship and division of work need review. Provide any known management or maintenance names and ask how counsel would determine who controlled the relevant area and records.
Why does it matter if the location is public property?
A public entity may require a different claim process and timing. Ask a candidate to identify the owner and check the applicable government-claim rules before assuming an ordinary civil filing path.
Use the attorney’s public background as a starting point for a direct conversation about fit.
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Important Disclosures
Attorney Advertising. Hurt Advice is a lawyer-referral and legal-information service, not a law firm. This website provides general information, not legal advice. Viewing a page or submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Independent participating attorneys decide whether to accept a matter, and representation begins only under a separate written agreement. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; results depend on the facts and circumstances of each matter.