If you were injured at a tech campus, you might assume the company with its name on the building bears legal responsibility for your injuries. In many cases, it is not that simple.
Large Bay Area tech campuses often involve multiple property owners, tenants and contractors. Those business relationships can affect who may be legally responsible for your injuries. They can also affect how your claim develops.
Why more than one company may be involved
A tech campus may look like one property, but several companies may own, manage or maintain different parts of it. One business may own the parking lot, another may maintain the walkways and a third may provide security for the entire campus.
If you suffered an injury, the company you recognize may not be the one connected to the area where the incident happened. Your claim could involve businesses responsible for:
- Owning and maintaining the property
- Occupying or managing the area where the injury happened
- Providing security or controlling access to the campus
- Maintaining equipment or building systems
- Performing construction work on the site
As a result, more than one company may have legal duties related to your injury.
How contractors and vendors can affect liability
Many companies operating on a tech campus hire outside businesses instead of handling every service themselves. Separate contractors may provide security, handle maintenance, perform landscaping, complete construction work and make building repairs.
If your injury involved a dangerous property condition, construction work or inadequate security, the business that created the hazard may not be the same company that occupies the building. Identifying each company’s role helps determine who may be liable.
Why one report is not enough
Determining who may be liable usually involves more than reviewing an incident report. After a serious injury, several businesses may gather information about what happened. A property owner may inspect the location. A contractor may examine equipment. A security company may review camera footage or incident reports.
No single document tells the whole story. Property records, maintenance records and security footage can show which company controlled the area where the incident happened. Looking at that information together creates a clearer picture of what happened. It can also help identify which companies may be liable.
Different business relationships can affect a claim
Two injuries in similar locations may not involve the same legal issues. The companies connected to the property, the agreements between them and the source of the hazard can all affect who may be liable.
For that reason, liability may depend on more than the company name on the building. The property, the businesses involved and the circumstances surrounding the incident can all help identify which companies may be connected to your injury.