Slip And Fall Injury Lawsuit in California
Slip-and-fall accidents can happen in an instant, yet their effects can last a lifetime. For many individuals, these incidents lead not only to physical pain but also to emotional distress and financial strain. The recovery process may involve costly medical treatments, missed work, and the overwhelming uncertainty of proving who is liable for the accident.
At Injury Justice Law Firm, our California personal injury attorneys have extensive experience navigating the complexities of slip-and-fall cases. We will work tirelessly to get you the full compensation the law allows.
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of accidental injury in the Los Angeles area. Each year, more than 8 million people visit emergency departments across the United States for treatment for injuries sustained in fall accidents, and many of these incidents are the direct result of the negligence of a property owner or other party responsible for property maintenance.
Thankfully, victims of slips and falls are often able to recover compensation for their losses. At Injury Justice Law Firm, we are dedicated to representing the rights of people who have been hurt after slipping and falling on another person's property. We do everything we can to ensure that our clients obtain the compensation to which they are legally entitled.
To recover compensation, a person who has been hurt in a slip and fall accident must be able to show that their accident was caused by the negligence of the person or business responsible for maintaining the property on which the accident took place in a safe condition.
Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents occur for a variety of reasons. Often, these incidents stem from hazards that property owners or managers fail to address. Below are some of the most common causes:
- Wet or Slippery Surfaces: Spilled liquids, freshly mopped floors, or icy walkways (in colder climates or higher elevations) are among the leading contributors to slip-and-fall accidents. When these conditions are left unmarked or untreated, they can pose a severe risk to unsuspecting individuals. In Los Angeles County, wet and slippery floors frequently pose a danger to visitors or shoppers of commercial properties, including shopping malls, gyms, sports stadiums, swimming pools, convention centers, and hotels.
- Uneven or Damaged Surfaces: A cracked sidewalk, loose tiles, torn carpeting, or uneven transitions between surfaces can all result in sudden falls. These issues are particularly dangerous in areas with high foot traffic, where hazards may be harder to notice.
- Poor Lighting: Dim or inadequate lighting in stairwells, hallways, parking lots, or entrances often prevents people from seeing potential dangers. Even minor obstacles become significant hazards when visibility is compromised.
- Inadequate Lighting – Accidents often happen when property owners fail to keep their premises adequately lit. The injuries caused by improper lighting can be extremely serious or even fatal. Injured people may be able to recover compensation from property owners who failed to keep their premises safe.
- Unsafe Stairs—Property owners must take reasonable steps to ensure their premises are safe, including the stairway used to get in and out. When an individual falls on unsafe stairs, the owner of the premises could be held financially liable. Stairways are not safe when they are broken or excessively worn.
- Unsafe Conditions—There are a variety of unsafe conditions on properties that could cause a slip-and-fall accident, causing injuries. In California, property owners have a legal obligation to maintain a reasonably safe condition for others. If a property owner is negligent in maintaining their property and someone is injured due to their negligence, they could be held liable for the injuries and required to pay damages.
Types of Injuries That May Occur
The injuries that can result from a slip-and-fall accident range from mild to life-altering. Some individuals recover quickly, while others face months—or even years—of ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. Common injuries include the following:
- Fractures and Broken Bones: Falls can cause fractures in the wrists, ankles, hips, or other areas as the body instinctively tries to break the fall. Hip fractures, in particular, can lead to severe complications and extended recovery times, especially for older individuals.
- Head Injuries: Striking your head against a hard surface can result in a concussion or a more severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries may affect memory, cognitive abilities, and overall quality of life, depending on their severity.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Falls involving significant impact or awkward landings can damage the spinal cord. This may lead to back problems, herniated discs, or, in extreme cases, partial or complete paralysis.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, or tears of muscles, ligaments, and tendons are common after slip-and-fall accidents. While these injuries may not always appear serious at first, they can cause ongoing pain and restricted mobility and may require physical therapy to heal fully.
These and other serious injuries have the potential to result in thousands of dollars in medical bills and leave victims in serious pain and unable to work. As a result, it is critical for anyone hurt in a slip and fall accident to protect their legal rights by retaining a lawyer as soon as they can.
Reasonable Duty of Care
Under California law, property owners and managers owe visitors a “reasonable duty of care.” This legal principle means they must take reasonable steps to ensure their property is safe. The specifics of this duty depend on several factors, including the type of property, how the hazard occurred, and how much time the property owner had to address the issue.
For example, if a grocery store employee spills liquid on the floor, the store must clean it promptly or place warning signs in the area. Similarly, property owners are expected to conduct regular maintenance, repair known hazards, and keep public areas free from potential dangers.
However, the concept of “reasonable” care doesn't mean that every accident automatically leads to legal liability. The key question is whether the property owner's actions—or lack thereof—were negligent and whether that negligence directly contributed to the incident.
Who May Be Held Liable for Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
Determining liability in a slip-and-fall case can be complicated, as multiple parties may be responsible depending on the circumstances. Potential liable parties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Property Owners: Private homeowners, commercial building owners, and public space owners are typically the first to be considered in a liability claim.
- Business Operators: Business tenants leasing the property may share liability if they directly manage the space and fail to address hazards.
- Maintenance Companies: If a third-party maintenance service is contracted to clean, repair, or manage a property, their negligence could also form the basis for a claim.
- Government Entities: Slip-and-fall accidents that occur on public property, such as sidewalks or government buildings, might involve liability on the part of a city or government agency. These cases require a different approach to filing a claim than a simple personal injury lawsuit, with strict filing deadlines that must be adhered to.
We Seek Compensation for Your Injuries
Depending on the cause of your accident and depending on whether any laws were violated or negligence occurred, you may be entitled to more than just compensation for the medical bills, including compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and future medical care and training for a new career.
We handle slip-and-fall accidents involving insufficient lighting, crumbling curbs or stairs, uneven floors, wet and slippery floors, and failure to fix unsafe conditions. We have a reliable team of experts, from medical experts to accident reconstruction experts, professional engineers, and vocational experts, ready to investigate your case.
These experts will go to the premises, take photographs, measure the cracks in the pavement and the traction of the floors, talk to witnesses, examine the accident scene, review reports, and conduct any necessary investigation.
In slip-and-fall accidents, evidence may become lost or destroyed over time. Witnesses forget the details and become unavailable. Insurance companies will do their best to pressure, scare, or intimidate you into accepting a lower settlement than you might be entitled to.
If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Under California law, you may be entitled to damages for your past and future medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and any other losses you may have experienced.
We can protect your rights and ensure the maximum possible recovery for you and your family.
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