Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries, including broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. It is a leading cause of hospitalization among older Americans, who are at particular risk for falls.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall, you may be able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for the losses that you have suffered. The Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn can work with you to establish the facts of the case and file a claim on your behalf. Contact us today at (310) 209-1600 or info@michaelkahnlaw.com to schedule a free initial consultation.
When Is Someone Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident?
Slip and fall accidents are a type of California premises liability case. In order to recover damages for your injuries, you must be able to prove that a property owner, manager or tenant was negligent in some way.
A person or entity was negligent for a slip and fall accident when they:
- Knew, or through the exercise of reasonable care should have known
- About a hazardous condition on the property he or she owns or controls, and
- Failed to repair, protect against, or give adequate warning of the condition.
In order words, it isn’t enough that there was a dangerous condition that caused a slip and fall. The property owner must have known about it — and failed to either repair it, protect against it, or warn of it.
For example, if a person slips on a slick floor at a grocery store, the store may be at fault for the accident — but only in limited circumstances. If the spill happened just before the person fell, the store wouldn’t be liable, because the store didn’t have knowledge, let alone time to clean it up. However, if the store was informed of the spill an hour prior to the fall and did not clean it up or warn customers about it, then it will likely be held liable for the fall and any injuries.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
People may slip and fall for any number of reasons. A property owner, manager or tenant may be responsible if their negligence is the cause of the fall. This can happen due to:
- Spills
- Leaks
- Uneven floors
- Loose carpeting or tiles
- Cables and cords on the floor
- Broken or missing railings
- Failure to put up warning signs
- Failure to rope off construction sites
If you are injured in a slip and fall, then a California slip and fall attorney may be able to recover damages on your behalf. This may include compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. However, you must file a lawsuit within 2 years of the accident in order to recover for your losses. This is known as the statute of limitations. Your lawyer can make sure that any claim is filed within the appropriate time frame.
How a California Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Can Help
Slip and falls can lead to devastating injuries. If the accident was caused by the negligence of a property owner or manager, then they may be liable for any harm that you have suffered.
At the Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn, we are committed to helping individuals who have been injured in a range of personal injury cases — including slip and fall accidents. We offer free initial consultations, where we will evaluate your case, and we never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. Contact us today at (310) 209-1600 or info@michaelkahnlaw.com to schedule an appointment with a California slip and fall accident attorney.
