Many slip-and-fall accidents occur due to hazardous conditions on the property. When you’re injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to pursue compensation through California’s premises liability laws. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Belal Hamideh can guide you throughout the legal process, demanding the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.
Why Do I Need a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer?
Slips, trips, and falls can cause serious injuries. When you’re dealing with this type of injury, you need a skilled legal advocate in your corner who can protect your rights while you focus on your recovery. California imposes strict deadlines for these types of cases, so a lawyer can ensure that you take timely legal action on your case so you don’t forfeit important rights.
When you hire Belal Hamideh for your slip-and-fall case, we can help by:
- Completing a thorough investigation that determines how the accident occurred and who is at fault
- Gathering evidence to prove fault, such as video camera footage, reports of previous accidents, and witness statements
- Connecting you to qualified medical providers so your injuries are correctly diagnosed and treated
- Handling communications, claim management, and negotiations with insurance companies
- Explaining your legal rights and options at each phase of your case
Belal Hamideh has a 99% success rate. We know what it takes to recover compensation that fairly acknowledges our clients’ suffering. Contact us today to take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Dangerous conditions on a property are common causes of slip and fall accidents, including:
- Spills: Many accidents occur on business properties where spills are not promptly cleaned up.
- Wet floors: Slippery floors from recent waxing, rain, or other causes can also cause slip-and-fall accidents.
- Uneven flooring: Floors may be at different heights due to building erosion, settling issues, or a lack of transitions, which can catch visitors unaware.
- Loose carpeting: Carpet can fray or get loose, causing a tripping hazard.
- Missing handrails: Handrails may be missing at walkways or stairways, which can cause serious injuries when walking down steps.
- Poor maintenance: Property owners are expected to regularly inspect the area and perform necessary maintenance tasks.
- Cracked sidewalks: Over time, and without proper maintenance, sidewalks can deteriorate, leading to the formation of cracks. These cracks can cause slips and falls.
- Inadequate lighting: Poor lighting can contribute to accidents because visitors are unable to see hazardous conditions.
- Cluttered walkways: Obstructions at businesses can lead to cluttered pathways and a risk of falling objects.
- Lack of warning signs: When business owners don’t have enough time to remedy a dangerous condition, they should warn visitors about it. Inadequate warning signs can be an indication of negligence.
Our personal injury lawyers can investigate your accident and determine who is responsible for your injuries.
Common Injuries from Slip & Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents can result in severe injuries, including the following:
- Broken bones: Falls can occur with such a force that they cause breaks in the arms, legs, pelvis, hips, or other bones.
- Neck injuries: Neck injuries can limit mobility and result in severe discomfort.
- Spinal cord injuries: Trauma to the spinal column can result in paralysis or permanent loss of function.
- Nerve damage: Nerve damage can cause loss of sensation, weakness, and/or chronic pain.
- Traumatic brain injuries: Slip-and-fall victims can fall on their heads and suffer severe brain trauma. Our personal injury attorney can guide your loved one through their brain injury case, helping them pursue full and fair compensation.
- Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue injuries encompass damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments, resulting in restricted movement and potential long-term pain.
- Internal injuries: Not all slip-and-fall accident injuries are immediately apparent. An accident can cause internal organ damage, bleeding, punctured lungs, or other issues.
These injuries can necessitate extensive medical care and prolonged recovery periods.
California Premises Liability Laws
Under California personal injury law, a property owner can be held responsible for injuries that occur on their property due to negligent conditions. To recover compensation, you and your Long Beach personal injury lawyer will have to prove the following:
- Duty of care: The property owner had a duty to protect lawful visitors because they had control of the property.
- Knowledge: The property owner was aware of, or should have been aware of, a dangerous condition on the property.
- Breach of duty: The property owner breached their duty of care by failing to warn you about the dangerous condition or failing to remedy the situation.
- Causation: The dangerous condition is what actually caused your slip and fall.
- Damages: You must show that you suffered damages due to the accident, such as medical bills or lost income.
Many premises liability cases center on proving that the property owner was aware of the condition that caused the slip and fall. This can be shown in several ways, including:
- A visitor, customer, employee, or other person informed the property owner of the dangerous condition.
- The property owner created the dangerous condition.
- The circumstances suggest that the property owner should have known about the unsafe condition if they had conducted a reasonable inspection of the property.
An experienced Long Beach slip and fall attorney can help gather the evidence you need to prove liability in your case.
Financial Damages Available in Slip and Fall Claims
Slips and falls can cause significant damage and impact on your life. Our personal injury attorneys are committed to helping you recover maximum compensation. We carefully identify all damages to include in your personal injury case, including:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages for the time you missed from work while recovering
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries caused permanent disabilities or impairments
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Every slip and fall case is different, so determining the potential value of your personal injury claim can be difficult. Factors that can affect your case value include:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- The amount of work you missed due to the accident
- The length of your recovery
- Whether you suffered any permanent disabilities because of the accident
- How the injuries affected your life
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- Whether you contributed to the accident
- The strength of your evidence
When necessary, our legal team consults with medical and financial experts who can help explain the severity of your injuries and their long-term implications.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you’re hurt in a slip-and-fall case, take these steps:
Report the Accident
Promptly report the accident to the property owner or manager. Ask for an accident form so you can complete an incident report. This report should include the following details:
- Your name
- Your contact information
- The date and time of the accident
- The exact location of the incident
- Your injuries, if known
- Details regarding how the fall occurred
Request a copy of the written report.
Document the Accident
Use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident, including:
- The physical substance or other dangerous condition that caused your fall
- The surrounding area
- The lack of warning signs
- Your injuries
Ask any witnesses for their names and contact information.
Keep the shoes and clothes you were wearing, as they may have vital evidence to aid your personal injury case.
Seek Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical treatment so your injuries can be documented. Keep all of your medical records, as they will be integral to your personal injury claim.
Call a Lawyer
Contact an experienced slip-and-fall lawyer as soon as possible. They can take immediate steps to preserve evidence and protect your legal interests, including by handling communications with insurance companies on your behalf. A lawyer can also explain the damages you might be entitled to and explain the next steps in the legal process.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Cases in California?
The statute of limitations in California for most personal injury cases is two years from the date of the accident. However, if the accident occurred on public property or was caused by a government employee during their course of work, you will have only six months to give notice to the responsible government agency of your claim. If your personal injury claim is rejected, you will have another six months to file your claim.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury & Accident Attorney for a Free Case Review
At Belal Hamideh, our personal injury lawyers are experienced at handling challenging injury claims. We fight for our clients to recover fair compensation after they were injured due to someone else’s negligence. If you were harmed in a slip and fall incident, contact our personal injury team for a free, no-obligation consultation.