Slip-and-Fall & Other Premises Liability Claims

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property and it wasn’t your fault, you’re entitled to compensation for those injuries.  Generally referred to as slip and fall accidents, they’re common yet sometimes involve extensive medical care.  If the property owner was in any way negligent, medical and other expenses should be paid for by their insurance, not yours.  But it frequently takes an experienced personal injury attorney to make that happen.  These lawsuits aren’t frivolous. Brain injuries are common, and in 2010 nearly 30,000 people died from such falls.  We’re your Vista slip and fall lawyers, conveniently located and ready to stand up for your rights.

Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability law applies whenever someone is injured on someone else’s property.  Under California law, in order to file a claim you must establish:

• the presence of a dangerous condition,
• that the owner knew or should have known about it,
• that the owner didn’t adequately respond,
• that the hazard lead to your injury, and
• negligence (lack or reasonable care) was a substantial factor.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a fall, but trip and fall accidents are the most common of premises liability claims in and around Vista.  Slip and fall injury liability doesn’t just apply to businesses.  Any property owner, including homeowners and government agencies, can be held responsible.  As you might guess, slip and fall causes include wet or greasy floors.  But other hazards include ripped carpet, poor lighting in stairways, improperly designed stairs, obstructions left in walkways, and broken paving or flooring as well as damaged furniture or equipment.  Other factors include various types of neglected maintenance as well as negligent security.

A property’s owners, managers, and operators are held responsible for maintaining a safe environment for any and all visitors. That includes noticing hazards, correcting them in a timely manner, and displaying warnings in the meantime.  If they have failed to do so and an injury results, you may have cause to bring a slip and fall lawsuit.

Negotiations and proceedings often involve insurance companies, renters, lessors, property owners, architects, and contractors.  These cases are routinely disputed by the insurance company for the at-fault party.  Insurance companies will dispute whether the condition was dangerous, whether it caused your injury, whether or not they had notice of it beforehand, whether you were at fault based on your own conduct and/or whether your injuries are serious and deserving of compensation.  It should be clear that an experienced slip and fall lawyer is necessary to be successful in handling your slip and fall case.