Los Angeles Slip and Fall Lawyer

An unexpected slip and fall accident can happen anywhere. A spill at a grocery store, oil on a driveway, or slick sidewalk can all create dangerous conditions that lead to serious injuries such as broken bones, concussions, twisted ankles, and other types of harm. When a property owner or manager knows or should have known about a dangerous condition but fails to take any action to address the problem, they may be responsible for resulting injuries and losses.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can occur on almost any type of property. There are many different reasons that individuals may slip or trip while walking across a property and injure themselves, but common types of hazards include:

• Wet floors after rain or cleaning
• Spilled liquids or food
• Uneven and unmaintained sidewalks
• Sidewalks cracked due to tree roots
• Damaged flooring or carpeting
• Poorly maintained driveways or stairs
• Inadequate lighting

While any of these hazards can lead to a serious fall, property owners and managers are only responsible where they knew about the hazard or reasonably should have known about it through reasonable inspection or maintenance and failed to take action to address it. A Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer can help you evaluate whether the property owner or manager in your case had sufficient knowledge to support a premises liability claim.

Proving Negligence In Slip and Fall Accidents

Proving negligence in slip and fall cases can be challenging because an injured plaintiff must establish that the property owner knew or reasonably should have known about the dangerous condition that caused the injury . This may require gathering evidence showing that the hazard had existed long enough to be discovered through reasonable inspection, that the property owner had previously been alerted to it, or that the owner had previously attempted to address the problem.

Evidence like surveillance camera footage, prior store incident reports, witness statements from other individuals who raised concerns about the hazard, and prior communications by the property owner or manager about the hazard, can all be extremely helpful in proving knowledge. Other helpful documents could include maintenance records, inspection logs, or notices from the city about hazards.

The challenge with obtaining this type of evidence is that it disappears quickly. Contacting an attorney like Jon Olsson at Olsson Law can be critical to building a solid slip and fall case because an attorney can take steps to identify and preserve relevant evidence before it is lost.

Slip and Fall Frequently Asked Questions

Answered by Los Angeles Slip and Fall Lawyer Jon Olsson

How Long Do I Have to Bring a Slip and Fall Claim?

Slip and fall accidents in California generally must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. This means that it is important to promptly reach out to a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer if you are hurt. It takes time to gather evidence and prepare a case, and if you file too late, your lawsuit may be dismissed.

What Compensation Can I Get in a Slip and Fall Accident?

California law permits individuals injured in a slip and fall to recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include quantifiable damages like medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. Noneconomic damages include harms like pain and suffering and emotional distress.

What Are Common Defenses in Slip and Fall Cases?

Property owners in slip and fall cases may argue that the hazard that caused the injury was obvious and should have been avoided by the person injured. They may also argue that they didn’t know the hazard existed, or that they did know but they took reasonable steps to try to protect against it. Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer Jon Olsson can help you develop a claim and respond to these defenses.

How Olsson Law Can Help You

Property owners and managers, and their insurance companies, are often quick to deny responsibility after a slip and fall accident. This means that injured individuals must be prepared to present evidence showing how the accident occurred and why it was the property owner’s fault.

As a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer, Jon has handled personal injury cases on behalf of slip and fall victims and is skilled at quickly identifying the evidence necessary to support your slip and fall claim. He works with witnesses and experts to thoroughly understand how your accident occurred and to establish the long-term consequences of your injuries. He frequently negotiates with insurance companies to aggressively pursue fair compensation for your injuries and losses.

If you have recently been injured in a slip and fall accident in Los Angeles or the South Bay, contact us today for a free consultation.