Slip and Fall Accidents

When a person slips and falls, it can lead to more than just insignificant bumps and bruises. Slip and fall accidents can, in fact, leave a victim with serious injuries such as broken bones, brain trauma, and others that require extensive medical care. When these injuries occur on another’s property due to someone’s negligence, they should be held accountable. Orange County slip and fall lawyers at the Serendib Law Firm assist victims of these types of accidents in pursuing the proper legal claims against those liable for their harm. Property owners and occupiers are required to maintain a reasonably safe environment for visitors. When they fail, and someone is injured due to a dangerous condition, victims can recover damages in a premises liability suit. If you, or a loved one, has been injured as a result of a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, contact our office today to learn about your legal options.

Slip and fall accidents occur under many circumstances, and in a variety of places. Depending on these circumstances, one or more parties could be held liable for your injuries. Different property owners owe different levels of care to visitors. For example, a host of a dinner party entertaining someone for a social purpose owes a lesser degree of care than a retail store welcoming patrons in for a business purpose. Not all slip and fall incidents will result in legal liability. However, when a property owner’s actions fall below the applicable standard of reasonable care, they can be held legally accountable. An experienced slip and fall attorney in Orange County can assess what duty of care you were owed and if that duty had been breached in your case.

Commonly, it is a business owner, who owes customers the highest duty to care, that has failed to provide safe accommodations leading to an accident. Unsafe conditions that could lead to serious slip and fall injuries include:

• Spills or leaks left without posted warnings.
• Broken steps or railings.
• Freshly mopped or waxed areas.
• Uneven pavement or flooring.
• Objects that have fallen off shelves.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of five falls can lead to significant injuries requiring hospitalization, like broken bones, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage or a serious back injury. Children and elderly adults over the age of 65 are most at risk for these types of injuries.

For a property owner or occupier to be held accountable in a premises liability case, certain elements must be proven. Consulting a knowledgeable Orange County slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible following a fall is important to make sure proper evidence is collected and analyzed for your claim. A plaintiff seeking compensation for a slip and fall accident must show that the defendant knew, or should have known, about the dangerous condition that caused the injury had they taken reasonable care and proper inspection was conducted. The plaintiff also must show that the defendant failed to remedy any hazard in a timely manner or warn visitors of its existence. An owner’s duty to take reasonable steps to ensure a property is safe from dangerous conditions not only applies to a store or restaurant itself, but any other areas under its control. This includes stairways, accessible backrooms, bathroom areas, as well as parking lots. Businesses that fail to maintain safe premises can be liable for a victim’s past and future medical expenses, loss of income, diminished earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering damages.

Injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents often leave victims with growing medical bills, time away from work, and sometimes even permanent impairment. If you were injured on someone else’s property and would like to explore your options, an Orange County slip and fall lawyer at the Serendib Law Firm can help you determine your next legal step. We offer dedicated and seasoned legal representation for clients across Southern California, including Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. Following a slip and fall accident, time is of the essence, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today either online or at 1-800-LAW-8225 (800-529-8825).