Sacramento Slip and Fall Attorneys

Accident & Injury Lawyers in Sacramento, California

"Slip & fall" is a term that is used for personal injury cases in which an individual slips, trips, or falls, and as a result is injured while on someone else’s property.  Typically, these types of claims fall under the broader category of premises liability claims because such claims generally occur on the “premises” (property) owned or maintained by another person, and as such, the owner or occupier of the premises may be held liable when a person slips and falls and is injured.  The injured person must prove misconduct on the part of the property owner or occupier in order to obtain any compensation for his or her injuries.

When it comes to property owners and occupiers of property, it is their responsibility to use reasonable care and maintenance of the premises to ensure that they are safe for visitors and to warn potential visitors of any potential dangers.  Slip and fall injuries can be a result of such dangerous conditions as torn carpeting, substances on the floor,  changes in flooring, poor lighting, or narrow stairs.  Other instances of slip and fall accidents may occur on escalators, broken or cracked public sidewalks, or potholes in a parking lot.  In addition, a slip and fall case may result when an individual slips and falls because of rain, snow, ice, or snow. 

Liability for slip and fall injuries not only rests on property owners, but often will be the responsibility of the occupier of the premises where the dangerous or hazardous condition existed.  This includes tenants as well as individuals who are in physical possession of the premises, or any other person or entity who has control of the premises or the activities being carried on them.  In addition, any person or entity that is charged with the responsibility of maintaining or repairing the premises may be potentially liable.   It is important to note, however, that the owner or occupier of the premises is not an “insurer” of one’s safety.  It is important to note that just because an individual may have been injured on someone else’s property, this does not necessarily mean that there is liability.  It must be proven that some wrongdoing occurred.  A visitor, customer, or guest does have a duty to utilize reasonable care when moving about on someone else’s property and should be alert to apparent dangers. 

There is never a precise way in proving liability when it comes to slip and fall accidents.  In most instances, it must be proven that the cause of the accident and resulting injury was due to a “dangerous” and/or “hazardous” condition, and that the owner or the occupier of the property knew of the dangerous and/or hazardous condition.  For instance, if a glass jar falls and breaks, spilling liquid all over the floor and, several hours or even a day later, the store has not noticed or cleaned up the broken glass or liquid, and someone slips and falls and is injured, then it can be argued that it was foreseeable and the store was negligent. 

In order to prove that the property owner or occupier knew of the dangerous and/or hazardous condition, it must be shown that:

• the owner or occupier created the condition;
• the owner or occupier knew that the dangerous or hazardous condition existed and was negligent in correcting it, or
• the dangerous or hazardous condition had existed for a relevant period of time whereby the property owner or occupier should have discovered and corrected the condition prior to anyone’s being injured as a result of the condition.

Consult an Experienced Sacramento Accident Attorney!

The sooner you get help from an experienced Sacramento slip and fall attorney, the better chances you have of success.  When it comes to slip and fall cases, there are timelines that have to be met; otherwise you may lose the right to file a claim.  At the Sacramento Slip and Fall Law Firm, we have handled all different types of slip and fall accident cases.  Our team of expert Sacramento slip and fall attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation of your case to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the just and fair compensation you deserve. 

Contact a Sacramento slip and fall lawyer immediately regarding your claim!