Santa Clarita Slip and Fall Attorneys

Slip and Fall Cases

All California property owners have the responsibility to ensure that their property is safe and maintained at all times. At the Law Offices of C. Ray Carlson, our Santa Clarita slip and fall lawyers have vast experience in representing clients who have slipped, tripped, and/or fallen due to unsafe property conditions and general property owner negligence.

Slip and fall claims are some of the most common types of personal injury claims, however, that does not mean they are not incredibly serious. Many slip and fall victims suffer serious, life-altering injuries that can sometimes even result in death. Unlit stairwells, wet floors, uneven pavement, or construction site defects can all lead to these accidents; a lawyer can decide whether or not you’re owed damages for the negligence of a property or business owner.

On This Page

• Types of Slip & Fall Accidents
• Damages in Slip & Fall Claims
• How Is Compensation Determined in Slip & Fall Cases?
• How a Lawyer Can Help

We Fight to Hold Negligent Property Owners Accountable

Call us at (661) 765-8484 or submit a free online case evaluation form to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our attorneys today.

Types of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall, or trip and fall, accidents can happen just about anywhere for a variety of reasons. All too often, these accidents are the result of careless or negligent property owners who fail to maintain their premises or remove, repair, or warn others of dangerous conditions.

Some examples of common slip and fall accidents in California include but are not limited to:

• Parking ramp falls
• Slippery surface falls
• Stairway accidents
• Sidewall falls
• Falls down stairs
• Falls on ice or snow
• Bathtub/shower falls
• Balcony falls

A property owner must keep their property safe for those invited onto their property at all times. This includes both expressly invited guests, such as houseguests, and implicitly invited individuals, such as customers at a business. If an attorney can prove that a property owner was negligent in any way and knew about a dangerous and/or defective condition on their property yet failed to adequately address it, they can be held liable for damages that resulted from any accident caused by the condition.

Damages in Slip & Fall Claims

While many people think of slips, trips, and falls as relatively minor accidents, the truth is, victims can sustain severe, catastrophic injuries. A slip and fall victim might sustain broken bones, sprains and strains, or even a serious spinal cord injury or brain injury. The cost of treating such injuries is enormous, often resulting in massive medical bills. This is made all the more difficult when victims are unable to earn a living due to being out of work as a result of their injuries.

At the Law Offices of C. Ray Carlson, we can help you seek a just settlement for all of your damages, potentially including but not limited to:

• Medical treatment
• Ongoing medical care
• Rehabilitative therapy
• Lost income
• Future lost earnings
• Lost earning capacity (disability)
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Inconvenience
• Emotional distress/trauma

We understand how challenging it is to get back on your feet after a serious slip and fall or trip and fall accident, and we want to help.

How Is Compensation Determined in Slip & Fall Cases?

In slip and fall accidents in California, the total amount of damages is first calculated. Next, the share of fault for each party is determined in the form of a percentage. Next, the court will award the damages by the percentages that were previously determined. If your case makes it to court, the jury must make a finding as to fault, and that fault-finding is applied to the total amount of damage and the amount that the property owner is ordered to pay.

For example, if you slipped and fell on a wet floor in a grocery store that was unmarked, but you were not paying attention to where you were walking because you were looking at your cell phone, a jury might decide that you are 10% to blame for the incident. If your total damages—including the cost of your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering—amounts to $10,000, you will only be able to recover up to 90% of that amount, or $9,000.

How a Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer Can Help

A slip and fall attorney helps victims understand the law regarding premises liability in California, as well as their rights and specific options based on their unique situation. An attorney also helps victims gather evidence to prove that had the property owner not been negligent they would not have been hurt and, as a result, they are entitled to financial compensation for their damages. Your attorney will be able to represent you and your best interests, working with the insurance company on your behalf and negotiating a fair settlement for you. Your attorney will also be able to take your case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be achieved.

What is the Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations in California?

The statute of limitations in California gives you just two years from the date of the injury to file a slip and fall lawsuit. One of our experienced slip and fall accident lawyers in Santa Clarita can help identify negligence and do the proper research to determine if there were previous complaints about a hazard on the property or other evidence of property owner negligence. We are ready to aggressively represent you throughout the entire legal process.

However, the statute of limitations may be tolled (suspended) in certain circumstances - such as if the defendant is out-of-state for a long period of time, or if the injured person is a minor.

You may have a limited period of time to sue following an accident, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Contact the Law Offices of C. Ray Carlson Today

Every slip and fall accident case in California is unique, so hiring an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer is important. To learn more about our legal services and to schedule a consultation with one of our expert attorneys, get in touch with the Law Offices of C. Ray Carlson today. We serve clients in Santa Clarita, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Fillmore, the San Fernando Valley, and the surrounding areas. Our attorneys offer services in Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, and Tagalog.

Contact us online or call (661) 765-8484 today for a free initial consultation.