Slip and Fall Attorney in San Francisco
No win, no fee: You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
It only takes a cracked sidewalk or a wet grocery store floor to change everything. Suddenly, you’re facing painful injuries, expensive medical bills, and time off work. All because someone didn’t take proper care.
You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence.
Property owners in California have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. If they don’t, and you were injured as a result, you may have the right to seek compensation.
What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip and fall, in the context of premises liability, happens when an individual is injured due to hazardous conditions on someone else’s property. A San Francisco slip and fall attorney can hold the responsible party accountable.
Slips and falls can occur almost anywhere, from sidewalks to grocery stores to apartment buildings. However, we find that the underlying issue is the same: the property wasn’t kept safe.
Under California law, property owners (and those who control property) have an obligation to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition. Typically, this means inspecting the property or taking other steps to find hazards. If a dangerous condition is discovered, or would have been discovered through reasonable care, they must fix it or give a clear warning if it can’t be fixed right away.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in San Francisco
Slips and falls can happen for various reasons, including:
- Wet or mopped floors without warning signs
- Uneven or broken sidewalks
- Cracked steps
- Loose rugs or carpeting
- Poor lighting
- Broken or missing handrails
- Ice or debris on walkways
Whatever the cause of your accident, getting legal guidance from a reputable slip and fall accident lawyer is critical. In California, you generally have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim for a slip and fall. If you miss this deadline, you may miss out on compensation that’s rightfully yours.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Serious injuries that result from slip and fall accidents include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Hip injuries
- Shoulder and knee damage
- Torn ligaments
However, physical injuries don’t always tell the whole story. Victims may also experience anxiety or PTSD after a slip and fall, with the emotional effects not visible on an X-ray.
We think this is unacceptable. Property owners must be held accountable for what happened. Otherwise, more people might end up getting seriously hurt, both physically and mentally.
Damages You Can Recover with a Slip and Fall Claim
If you were injured in a slip and fall in the Bay Area, you may be entitled to compensation depending on your situation. Damages are normally divided into the following categories:
Economic damages
These cover all the financial losses associated with your accident, such as:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages
- Lost or reduced earning capacity
- Property damage (damaged clothing, personal belongings, etc.)
Non-economic damages
These are intangible losses after an accident. In other words, things you can’t assign a price to:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (the impact of your accident on relationships with your spouse or family)
Punitive damages
In rare cases of malice or extreme recklessness, the court may award punitive damages. These are meant to punish the at-fault party for their wrongdoing and prevent the same thing from happening again.
Every slip and fall situation is unique, so it’s usually difficult to calculate how much you’re entitled to without formally filing a claim.
Understanding Premises Liability in California
Slips and falls fall under premises liability. This is a legal principle that holds property owners liable for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property.
Under California law, property owners are expected to inspect their premises regularly and fix any hazards like wet floors or broken steps. If they can’t repair a hazard immediately, they must warn visitors about the risk.
When property owners don’t take the right precautions, innocent people like you often pay the price. A premises liability lawyer specializing in slip and fall cases can help you understand your rights.
Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injury emergency department visits in the U.S., according to the CDC.
What Happens When You File a Slip and Fall Claim?
Slip and fall claims might sound intimidating, but they can help you get the compensation you deserve. Here’s what to expect after contacting an attorney:
Consultation
This is your chance to explain what happened and discuss your injuries with a slip and fall lawyer. The attorney will explain your legal options and next steps. Stoll & Haynes offers free consultations, so you can get professional legal advice without any obligation whatsoever.
Investigation
If things move forward, your attorney will carry out a thorough investigation to identify what caused your slip and fall and prove negligence. This may involve talking to any witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage.
Claim Filing
Formally filing a slip and fall claim kickstarts the legal process. The at-fault party will be notified that a claim has been filed against them and the damages you’re seeking.
Negotiation
Your attorney will negotiate a full and fair settlement with the responsible party’s insurance company. This typically leads to resolution, as most personal injury claims settle before reaching court.
Litigation
In some circumstances, your attorney might file a lawsuit in court, and a judge or jury might decide the outcome of the case. If this happens, there’s no need to worry. A good slip and fall claim attorney will support you every step of the way.
How a Slip and Fall Attorney in San Francisco Can Help
Insurance companies can play dirty tricks to minimize payouts. For example, they might try to:
- Downplay your injuries
- Say the accident was your fault
- Give you a quick settlement that doesn’t come close to covering the extent of your suffering
This is where a skilled slip and fall attorney comes in.
With Stoll & Haynes, you don’t have to argue with insurers or collect evidence on your own. We do all the hard work for you, so you can focus on recovery.
Our team has extensive experience in this area of personal injury law. Here’s an example of one of our success stories:
Slip and fall in store
Amount awarded: $350,000
A customer was injured after tripping over signage in a store, leading to a foot fracture and complications. Our attorneys held the store accountable for failing to maintain a safe environment for its customers.
Slip and Fall Attorney in San Francisco FAQs
Premises liability holds property owners (and those in control of a property) accountable for injuries that happen on their premises because of unsafe conditions.
Seek medical attention straight away, even if your injuries seem minor. If it’s safe to do so, document the accident scene by taking photos and videos. A Bay Area slip and fall attorney can help determine whether you have a valid claim.
This depends on various factors, including the severity of your injuries and how your accident has affected your life. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, which is why scheduling a consultation with a slip and fall attorney in San Francisco is so important.
You typically need to show that the property owner knew about (or should have known about) the hazard and failed to fix it. A skilled attorney can help you collect evidence that proves negligence.
Not necessarily. Most claims like this settle through negotiations with insurance companies. However, if a fair settlement can’t be reached, filing a lawsuit may be the best way to seek compensation.
California has a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning you may be able to recover compensation even if you were partially to blame for your accident. However, your compensation could be reduced based on your percentage of fault. Contact a slip and fall injury lawyer to learn more.
It depends on the circumstances, but you may be able to pursue compensation under California law. Like any business, a restaurant has a legal duty to keep its premises reasonably safe.
You generally have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Claims involving the City of San Francisco or another government entity, such as slip and falls on sidewalks, may have shorter deadlines.
Located on Montgomery Street in the Financial District, our San Francisco personal injury firm has specialized in slip and fall cases since 1994. We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis and offer free case reviews, meaning you can speak with an attorney about what happened during an initial consultation at no cost.
Contact a Bay Area Slip and Fall Lawyer
Injured in a slip and fall accident? It’s time to get justice.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need advice about your specific situation, please contact Stoll & Haynes directly.