A slip-and-fall accident in San Diego, CA, or elsewhere in the San Diego can cause severe injuries. Additionally, slip-and-fall accident victims often have thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages. You deserve to be made whole again by the at-fault party if this has happened to you.
The San Diego slip and fall lawyers of Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers will help you recover compensation for the damages caused by a slip, trip, or fall. Since our firm opened in 2014, we have recovered more than $40 million in compensation for our clients. We can help you receive a fair settlement for your slip and fall claim.
Our attorneys at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay any attorney’s fees until we recover money for your claim. Contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation at (619) 344-0360 with an experienced slip and fall accident attorney in San Diego, California.
How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You if You’ve Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident
Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers’s founding lawyer Daniel Petrov works tirelessly for the rights of injured victims and their families. Our lawyers are recognized in the community for their dedication and exceptional legal services.
With more than two decades of legal experience, our San Diego personal injury lawyers stand up to insurance companies and handle complicated personal injury cases. We care about our clients and work to recover maximum compensation for slip and fall claims.
When you are injured in a slip and fall accident, you need experienced, skilled legal representation. When you hire Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, you can trust that our San Diego personal injury attorneys can:
- Perform a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of your fall and secure evidence proving liability
- File insurance claims and deal with insurance adjusters
- Work with experts to gather additional evidence to strengthen your case
- Establish a value for your claim by thoroughly documenting your damages
- Fiercely pursue settlements and jury verdicts for the total amount of your damages
Our lawyers are tough negotiators and skilled trial litigators. We will fight to get you the best possible insurance settlement. However, if the at-fault party refuses to negotiate in good faith, we will argue your case in court.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with an San Diego slip and fall accident lawyer.
Our San Diego Slip and Fall Lawyers Handle All Types of Slip and Fall Cases
A slip or trip can result in a slip-and-fall accident. For example, your foot might strike something on the ground or slip out from under you because of a slippery or slick surface.
Typically, most people fall forward when they trip and fall backward when their foot slips out from under them. In either situation, the resulting accidents can cause severe injuries.
Our San Diego slip and fall accident lawyers handle all types of cases involving slips, falls, and trips. Slip and fall accidents occur anywhere, including:
- Retail stores
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants, nightclubs, and bars
- Daycares, schools, and playgrounds
- Warehouse stores
- Amusement parks
- Resorts and hotels
- Cruise ships
- Parking garages and lots
- Nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities
- Shopping malls
- Moving theaters, sports venues, and entertainment venues
- Government buildings and property
- Residential property
- Offices and commercial property
Call Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss filing a personal injury claim if you fall on another party’s property. Your initial consultation does not cost anything.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in San Diego
A slip-and-fall accident can occur because of dangerous conditions on the property. However, something as simple as a spill that was not cleaned up promptly can cause someone to slip and fall.
Common hazards and situations that cause slips, trips, and falls include:
- Loose carpeting or rugs
- Slick surfaces
- Wet floors and puddles
- Broken stairs and steps
- Missing or broken handrails
- Unsecured wiring or electrical cords
- Broken, damaged, or loose floorboards
- Inadequate lighting
- Potholes and cracks
- Debris and objects on the ground
- Uneven floors and entryways
Report the fall to the property owner or person in charge. If the person creates a written report, ask for a copy before you leave.
It is important to document the accident scene if you slip and fall. Try to take pictures and make a video of the entire scene, especially the cause of your fall. Also, ask witnesses for their information.
Slip and Fall Injuries Can Cause Life-Threatening Conditions
Insurance companies like to downplay slip and fall injuries as minor bumps and bruises. However, a slip and fall can cause traumatic injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic injuries
- Internal injuries
- Wrist, knee, hip, and ankle injuries
- Concussions
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Wrongful deaths
Seek immediate medical attention for slip and fall injuries. Your medical records are crucial evidence linking your fall to the cause of your injuries.
Delays in medical care could cause problems in your slip and fall case. The insurance adjuster might say that the fall did not cause your injuries. The company could claim that your failure to seek prompt medical treatment was a failure to mitigate damages.
Who Is Liable for the Damages Caused by a Slip and Fall Accident in San Diego, CA?
Slip and fall accidents usually fall under the purview of premises liability. Property owners have a duty to use reasonable care to inspect and maintain their property. They also have a duty of care to warn people of dangerous conditions on the property.
If a property owner knew or should have known about a condition that caused someone to be injured, they can be held liable for damages. Potential parties who could be liable for a slip and fall accident claim include:
- Homeowners
- Landlords
- Businesses
- Property managers
- Government agencies
- Negligent third parties
- Tenants
- Commercial property owners
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team thoroughly investigates what caused your fall. We identify all parties who could be liable for your claim.
What Damages Can I Receive for an San Diego Slip and Fall Case?
Many factors determine how much a slip-and-fall case is worth. The severity of your injuries and whether you sustained permanent impairments impact how much you can receive for a settlement. If you share liability for causing your fall, California’s contributory fault laws can reduce the amount you receive for your claim.
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we work to maximize how much you receive for a slip and fall case. Typically, accident victims can recover economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Emotional distress
- Loss of income
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Diminished earning capacity
- Decreased quality of life
- Impairments and disabilities
Additionally, some lawsuits could result in punitive damages. Our San Diego slip and fall accident attorneys carefully analyze your case to ensure we include all damages you are entitled to receive for your injuries.
Proving Negligence for an San Diego, California, Slip and Fall Accident
Before recovering money for a slip-and-fall accident, you must prove that the property owner or other party is responsible for your fall. Proving negligence requires you to establish:
- Duty of care to maintain safe premises
- Breach of duty by failing to fix damages, remove hazards, or warn people about hazards
- Failing to correct the situation or warn of dangers caused someone to get hurt
- The victim sustained damages
The evidence must prove your allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. If your case goes to trial, jurors must believe there is more than a 50% chance the allegations are true.
Our legal team at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers builds a strong case based on evidence, including accident reports, medical records, and evidence from the accident scene. Additional evidence in a slip-and-fall case can include opinions and reports from expert witnesses, eyewitness testimony, and photos of the accident scene.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in San Diego, CA?
A statute of limitations establishes the deadline for filing lawsuits in a personal injury case. For most slip-and-fall lawsuits, the filing deadline in California is two years from the accident date.
However, exceptions to the statute of limitations could shorten the time to file a claim. For example, the time to file a claim against government entities is much shorter. On the other hand, the deadline could be extended, such as when a child is injured.
Missing the filing deadline means you give up your right to pursue a legal claim in court. Therefore, it is best to seek legal advice as soon as possible after a slip and fall injury.
Frequently Asked Questions about Slip and Fall Injuries in San Diego
1. What is a premises liability claim in a slip and fall case?
A premises liability claim is a type of case where an injured visitor alleges a property owner or occupier failed to keep the property reasonably safe. In general, it involves showing they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and did not fix it or provide a warning, and that this negligence contributed to the slip and fall.
2. Do I have a case if there was no wet floor sign?
Possibly, yes. Warning signs are only one factor in determining liability. A property owner’s duty goes beyond placing signs; they must regularly inspect the property, promptly clean spills, repair hazards, and take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable injuries.
3. What if the property owner says they didn’t know about the hazard?
Property owners are not only responsible for hazards they actually knew about, but they can also be liable for conditions they should have known about through reasonable inspection. Proving how long the hazard existed is often a critical part of slip and fall litigation.
4. Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for my fall?
Yes. California follows a pure comparative fault rule. This means you can recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident. However, your financial recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
5. What types of evidence are most important in a slip and fall case?
Strong evidence may include:
- Surveillance footage
- Incident reports
- Photographs of the hazard
- Maintenance and cleaning logs
- Witness statements
- Medical records linking your injuries to the fall
6. How serious can slip and fall injuries really be?
Falls are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, hip fractures, spinal damage, and internal bleeding, particularly among older adults. In some cases, victims require surgery, rehabilitation or long-term care. The seriousness of the injury often depends on how and where the person falls, as well as their age and overall health.
7. What if I fell on government property in San Diego?
Claims involving government property follow special rules. Typically, you must file a formal government claim within a much shorter time frame than standard personal injury cases, often within six months, and failing to follow these procedures can result in losing your right to pursue compensation.
8. How long does a slip and fall case take to resolve?
The timeline depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, whether liability is disputed, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Cases involving clear liability and documented injuries may settle more quickly. However, if the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, litigation may be necessary to pursue full compensation.
9. What if my injuries seem minor at first?
Some injuries, including concussions, may not show symptoms immediately. Adrenaline can mask pain in the hours or even days following a fall, so seeking medical attention promptly protects both your health and your legal claim. Delays in treatment can make it more difficult to connect your injuries to the accident.
10. Why should I avoid speaking extensively with the insurance company?
Insurance adjusters may sound helpful, but they work to limit what the company pays. They may ask for a recorded statement, use leading questions, or push a quick settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries. If you accept a settlement, you usually give up the right to seek more compensation later, even if your medical costs increase.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our San Diego Slip and Fall Lawyers
Slip and fall accidents can cause life-altering injuries. Whether you sustained minor or disabling injuries, you deserve compensation for all losses.
Let our trusted San Diego County personal injury lawyers fight to get you the money you’re entitled to. Contact Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers for your free case review with an experienced San Diego slip-and-fall attorney.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in San Diego, CA
702 Civic Center Dr. Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92054
(619) 678-1016
