Who is Responsible for My Slip and Fall Injury?

When slip and fall injuries happen, the property owner may be held responsible.

A slip and fall accident can be embarrassing if it happens in a public place. To avoid calling attention to yourself, you may be tempted to brush off the incident and downplay any injuries you suffer as a result. Unfortunately, even a relatively minor mishap can leave you suffering serious personal injuries. In the majority of cases, it is negligence on the part of the property owner that is ultimately to blame. This makes them responsible for the expenses you incur as a result of your slip and fall injury.

How Negligence of Property Owners can Result in a Slip and Fall Injury

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injuries. They can result in damage to muscles, tendons, or other soft tissues, broken bones, dislocated joints, and serious back, neck, or head injuries. While symptoms of a slip and fall injury may take days or even weeks to appear, they can leave you suffering potentially permanent disabilities.

In the immediate aftermath of a slip and fall, victims often blame themselves and may attribute the incident to being distracted or clumsy. The reality is that most slip and fall injuries occur due to the reckless and negligent actions of property owners. Negligence is a legal term that involves taking actions that cause injuries to others or failing to take the proper precautions to prevent them. Common ways property owners are negligent and therefore responsible for a slip and fall injury include:

• Failure to mop up spills or condensation on floors;
• Not providing anti-slip mats at building entrances;
• Not repairing worn carpeting or broken flooring tiles;
• Allowing clutter to accumulate in aisles and walkways;
• Not fixing cracked or uneven sidewalks and failing to address other landscaping issues;
• Not providing the proper lighting;
• Not installing handrails on stairs or at heights.

Holding Property Owners Responsible for Your Slip and Fall Injury

Under the California Code, property owners can be held legally liable when their negligence leaves you suffering a slip and fall injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs you incur either through a claim against their insurer or by filing a premises liability lawsuit. To protect your rights in this situation, it is important to take the following steps:

• Report slip and fall accidents immediately to the property owner or on-site security;
• Make sure that an accident report is filed;
• Get the names of any witnesses at the scene;
• Seek medical care for your injuries, regardless of the severity of your symptoms.

Contact Our Murrieta Premises Liability Attorneys

At Gibbs & Fuerst, LLP, we protect the rights of people who suffer slip and fall injuries. To ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation you need to recover, contact our Murrieta premises liability attorneys and request a consultation today.