Can I Sue if I Slip and Fall on a Wet Surface in California?
Often times, you can sue if you slip and fall on a wet surface in California. However, your right to recover monetary compensation for your injuries will depend on the facts that surround your claim.
It can be challenging to recover monetary compensation for a fall in some situations. The property owners involved in these cases often have insurance companies and their attorneys to back them up. Your own legal counsel can help even the playing field. Let a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer guide you in your pursuit of damages following a slip and fall on a wet surface.
Liable parties in a slip and fall lawsuit
Before you can pursue a lawsuit for a slip and fall on a wet surface, you must first identify the party or parties responsible for the accident. While these lawsuits typically target the owners or real property where a fall occurred, there are other individuals that could be responsible for an injury claim.
Under state law, people or entities that own, lease, control, or occupy real property owe a duty of care to people that enter the premises. It is possible that a combination of these individuals could be at fault in a slip and fall accident. Despite these individuals serving as defendants in a potential claim, their insurance companies frequently pay for these damages in the end. Slip and fall lawyers could advise you on the appropriate defendants in your case.
Injuries that can result in a slip and fall claim
When it comes to slip and fall accidents, there are a wide variety of injuries that could occur. In many ways, the type and severity of the injury will depend on how the fall occurred. For example, falling in a way that results in landing on your head and neck are much more likely to cause long-term damage than other injuries. Some of the injuries common in a fall include:
- Spinal injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Tendon damage
- Ligament damage
- Broken arms or wrists
- Chipped teeth
- Skull fractures
- Cuts and bruises
Any of these injuries could form the basis for a legal claim. When a fall occurs through no fault of your own, you could have the right to pursue compensation against the property owner or occupier for your injuries. Discuss your options with a slip & fall attorney before moving forward with a lawsuit.
How wet surface falls happen
There are countless ways a surface could become wet and slippery in government buildings, public walkways, businesses, or even private residences. In many cases, spilled food or drinks will lead to these wet surfaces. Leaks are also a common issue. While many wet surfaces involve water, it is also possible to slip and fall on anything from beverages to cleaning supplies.
Not every wet surface fall will result in a viable claim for compensation. The owner or occupier of the property must have acted negligently in failing to address the spill for you to hold them accountable through a lawsuit. Negligence could involve the property owner or occupier actively causing the dangerous condition in question. In the alternative, a claim could also arise when reasonable steps are not taken to address a dangerous hazard. Whether or not the steps take to deal with these hazards are reasonable or not will depend in part on how long the wet surface was present. A property owner is more likely to be liable for injuries from a fall involving a spill that was present for hours as opposed to seconds.
Discuss your claim with an attorney
No matter the circumstances surrounding your accident, it is vital that you speak to a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer right away. Your attorney could advise you on whether you have a strong claim against the property owner or occupier. To learn more, schedule a free consultation with Ellis Injury Law as soon as possible.