Maison Law and our team of Livermore premises liability lawyers can help you if you’re hurt in a slip-and-fall accident on government property. When you’re just walking through the courthouse or through a city parking lot, you don’t expect to be hurt in a slip-and-fall. But it can happen, and when it does, the rules change. Our team will be with you from the beginning to guide you. Set up a free consultation today to learn more.
Why Would I Need a Lawyer?
You can slip-and-fall on government property just as easily as you can private property in Livermore. And while you’re not required to get a lawyer, the reality is that in this particular situation, the rules are much different. Basically, everything is sped up with a claim against the government. Your rights are the same, but you simply don’t have as much time. So, getting guidance early from our team can help. We’ll help you:
- Look into what happened and what caused your fall
- Explain how the law treats accidents on public property
- Figure out which agency or person was responsible for the exact location where you fell
- Get and keep evidence before repairs or cleanup change the scene
One of the biggest issues with these kinds of accidents is getting information in time. Slip-and-falls happen fast, and it’s normal to feel shaken—especially when it happens in public. Your health comes first. Once you’re safe, though, a few details can really matter later.
What Evidence Should I Look For After My Slip-and-Fall?
One of the good things about a situation where you slip-and-fall on government property is that the actual details and evidence you can look for is the same as any other. It’s about showing:
- What caused your fall.
- What injuries you have.
- Whether the government knew–or should’ve known—about the fall risk.
To do that, here’s what to try to gather:
- Accident reports are a good place to start. Almost every government building or area is going to have a reporting mechanism that staff or management will fill out. This provides an official account of where and when the fall happened.
- Medical records are just as important. Your doctor’s notes, treatment records, prescriptions, and other things are going to connect your injuries to the fall and show how serious the impact has been on you physically.
- Pictures/videos of the scene can be incredibly helpful if you’re able to take them. Showing things like cracked concrete, uneven pavement, slick floors, poor lighting, or missing warning signs preserve the scene just as it was when you fell—before the government tries to fix it.
- It also helps to write down what you remember while it’s fresh. Where were you walking? What caused you to fall? How did your body feel right afterward? If anyone saw what happened, getting their name and contact information can help later.
These things alone don’t make your claim automatic, but it does give you a solid foundation for a claim. With that said, when the government is involved, the first thing you need to know is that the claims process works differently.
How Does the Claims Process Work After a Slip-and-Fall on Government Property?
A slip-and-fall on government property doesn’t take away your right to file a claim—but it does change how the process works. In California, most of these cases fall under the California Tort Claims Act (CTCA). That means you generally have to:
- File a formal notice of claim within six months of the injury. Miss that deadline, and the claim can be barred entirely, even if the fall was preventable and the injuries are serious. This is a form where you basically describe what happened and what your damages are. For a claim to be valid, you have to have more than $10,000 in damages.
- After the claim is filed, the government has 45 days to investigate and decide how to respond. This is where many people lose ground without realizing it. They focus on recovery, assume they have time, and don’t learn about the deadline until it’s already passed.
Once your claim is officially filed, it’s just like any other slip-and-fall. It’s about getting “damages” for your:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost income
- Repair/replacement costs for your damaged clothing, shoes, electronics, etc.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
Again, the main takeaway is that the whole process is sped up. That makes tallying your damages difficult if you have more serious injuries. What’s more, though, you have to answer an important question fairly quickly: who pays for my damages?
Who Pays For My Damages After a Slip-and-Fall on Government Property?
This is probably one of the toughest things to figure out after a slip-and-fall on government property in Livermore. While it’s still a “premises liability” claim, there’s a lot of different people involved in this situation, like:
- The City of Livermore
- Alameda County
- A public school district or campus system
- A private maintenance or property management company
- Outside contractors handling cleaning, repairs, or construction
- In limited cases, a third party who created the hazard
Even when multiple groups are involved, the core issue stays the same: did someone know—or should they have known—about the fall risk and fail to fix it or warn people? As a result, this makes where the slip-and-fall happened incredibly important.
Where Do Slip-and-Fall Accidents Happen on Government Property in Livermore?
Unfortunately, a slip-and-fall accident on government property in Livermore isn’t unheard of. When you think about it, certain places you go every day have slip-and-fall risks. And just because it’s government property doesn’t change that:
- City offices, The Superior Court of Alameda County, and walkways near First Street and South Livermore Avenue have older concrete, slick entryways, and uneven transitions due to constant foot traffic.
- The Livermore Civic Center and surrounding parking areas. People are often distracted, focused on appointments, or rushing back to work. A cracked curb or uneven ramp doesn’t look serious—until it causes a fall.
- Public sidewalks throughout Livermore, especially in older neighborhoods, are another frequent issue simply from constant use. This means there’s cracked concrete, uneven slabs, and other fall risks.
- The Livermore Public Library and nearby community centers have slick floors, poor lighting, worn stair edges, and uneven entryways that all lead to falls.
- Schools in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District aren’t just for students. Campuses host parents, games, and other events where people are moving quickly—sometimes recklessly.
Across all of these places, the story is usually the same. The hazard didn’t pop up out of nowhere. It was there long enough that someone should’ve noticed it—and either fixed it or warned people before someone got hurt. Knowing that doesn’t make it any easier, but our team will.
Set Up a Free Consultation After a Slip-and-Fall on Government Property in Livermore
A slip-and-fall on government property in Livermore can feel especially frustrating. You weren’t doing anything unusual. At Maison Law, we can help you sort through government property slip-and-fall claims without adding more stress. We’ll talk through what applies to your situation and help you figure out what makes sense next. Don’t hesitate—set up a free consultation today to protect your rights.
