Maison Law’s Merced premises liability lawyers can help you with a claim if you’re hurt in a slip-and-fall accident on government property. When you’re just walking down the sidewalk like you’ve done for years, or heading back to your car after an appointment, you’re not expecting to be hurt in a slip-and-fall. But when it does happen, our team will be there to guide you through what comes next. Set up a free consultation today.
Should I Get a Lawyer After a Slip-and-Fall on Government Property?
Most people don’t immediately think about calling a lawyer after a fall. They’re focused on pain, embarrassment, and figuring out how serious the injury really is. That hesitation makes sense. But when the fall happens on government property, waiting too long is one of the easiest ways to lose rights without realizing it.
Government injury claims in California follow special rules. The deadlines are shorter. The paperwork is stricter. And the question of who’s responsible isn’t always obvious. A sidewalk might look like “city property,” but it could actually be controlled by the county, a school district, or even a private maintenance contractor. Getting legal guidance early can help with:
- Taking a closer look at what actually caused the fall
- Understanding how California law treats injuries on public property
- Identifying which agency controls the exact location where you fell
- Determining whether a private contractor was involved
- Preserving evidence before repairs or cleanup erase it
- Tracking deadlines that don’t exist in normal injury cases
Not every slip-and-fall needs a lawyer. But when the government is involved, assuming you have plenty of time is often where people get stuck later.
What Details Should I Try to Get After My Fall?
Slip-and-falls happen fast. It’s normal to feel shaken, especially in a public place. Your health comes first—always. But once you’re safe, a few details can make a real difference later.
- The accident report is a big one. Most government buildings and public spaces have a way to document injuries. That might be through security, staff, or facilities management. These reports help show when and where the fall happened and that the agency responsible was notified.
- Medical records matter more than most people realize. Emergency room visits, follow-ups, imaging, prescriptions, and physical therapy all help connect your injuries to the fall and show how serious the impact has been over time.
- Photos or videos of the scene are incredibly helpful if you’re able to take them. Things like cracked concrete, uneven walkways, wet floors, poor lighting, or missing warning signs often get fixed quickly—sometimes within hours.
- It also helps to write down what you remember while it’s still fresh. Where were you walking? What caused you to fall? How did your body feel immediately afterward? If anyone saw what happened, getting their name and contact information can be useful later.
All of this is important, but actually getting these details is easier said than done. Your focus should always be on your health first, but again, the issue is that the conditions that caused your fall in the first place are going to be fixed quickly once it’s reported. But there’s another issue: location.
Where Do Slip-and-Falls Usually Happen on Government Property in Merced?
One of the toughest things about any slip-and-fall accident is that it can happen anywhere. But the reality is that they usually happen in the same types of places—with the common denominator being certain issues that aren’t fixed. Here’s where slip-and-falls on government property usually happen here:
- Government offices, public service buildings, and walkways near Main Street
- Merced County Superior Court and nearby public parking areas.
- Public sidewalks along streets like M Street, G Street, and surrounding downtown areas.
- Merced County Library and other public buildings
- Merced High School, UC Merced, and other school campuses.
Across all of these places, the pattern is usually the same: the issue didn’t appear overnight. It existed long enough that someone should have noticed and fixed it—or at least warned people. All of this brings you to something extremely important: who exactly is responsible for my slip-and-fall.
Who’s Responsible for a Government Property Slip-and-Fall?
This is where most people get confused—and understandably so. Government property isn’t always maintained by the agency that owns it. And unfortunately, legal responsibility depends on:
- Who controlled the area where the fall happened and who was supposed to fix or warn about the hazard.
This opens the door to a lot of different people and groups, but most of the time, it falls on:
- The City of Merced
- Merced County
- The State of California
- A school district or public campus system
- A private maintenance or property management company
- Outside contractors handling cleaning, repairs, or construction
- In limited scenarios, people who created the hazard
Sorting this out is incredibly tough—but it’s not impossible. It’s common for agencies and contractors to point fingers at each other, which can slow things down. This is a problem because time is a huge hurdle when it comes to your options.
What Options Do I Have For Filing a Claim After a Slip-and-Fall on Government Property?
Legally speaking, your options for filing a claim don’t change when you’re in a slip-and-fall accident on government property. What does change, though, is how the process works. When the government is responsible for your slip-and-fall, claims are filed under the California Tort Claims Act (CTCA). And under the CTCA, everything is sped up:
- You generally must file a formal notice of claim within six months of the injury.
- Your damages have to exceed $10,000.
Both of these things have to be in place for your claim to move forward, and if you hit those marks, the government has 45 days to investigate and respond. At that point, the claims process looks more familiar, where you can get “damages” for your:
- Medical expenses and future care
- Lost income or reduced earning ability
- Damage to personal property
- Pain and physical limitations
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
In some cases, the fall happens on government property, but a private company is actually responsible. When that happens, the process looks more like a standard injury claim, where you have two years from the date of your injury to file. One way or the other, though, it’s a challenging process. But with our team on your side, you don’t have to face it alone.
Reach Out to Maison Law After a Slip-and-Fall on Government Property in Merced
A slip-and-fall on government property in Merced might not seem out of the ordinary at first, but as your injuries progress and you start thinking about your legal options, you’ll see how different and hard it can be.
At Maison Law, our team of Merced premises liability lawyers understand what you’re going through and can help you. We’ll explain your options, help you get evidence, and guide you through the claims process. Don’t wait—reach out today for a free consultation.
