Maison Law represents slip-and-fall victims in Orange County. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a slip-and-fall accident at any Gelson’s locations in Orange County, our personal injury attorneys can get you the compensation you need. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer For a Gelson’s Slip-and-Fall Accident in Orange County?
If you’ve been involved in a slip-and-fall accident, it is advisable to discuss your legal options with a reputable accident attorney. However, it is important to note you most likely won’t need an attorney in a slip-and-fall accident if:
- The accident is minor with no apparent damage
- Your injuries are minor scrapes or small bruises
If you’ve suffered significant injuries from a slip-and-fall accident, such as:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons
- Sprained ankle or wrist
You should contact an attorney to understand your legal options. In addition to legal counsel, an accident attorney can:
- Increase your initial settlement by assigning blame to all liable parties
- File a lawsuit to get compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Connect you to trusted doctors and ensure continued medical treatment
- Build a case by gathering evidence such as:
- Proof of the damages you’ve suffered
- Evidence that a person, or business, was liable for your injuries
- Evidence the accident was in no way your fault, nor could you have done anything to prevent it
- File a claim in court if a settlement cannot be reached and present your case in front of a jury
What Should I Do After a Slip-and-Fall Accident in Orange County
Let’s say you’re doing some shopping at the Gelson’s in Oak Creek Shopping Center in Irvine and you slip and fall on a wet floor, breaking your wrist. What should you do?
Following a slip-and-fall accident, you should:
- Seek medical attention immediately. Nothing is more important than your health. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, it is recommended to follow up with a doctor until you are 100% recovered from your injuries.
- Report the injury. Slip-and-fall injuries are not uncommon and they require a prompt investigation. Don’t be surprised if they take your written statement, photograph your injuries, and review the video surveillance evidence to make sure your statement adds up.
- Do NOT admit fault. Property owners and insurance companies will try to convince you that your actions caused your injuries. If you must speak to them about the incident, keep it brief, or consult with an attorney first.
- Take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements, as well as their information. Businesses will typically remove hazardous conditions very quickly, so it is important for you to capture the dangerous environment while it is still there.
- Follow up on your injuries with a doctor. Anything you’ve sustained from your slip-and-fall accident will become a part of your case and you will need a doctor to corroborate your injuries.
- Contact Maison Law to protect your rights to compensation. Most accident victims find themselves overwhelmed by the incident and fail to realize the enormous impact a serious injury can have on their lives. Our experienced attorneys can help you understand your options and get you the compensation you need.
How is Carelessness Established in a Slip and Fall Accident in Orange County?
In a slip-and-fall case, a property owner is considered careless when they:
- Allow a hazardous condition to exist on their property
- Knew, through the exercise of reasonable care, that this condition existed
- Failed to repair the hazard, or warn others about the condition
These elements would result in a premise liability for the owner of the property, according to California’s Civil Code 1714(a), which states:
“Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person, except so far as the latter has, willfully or by want of ordinary car, brought the injury upon himself or herself.”
What Kind of Settlement Can I Expect from a Slip-and-Fall Accident in Orange County?
The circumstances of a slip-and-fall are always different with every accident, but the extent of your injuries and the share of your fault will largely determine your settlement amount. These items can be calculated based on your economic damages, which include:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Loss of income, as well as the reduction in your earning capacity you’ve suffered from your slip-and-fall accident
- Cost of living with your injury, such as making your home disability accessible, purchasing a wheelchair or crutches, hiring a nurse or housekeeper
- Damage done to your property during the accident
The next thing would be to include your non-economic damages. These cannot be defined with a dollar amount because they include:
- Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident
- Your mental state after a life-changing accident
It is also important to note that California is a pure comparative negligence state. Comparative negligence allows an injured party who shares fault for their injuries to still receive compensation. This is reflected in the Comparative Negligence Law:
“Under the pure comparative negligence rule, the state allows the plaintiff to claim damages for the 1% they are not at fault even when they are 99% at fault.”
So, if you were partially at fault, but still got injured, you still reserve the right to compensation. However, your settlement will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Contact an Orange County Slip-And-Fall Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the carelessness of a person, or a hazardous condition at a Gelson’s in Orange County, the attorneys at Maison Law can get you the compensation you need. No upfront money is required and we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
