If there’s no wet floor sign out on a slippery floor, then that hazard is considered a premises liability. If someone suffers a slip-and-fall on an unsafe floor, they can file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for leaving the floor in a hazardous state.
Determining the liable party in a slip-and-fall accident can be complicated and will depend on the facts of your case. Consult with a Slip-and-Fall Lawyer to get professional legal advice if you’ve suffered a slip-and-fall injury when there’s no wet floor sign.
What is Considered a Premise Liability in California?
In California, premise liability occurs when an owner fails to maintain their property or warn of a known danger, and someone sustains injuries. In the case of a slippery floor with no wet floor sign, the owner can be held responsible for the victim’s economic and non-economic damages. These damages include:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages (if you have to miss work to recover)
- Retraining or re-education for job placement if you have suffered a disability from the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Under California Civil Code 1714, property owners are responsible for keeping their property free of hazardous conditions by performing routine inspections. They are required to repair, replace, or provide reasonable warning about unsafe property conditions to keep visitors safe.
Property owners who fail to repair dangerous conditions, or warn them, can be served with a premise liability lawsuit if someone gets injured as a direct result of their carelessness.
What Should I Do After a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
If you suffer an injury from a slip-and-fall accident, seek medical attention immediately. Nothing is more important than your health. Also, failing to seek medical attention after you’ve been injured can be harmful to your claim if you decide to file a lawsuit. After you get medical care, it is recommended to:
- Report the injury to management (if applicable). Slip-and-fall accidents require a prompt investigation, especially if they occur on property owned by a corporation such as Walmart or Target. Reporting the injury will also help your case if you decide to file a premises liability claim against the property owner.
- Take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements. Hazardous conditions like wet floors can be removed or remedied very quickly to prevent more accidents, so it is important for you to capture the dangerous environment while it is still there.
- Follow up on your injuries with a doctor. Any injuries you’ve sustained from your 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 skilled Slip-and-Fall Attorneys can help you understand your legal options and get you the compensation you need to make a full recovery.
How Can a Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Help Me?
If you suffer a slip-and-fall accident on someone else’s property, determining liability can be tricky. Depending on the details of your situation, several parties may be liable for your injuries. Common parties responsible for premise liabilities include:
- A property owner
- A business owner
- The government
- A contractor or subcontractor
It is the job of a Slip-and-Fall Lawyer to determine who is liable in a slip-and-fall accident. An attorney is also responsible for:
- Increasing your initial settlement by letting the insurance adjuster know you intend to invoke your rights
- Making you aware of the compensation you will need in order to treat your injuries and make a full recovery
- Helping you understand what a fair settlement should be based on the details of your case
- Building 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
- Filing a claim in court if a settlement cannot be reached and presenting your case in front of a jury
Get Legal Help for Your Slip-and-Fall Accident in California
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries from a slip-and-fall accident, the skilled attorneys at Maison Law will help you recover full compensation for your damages. Navigating the legal complexities of liability law can be a nightmare for you and your family, but our firm makes the process seamless with expert legal counsel and experience with handling difficult insurance companies.
Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation. No upfront money is required for our services, and we won’t charge you a dime unless we win your case.
