PERSONAL INJURY

Slip and Fall

“Slip and fall” is a term for personal injury cases which arise when injury is caused when a person slips and falls as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition on someone else’s property.  Inside a building, dangerous conditions such as torn carpeting, abrupt changes in flooring, poor lighting, narrow stairs, or a wet floor can cause you to slip and hurt yourself.  Outside a building, you may slip and fall because of rain, ice, snow or a hidden hazard, such as a gap or hard to see pothole in the ground.  Slip and fall accidents can occur on commercial, residential or public property.  Regardless of where they happen, all property or building owners have a certain level of responsibility to make sure an environment is safe.

Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of “premises liability” cases, which center on the question of a property owner’s duty to care for the property.  Injury by fire or other accidents resulting from defects in the condition of buildings also fall under this category. 

Slip and fall cases are governed under negligence law.  To win a premises liability claim, an injured victim has to prove either that the defendant created the hazard that led to the accident or that the defendant knew or should have known about the danger and had it removed or repaired.  This can often be difficult to prove, since proving when a given hazard first appeared can be challenging.

Structural defects

Structural damages to a building, often due to age or wear and tear, can be a significant cause of injury.  Uneven steps, parking lot potholes, cracked sidewalks, broken tiles or torn carpeting can create dangerous situations for visitors to a building.  As noted earlier, to prove negligence, we will have to prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the problem and failed to repair it.  Occasionally, negligence can be proven by violation of a statute.

Building owners must also ensure that the building’s structure is in compliance with applicable building codes.  For example, handrails and other similar structures typically must be installed at a certain general height.  If you fall on a stairway that lacked appropriate handrails, and the lack thereof caused your injuries, you may have a valid claim against the building owner for violating building codes.

Weather-related accidents

Weather-related slip and fall accidents are difficult cases for injured plaintiffs.  Landowners are generally expected to take reasonable steps to reduce hazards created by adverse weather.  This can include, but is not limited to, shoveling snow, salting or sanding icy and slippery spots, and installing anti-slip devices on outdoor steps.  As with other cases, if the landowner has no reasonable opportunity to correct the problem, as where a flash flood has created a hazard, the landowner will not held liable for injuries caused by the hazard.

What To Do If You Slip And Fall

• Inspect the area where you fell, and try to determine what caused you to fall.
• Make sure to write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of anyone in the vicinity where the incident occurred - both those who saw you fall, and others who were there after the incident - since you will likely need them as witnesses on your behalf.  Even if someone did not see you fall, he or she could, if necessary, describe your pain and the conditions of the floor, lighting, or other hazard immediately after you fell. 
• If the incident occurred in a store or place of business, speak with the manager or supervisor on duty, and have them make a record of the incident, being sure to get a copy of anything prepared.  If anyone (especially an employee, supervisor or manager) makes a comment suggesting that this has occurred before, or that they were aware of the condition before your fall, obtain this person’s name and job title.  Make sure to get the name, address, and phone number of anyone else who heard him or her make the statement.
• Have someone take photographs of the area as soon as possible, so a record is made.  Dangerous conditions have a way of changing if the property owner thinks that you might file a claim for injuries.
• If you slip on any substance on the floor, obtain a sample of the substance if possible.
• After receiving appropriate initial medical treatment, contact an attorney with experience in handling claims for personal injury resulting from slip and fall accidents.
  Return to top

Serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area including, but not limited to, San Francisco, Oakland, Marin, Napa, Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento and the counties of Solano, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Yolo.