Santa Rosa Slip & Fall Injury Lawyer
Slip, Trip, and Fall Injury Attorneys in Santa Rosa
A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere, from a grocery store aisle to a hotel lobby or even a friend’s home. When a property owner fails to maintain safe conditions, serious injuries can occur. In California, property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. If they fail to do so and someone gets hurt, the injured party may have the right to seek compensation. Understanding how liability works in these cases is essential for anyone who has suffered a fall due to unsafe conditions.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be facing medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing pain. Pursuing compensation for your injuries can be challenging, especially when dealing with insurance companies that often try to minimize payouts. Setareh Law is here to advocate for you. Our team handles slip and fall cases throughout California and may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
How Liability Works in Slip and Fall Cases
To hold a property owner responsible for a slip and fall accident, you must prove they were negligent. This means showing that they knew—or should have known—about a dangerous condition on their property but failed to take reasonable steps to fix it. Common hazards include wet floors, uneven sidewalks, loose carpeting, and poor lighting in stairwells.
California follows the rule of comparative negligence, which means if you were partially at fault for your fall, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were looking at your phone and missed a “wet floor” sign, the court may assign you some responsibility. However, this does not necessarily bar you from recovering damages.
Proving negligence in these cases often requires evidence such as security footage, maintenance records, and witness statements. An experienced Santa Rosa slip-and-fall lawyer can help gather and present this evidence to strengthen your claim. The sooner you take action, the better your chances of preserving critical evidence supporting your case.
Common Defenses Used by Property Owners
Property owners and their insurance companies often try to deny liability by arguing the dangerous condition was either not their fault or should have been obvious to the person who fell. One common defense is that the hazard was open and obvious, meaning a reasonable person should have seen and avoided it. For instance, if a large puddle was clearly visible, the property owner may claim you were not paying attention.
Another defense is that they did not have enough time to fix the hazard before the accident occurred. For example, if someone spilled a drink in a restaurant just minutes before a fall, the owner might argue there was no reasonable opportunity to clean it up. This is why proving how long a hazard existed can be an important factor in a case.
Insurance companies may also argue the injured party was engaging in risky behavior. If you were running, jumping, or otherwise acting carelessly when you fell, they might claim that your actions contributed to the accident. A slip-and-fall attorney can help counter these arguments by demonstrating that the property owner still had a duty to maintain a safe environment.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Slip and Fall Case?
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for various damages. These typically include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Medical expenses can cover emergency room visits, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any ongoing treatments related to your injury.
Lost wages can be claimed if your injuries prevent you from working. If your ability to earn income has been permanently affected, you may also be able to seek compensation for future lost earnings. This is particularly important for people in physically demanding jobs who may be unable to return to work.
Pain and suffering damages account for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident. While these damages are more difficult to quantify, they are just as important as economic losses. The impact of an injury goes beyond medical bills, affecting a person’s quality of life and ability to participate in activities they once enjoyed.
How Can Setareh Law Help With Your Case?
Pursuing a slip and fall claim can be challenging, especially when dealing with insurance adjusters who are trained to minimize payouts. At Setareh Law, our personal injury lawyers know the tactics insurance companies use and how to fight back. We can investigate your accident, gather crucial evidence, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. If necessary, we are prepared to take your case to court to seek the best possible outcome.
Our firm is committed to making the legal process as smooth as possible for our clients. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case. If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact us today at (310) 659-1826 or fill out our contact form.
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Setareh Law, APLC
427 Mendocino Ave #100,
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
