A slip and fall accident can result in serious injuries, expensive medical care, and time away from work. In some situations, a property owner’s failure to maintain reasonably safe conditions or address known hazards can lead to a finding of legal responsibility for those injuries.
Coopers LLP represents individuals and families in slip and fall and other premises liability claims throughout California. Our attorneys work to investigate how the accident occurred, identify potentially responsible parties, and help clients understand their legal options.
What Do Slip and Fall Lawyers Do?
Slip and fall lawyers investigate accidents that happen on unsafe property and work to determine whether a property owner, manager, occupier, or another party may be legally responsible. This typically includes gathering evidence, assessing liability, communicating with insurance companies, and, when appropriate, pursuing compensation on behalf of the injured person.
In California, property owners and occupiers generally have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises and to address hazards they knew about or should reasonably have discovered. When there are questions about how a fall occurred or who was responsible, a slip and fall lawyer can investigate the facts and help the injured person understand what steps may be appropriate.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere, including grocery stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, parking lots, hotels, and public sidewalks. Many of these falls involve hazards that a property owner could have addressed. Coopers LLP handles slip and fall claims involving conditions such as:
- Wet or slippery floors: liquid, ice, or spills that were not cleaned up or marked.
- Uneven or damaged flooring: torn carpeting, loose floorboards, or transitions between surfaces.
- Poor lighting: that makes it difficult to see a hazard.
- Unsafe stairs: broken steps, missing handrails, or damaged stairways.
- Outdoor hazards: cracked sidewalks, potholes, or debris in walkways.
- Obstructed walkways: cords, merchandise, or clutter left in walking paths.
Determining who is responsible often requires a detailed look at who owned, controlled, or maintained the property, and whether the hazard should have been addressed before the fall occurred.
When to Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer
Every situation is different, but you may want to consider contacting a California slip and fall lawyer if:
- You suffered injuries that required emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, or ongoing treatment
- A dangerous property condition contributed to the fall
- A property owner, business, or landlord disputes responsibility for the hazard
- An insurance company requests a recorded statement or offers a settlement shortly after the incident
- A family member died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall on unsafe property
- You are unsure who was responsible for maintaining the property where the fall happened
Speaking with a slip and fall lawyer from Coopers LLP does not obligate you to pursue a claim. It allows you to learn about your legal options, understand applicable deadlines, and decide what steps may be appropriate for your circumstances.
California law places deadlines on personal injury claims, including slip and fall cases. In many situations, injured individuals have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit, though exceptions may apply. Certain claims involving government entities, such as a fall on public property, can have significantly shorter notice requirements.
Our Slip and Fall Claims Process and Contingency Fees
Every slip and fall case is different, but most claims follow a similar path. Coopers LLP strives to investigate the circumstances of the fall, identify potentially responsible parties, and pursue compensation through insurance claims, settlement negotiations, or litigation when appropriate.
Our slip and fall claims process typically includes:
- Free Case Evaluation: We begin with a 100% free consultation to learn about the fall, the injuries, and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
- Investigation and Evidence Collection: Our team works to gather available evidence, which may include photographs, surveillance footage, incident reports, witness statements, and maintenance records relevant to the claim.
- Medical and Damages Review: We often review medical records, treatment information, lost income documentation, and other evidence to understand how the injury has affected the client’s life.
- Insurance Claim and Negotiations: We generally communicate with insurance companies, submit supporting evidence, and engage in settlement discussions when appropriate.
- Litigation if Necessary: If a fair resolution cannot be reached through negotiations, we may file a lawsuit and continue pursuing the claim through the court process.
Protecting Your Rights After a Slip and Fall Injury
A serious fall caused by unsafe property conditions can leave you with painful injuries, unexpected medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about what comes next. If your accident happened because a property owner failed to address a dangerous condition, you may have legal options.
Coopers LLP represents individuals and families in serious injury and wrongful death cases throughout California. We understand the challenges that can follow a serious slip and fall accident and are committed to helping clients pursue compensation while providing clear guidance every step of the way.
We handle California slip and fall injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is typically a percentage of the recovery. In some cases, clients may be responsible for prevailing-party costs as determined by law.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Coopers LLP for a free consultation. We’ll review your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options so you can make informed decisions about your next steps.