San Francisco Slip and Fall Attorneys

What Is Premises Liability Law?

Premises liability law is an area of personal injury law that deals with property owners’ responsibility to visitors. Essentially, these laws state that both public and private property owners have a legal duty to anyone who lawfully enters their properties. They must ensure their premises are reasonably well-maintained and free from hazards that could cause foreseeable injury, and when they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries or damages.

Slip and fall claims fall under premises liability law. To have a slip and fall case, you will typically need to prove the following:

• You were injured
• Your injuries were caused by a dangerous or defective condition
• The property owner knew about or reasonably should have known about the dangerous or defective condition
• The property owner failed to take reasonable measures to remove, repair, or warn potential visitors of the dangerous or defective condition (or actively created it)
• You were lawfully on the property when you were injured

Our San Francisco slip, trip, and fall lawyers have considerable experience navigating these types of claims. We understand the challenges they present, and we know how to fight back against property owner and insurance company efforts to dispute, devalue, or deny our clients’ claims.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?

Although many people mistakenly believe that most slips, trips, and falls result from the victim’s own negligence, we at Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard know that this is simply not true. In fact, the majority of these accidents are the result of property owner negligence, poor property maintenance, and dangerous or defective property conditions.

Some examples of hazardous conditions that commonly lead to slip and fall accidents include:

• Wet floors
• Recently mopped floors
• Spills
• Falling objects
• Uneven ground/floors
• Unmarked steps or stairs
• Defective stairways
• Missing handrails
• Poor lighting
• Missing or improper signage
• Torn or ripped carpets or rugs
• Defective sidewalks
• Cluttered walkways
• Overcrowded aisles

Sidewalk Laws in California

Tree roots can easily cause significant unevenness across sidewalk slabs. If you're a landowner with a sidewalk on your property meant for public access, then you have a responsibility to maintain that sidewalk a certain way. In CA, there is something called the "trivial defect doctrine", which releases the property owner from responsibility when the difference between the elevation of two slabs is below a certain amount. This amount is usually considered to be under 3/4 of an inch.

Property owners should conduct adequate maintenance and address these and other dangerous conditions. If you were injured in a slip, trip, and/or fall accident, and you believe the property owner’s negligence was to blame, reach out to our team at Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard to learn how we can help.

Compensation for Slip and Fall Victims

Falls are responsible for some of the most catastrophic injuries in the U.S., including spine injuries and traumatic brain injuries. At Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard, we recognize how devastating these accidents can be for victims and their loved ones, which is why we seek maximum compensation for our clients.

Often, slip and fall victims can recover compensation for the following damages:

• Medical expenses
• Future care costs
• Lost income/wages
• Future lost earnings
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Inconvenience
• Miscellaneous expenses

Remember that every case is unique; the exact value of your slip and fall claim will depend on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the extent of your damages, and whether the insurance company or court decides that you were partially responsible for the incident.

At Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard, we know how to develop powerful and persuasive cases for our clients. We build evidence-based claims with the goal of recovering every penny our clients deserve. If you were injured on someone else’s property, or if your loved one suffered a serious or fatal injury due to a property owner’s negligence, reach out to our team today to learn how we can help.

There Are No Fees Unless We Recover Compensation for You

In California, you typically only have two years from the date of an accident or injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the statute of limitations expires, you will be unable to sue the liable party for damages. For this reason, we encourage you to act quickly. If you’ve been injured in a slip, trip, and fall accident, contact our team right away to learn how we can help.

Because we offer contingency fees, you do not owe any upfront or out-of-pocket expenses when you work with our firm. Instead, we only collect legal fees if we successfully recover a settlement or verdict on your behalf. At this point, our fees are paid via a percentage of your total award.

To learn more, including how our San Francisco slip and fall lawyers can help you get back on your feet, please call (925) 744-8869 or contact us online.