La Jolla Slip And Fall Accident Lawyers
We’ll tell you if you have a case or not, call (888) 488-1391 — We’re here 24 hours a day.
Our Award-Winning La Jolla Slip And Fall Accident Lawyers Offer Solutions. Not Surprises
Did you slip and fall while shopping around La Jolla or performing your duties at work? If you’ve been injured, you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at (888) 488-1391, and our La Jolla slip-and-fall accident lawyers will help you file a personal injury claim.
La Jolla City is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in San Diego, where you can kayak, hang out with wildlife, dine at a restaurant by the coast, or climb over rocks in tide pools. If sand is not your thing, you can also have a fun excursion to the Birch Aquarium or shop on Prospect Street.
Unfortunately, these activities can present hazards that lead to slip-and-fall accidents. Even seemingly low-risk situations, like relaxing by your apartment pool or running errands, can result in a trip-and-fall injury.
Slips, trips, and falls are commonly caused by the negligence of property owners or managers. Despite numerous safety laws and guidelines for businesses, thousands of people are injured due to falls each year. More often than not, these incidents are the direct consequence of ignoring legally mandated safety standards.
If you experience a slip-and-fall accident in La Jolla, contact our lawyers immediately. Arash Khorsandi, Esq., and his hundred-strong legal team have been assisting victims in La Jolla, San Diego, and the entire state of California for many years. We’ve successfully represented thousands of satisfied clients, recovering more than $750 Million in compensation.
Settlement in a slip and fall case versus Jiffy Lube; client suffered spinal injuries– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
How Will Our Slip And Fall Lawyers In La Jolla Help You Win Your Case?
Our personal injury law firm will help you file a claim and pursue maximum compensation. We’ll provide all the support you need to get what you’re owed while you deal with the trauma and injuries from the accident.
Having handled numerous slip-and-fall accidents in our years of practice, we are fully aware of the physical and financial challenges victims face. In our experience, most of our clients with severe injuries need at least a few months to recover, making it difficult to file claims themselves.
Filing a claim is more than just completing a form, submitting it, and receiving the compensation check. The entire process is lengthy and exhausting, especially for evidence gathering. From obtaining incident reports to collecting documents, this step can take months, based on the slip and fall accident cases our La Jolla lawyers have handled. If you are severely injured, you might not even be physically able to handle this task on your own. Forcing yourself will only hinder your recovery and potentially worsen your injury.
Instead, you can trust our dedicated attorneys in La Jolla to handle your slip-and-fall claims. In addition to gathering evidence, we will initiate the process and communicate with the other party.
Basically, we will cover all the heavy work for you while you heal from your injury. We’ll assign a case manager to keep you updated on your case’s progress.
Feel free to review our client testimonials for more insight into our expertise in personal injury law and our exceptional level of customer service. If you have further questions or concerns, contact our slip-and-fall accident lawyers in La Jolla.
Our Slip-And-Fall Attorneys Will Pursue Maximum Compensation For Your Losses
Our attorneys are committed to securing compensation that accurately reflects your losses as a slip-and-fall victim. We’ll factor in all your damages, review similar cases, and consult medical & financial experts to determine the appropriate value of your claim. Then, we’ll negotiate aggressively with the other parties to secure the highest possible compensation.
Negotiating with insurance companies is often the biggest hurdle to obtaining fair compensation. They may use various tactics, including harassment, to devalue or deny your claim.
From the outset, the at-fault party’s insurance provider might contact you about a potential settlement. When insurers know you don’t have lawyers yet, they will immediately offer an undervalued amount that may initially seem appealing.
Through years of handling personal injury cases, we’ve learned that these initial offers are much lower than what victims are entitled to. Those without lawyers might agree to the amount without knowing they deserve much more. Some even receive around half of what their claim is truly worth, resulting in the loss of thousands or even millions of dollars that could aid their recovery.
There are also stories of victims receiving little to no compensation. The insurance companies bullied them into believing they were to blame for the accident and that they didn’t deserve any payment.
Once they contact you, they might try similar tactics. When they talk to you, they’re not just coordinating your settlement. They’re also manipulating you into saying something they could use against you.
Hire our La Jolla slip-and-fall attorneys to protect your claim. We’ll assess the true value of your claim and negotiate aggressively with the at-fault parties to secure maximum compensation.
Common Causes Of Slip-And-Fall Accidents
Wet floors are the usual culprit in slip-and-fall accidents. They can be caused by liquid spills on the floor or slippery tiles, such as those found in poolside areas or driveways. Other potential hazards can also lead to slips, trips, and falls, including:
- Loose carpets or rags
- Uneven flooring
- Lack of handrails
- Inadequate lighting
- Lack of slip resistance on walking surfaces
- Oily garages or walkways
- Recently waxed floors
- Defective or missing staircases
These risks are present in many establishments across La Jolla, such as:
- Swimming pools
- Restaurants
- Groceries
- Malls
- Parking spaces
- Workplaces
- Apartments
- Hotel lobby and corridors
- Stadiums
- Commercial buildings
- Amusement parks
- Construction sites
If you’re in a slip-and-fall accident anywhere in La Jolla, our attorneys will investigate to pinpoint the cause. This can then help us determine who is responsible for your injuries.
Common Injuries Sustained In A Slip And Fall Accident
As our lawyers have handled a number of slip-and-fall cases, including in La Jolla, we’ve observed that contusions or bruises are the most common injuries sustained by victims.
We’ve also had clients who sustained catastrophic injuries that caused long-term suffering and hefty medical expenses, including:
Head Injuries – Victims who slipped and then fell might hit their heads on the ground or a hard surface. As a result, they might get brain injuries, leading to constant headaches, confusion, memory loss, nausea, slurred speech, loss of balance, and blurry vision.
Back Injuries – Spinal cord injuries are common for those who land on their backs. They might experience intolerable back pain, numbness, loss of balance, a lack of bowel or bladder control, and paralysis. Victims might also sustain other back injuries, like muscle strains and herniated discs.
Broken Bones – Falls could also result in fractures, from minor hairline cracks to shattered bones. In extreme cases, these injuries could lead to an amputation.
Neck Injuries –Some neck injuries are more than stiffness. Sometimes, a serious slip accident might cause cervical dislocation, which can lead to difficulty breathing and impaired speaking.
Shoulder Injuries –People usually stretch their arms out while falling forward. However, this puts them at a higher risk of dislocating their shoulders, which can cause stiffness, arm weakness, a limited range of motion, swelling, and bruising.
Wrongful Deaths – Even a seemingly minor incident like a slip-and-fall could lead to the death of a loved one, especially if they hit their head or develop an infection from a wound.
If you suspect you have any of the bodily injuries mentioned above, contact us today. Our slip-and-fall accident lawyers can connect you to the best medical specialists in La Jolla or California.
What Damages Can I Receive For A Slip & Fall Accident?
The victim can file for economic and non-economic losses incurred due to the accident. Some examples are:
- Hospital bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced capacity to earn a living
- Emotional distress
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to managing your injury
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a limb
- Loss of consortium
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Intangible damages like anxiety and pain might be difficult to calculate, but our La Jolla slip-and-fall lawyers can help determine what they are worth.
Determining Liability In A Slip And Fall Accident
Victims have the right to seek compensation from the parties responsible for the accident. To pursue a claim successfully, you need to identify the liable party and prove their negligence.
Our slip-and-fall accident lawyers in La Jolla can handle this for you. However, understanding some key factors and legal concepts can be helpful.
Liable Parties
Depending on the circumstances of your slip-and-fall accident, our La Jolla lawyers might file a claim against the following parties:
- Landlord of an apartment building
- Mall management
- Maintenance contractors
- Store owner
- Other visitors or tenants
Essentially, liability would depend on the actions or inactions of all parties potentially involved in the accident.
Premises Liability Law
Premises liability states that property owners or managers are responsible for identifying slip-and-fall hazards, putting up warning signs, and addressing dangerous conditions. This means they are expected to:
- Mop spills in a timely manner
- Place wet floor signs
- Fix leaks as soon as possible
- Prepare for weather hazards
If they fail to uphold their legal responsibilities and someone gets injured as a result, they could be held responsible for the victim’s injuries.
However, not all slipping and tripping cases fall under premises liability laws. Our slip and fall accident lawyers in La Jolla will still investigate to determine who’s responsible for your injuries.
Negligence In Slip & Fall Cases
Negligence is defined as failing to exercise a duty of care in the same circumstances as a reasonable person.
There are four elements to proving negligence:
- Duty of Care – The defendant must owe the victim a duty of care. In premises liability claims, the property owner has a legal responsibility to remove any hazard that might cause injury to others.
- Breach of Duty – It happens when a person fails to fulfill their duty to keep an individual safe (i.e. when a landlord fails to correct a known hazard or a customer spills a drink on the floor without cleaning or informing an employee).
- Causation – The breach of duty must have directly resulted in the injury, damage, or even loss of life.
- Damages – To be eligible for compensation, the victim must have incurred damages. Some examples are medical bills for their injuries, lost wages, and mental health issues.
To prove these elements, our lawyers would present evidence such as:
- Accident reports
- Medical records
- Video footages
- Surveillance footages
- Photos of your injuries
- Pictures or videos of the accident scene
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert witness opinions
- Employment records
Establishing negligence is the prerequisite for obtaining compensation. If any of the elements above are not met, your claim could become invalid. You can ask our attorneys in La Jolla to explain negligence in connection with your slip-and-fall accident.
Comparative Negligence Rules
In California, all liable parties are assigned a percentage of fault based on their contributions to the accident. Even the victim could also share some liability, which would then reduce the amount of compensation they’re entitled to receive.
Here’s an example of comparative negligence:
A man at the mall was running late for a meeting. He spoke on his cell phone, informing his client that he would be late. As he wasn’t fully aware of his surroundings, he stepped on a newly mopped area without a wet floor sign. The man slipped and fell, injuring his back.
In this scenario, who is at fault? The man who didn’t look at where he was going? Or the mall, whose employee was yet to place a warning sign?
The answer could be both, depending on the incident’s other specific details. Let’s say the court determined that the man had 30% responsibility for his injuries because he did not exercise the due care that could be expected of a reasonable person, which is not to rush through a crowded area and to pay attention to where he’s going.
If his total damages amounted to $100,000, he would only receive $70,000 as the final award. His claim is reduced by $30,000 (or 30% of $100,000).
You can schedule a free initial consultation with our lawyers in La Jolla to learn more about comparative negligence and how it might apply to your slip-and-fall case.
What Is The Statute Of Limitations?
The statute of limitations states that victims have a two-year deadline for filing a personal injury case. Missing this time frame could disqualify your case and prevent you from receiving compensation. However, there are some exceptions:
- The victim is a minor. Their two-year deadline is paused until they turn 18.
- The injury was discovered late. In this scenario, you’ll have two years from the date of your medical diagnosis to file a claim. This is called the Delayed Discovery Rule.
- You sustained your injury on government property. Instead of two years, you will only have six months to file for compensation.
At first glance, two years may seem long. But in reality, it is not, especially when you are badly injured. It will be difficult for you to accomplish everything on time.
You can rely on our La Jolla attorneys to handle your slip-and-fall claim to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines. We have already handled and won hundreds of cases, as proven by our track record. You can ensure that your lawsuit will be filed on time and will proceed accordingly.
What To Do In A Slip And Fall Accident
Despite being completely preventable, slip-and-fall accidents can still happen anywhere and to anyone. If they happen to you, follow these steps to keep yourself from further harm:
- If you can move, check for injuries. Otherwise, don’t force yourself to do it.
- Call 911 for police and medical assistance.
- Report the incident to the property owner or the person in charge. You can ask an employee or passerby for help.
- Wait for paramedics to evaluate your condition and administer first aid.
- If you are able, take pictures or videos of the location and the spot where the accident occurred.
- Get the details of the property owner and other people involved: name, address, phone number, and insurance details.
- See a doctor for a thorough medical checkup.
- Consult a lawyer specializing in slip-and-fall accidents in La Jolla. They will advise you on how to proceed with your claim.
Gain an advantage by working with our legal team. We can help you gather more evidence, such as CCTV footage, records of previous complaints against the property owner, and more.
A young roofing contractor fell through a defective skylight at a commercial building. This case dealt with very technical legal issues, particularly, the defendants were alleging a defense under the Privette doctrine, which is designed to protect them from this exact type of fall. Despite the heavy legal defenses available, Benny and his team were able to prevail and secure this settlement for a deserving client.– BENNY KHORSANDI
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Slip-And-Fall Lawyer?
Our slip-and-fall injury attorneys in La Jolla understand the financial burden an injury can cause. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t owe us anything upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.
How Much Is My Slip-And-Fall Claim Worth?
In general, a settlement claim for slips and falls might be worth a few thousand to several million dollars, depending on your total expenses, missed income opportunities, and non-monetary damages. It’s best to consult with our La Jolla slip-and-fall lawyers for an evaluation of your case.
To give you an idea of how much a slip-and-fall injury could be worth, here’s one of our previous cases:
A client suffered a severe back injury after slipping and falling on the floor of a private company’s office. Our team, led by Judd Allen, Esq., examined all possibilities that could win us the case. According to the surveillance video, someone mopped the floor before our client’s accident. Our client received $3 Million in the end.
Can I Sue Someone Even If I Feel Okay After My Slip-And-Fall Accident?
It depends. For your case to be legally valid, you must prove you suffered damages. You can file a lawsuit even for minor injuries. If you don’t have any injuries or damages to your property, then you might not be able to sue the other party.
However, many injuries don’t show initial symptoms. Traumatic brain injuries, for instance, are not always apparent until they become fatal.
You should seek a healthcare professional immediately after a slip-and-fall, even if you feel fine. They can determine the full extent of your injuries, allowing you to file for a more accurate amount of compensation.
You can also come to the best slip-and-fall attorneys La Jolla residents call for help. We’ll evaluate your accident in a free initial consultation.
Slip And Fall Statistics
According to the National Safety Councild (NSC), there were 674,100 cases of slip, fall, and trip accidents across all industry sectors in the entire United States.
The majority of fatal slip-and-falls in California are workplace accidents. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), there were 79 slip-and-fall workplace fatalities in 2022.
Consult With The Best Slip And Fall Accident Lawyers La Jolla Has To Offer!
A slip-and-fall accident shouldn’t be taken lightly. The statistics not only show how common it is but also how dangerous it is for victims. For your and your family’s peace of mind, consult a doctor immediately if you experience a tripping or falling accident. Then, get a slip-and-fall lawyer so we can guide you on what to do next. If you’re injured due to negligence, we can help you claim compensation.
Call us at (888) 488-1391, and let our La Jolla slip-and-fall lawyers help you hold the at-fault party accountable. We will do all the legwork so you can focus on your recovery.
Our legal team can also assist slip-and-fall victims in the nearby areas of La Jolla, such as San Diego, Solana Beach, Coronado, Encinitas, National City, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Poway, Spring Valley, Chula Vista, Santee, El Cajon, La Presa, Bonita, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Clairemont, Mission Valley, Grossmont, and Bostonia.
