California Restaurant Slip And Fall Lawyers
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Our California Restaurant Slip And Fall Lawyers Bring Justice Within Your Reach
Slip-and-falls happen in restaurants all the time. Sadly, not many people know their rights if they are injured in an accident. If you or a loved one sustains injuries after a slip, trip, or fall at a restaurant, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our California restaurant slip-and-fall lawyers today at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation. We’ll review your case and let you know if we can help or not.
Imagine meeting your friends for lunch at your favorite restaurant. You’re excited to catch up with the group. But as you enter the restaurant, you slip on spilled food. The accident causes injuries. You can’t work, and your medical bills are piling up. What do you do?
Spilled food and drinks are common to see, especially in busy restaurants. If not immediately cleaned up, these can lead to slip-and-fall accidents that may result in life-altering consequences. People shouldn’t have to suffer because of someone else’s carelessness. In California, restaurant owners have a responsibility to keep their establishments safe and inform customers about potential dangers. If you slip and fall due to a dangerous condition that the owner neglected to fix or warn about, you can hold the owner legally responsible for your injuries.
Our attorneys for slip-and-fall accidents in restaurants have decades of experience helping injured Californians get the money they need to put their lives back together. We have collected over $500 Million in settlement and awards for clients who have trusted us to help them get the financial recovery they deserve.
How Will Our Restaurant Slip And Fall Lawyers In California Help Win Your Claim?
Our lawyers will take a comprehensive approach to your case. We’ll meticulously investigate the accident, which involves going to the accident scene and gathering enough evidence that can further solidify your claim. We’ll also reach out to witnesses to further establish the restaurant’s negligence and your resulting damages.
But we won’t stop there. We’ll work closely with medical professionals to assess the full scope of your injuries, including any long-term effects and potential future medical costs. By taking all of these things into account, we can accurately calculate how much money you should get as compensation.
Even a simple mistake in a restaurant, like neglecting to use a wet floor sign, can lead to serious consequences for a customer. Owners are responsible for maintaining safe conditions in their properties. Failing to do so can make them accountable for the resulting consequences. If you or a loved one slipped and fell at a bar, restaurant, or fast food establishment in California, call us for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Why Choose Our California Restaurant Slip And Fall Lawyers For Your Case
Our skilled restaurant slip and fall attorneys in California have a proven track record of leading such cases and more to success. Choosing our lawyers means choosing to have a dedicated team fighting for your recovery physically, emotionally, and financially.
A slip and fall in a restaurant can leave you with more than just physical pain. Medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress can quickly add to your burden. We understand the challenges you’re facing, and we’re committed to getting you the financial reparation you are owed.
How Does Premises Liability Apply To Restaurants?
Premises liability is the area of law you will get familiar with if you seek damages after a trip-and-fall in a restaurant. Restaurant owners are responsible for maintaining their properties safe for individuals who dine and drink there. If they neglect to keep their premises safe and cause harm to a person, they will face legal repercussions.
Liability for a slip-and-fall depends on the surrounding facts of the accident. The law places potential premises liability victims in one of three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitees
A person who enters another’s property for business purposes is considered an invitee. For example, delivery drivers like Uber Eats and Amazon employees might be considered invitees. Restaurant customers are typically considered invitees as well.
Under the law, property owners have the highest duty of care to invitees. In this case, restaurant owners must take the utmost care to ensure that customers have a safe dining experience.
Licensees
A licensee is a person who is on another’s property for a non-economic purpose. Licensees are considered social guests. People you invite to a housewarming party, for example, are considered licensees. Property owners must protect licensees from potential dangers, but licensees enjoy fewer protections than invitees.
Trespassers
Trespassers have the least legal protection. A trespasser is someone who does not have permission or privileges to enter another person’s property. A property owner does not have any legal obligation to protect trespassers. Regardless, if a property owner knows about a trespasser, they cannot purposely set traps that would hurt the trespasser.
$750,000.00
Settlement in a premises liability case involving a fall due to a defectively placed aquarium within a classroom; the client suffered laceration injuries– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
Commercial Property Owner Negligence
Those who own commercial properties like restaurants, stores, and other places of business might find themselves involved in a lawsuit if they do not carefully maintain their property. A commercial property owner might be found liable for negligence if they do the following:
- Caused a spill
- Knows about a dangerous condition or spill but does nothing to fix the problem
- Put a hazard or object in the way of customers
- Contribute to danger or risk
- Being unaware of a hazardous condition that the property owner should have been aware of
In particular, restaurant owners must act to avoid negligently harming their customers. They can also be held liable for injuries caused by negligent employees. If you or a loved one were injured because of a negligent restaurant owner, speak to an experienced attorney immediately to protect your legal right to compensation.
How To Establish Negligence For A Slip And Fall In A Restaurant
In order to win a claim or lawsuit against a restaurant and recover compensation for a slip and fall accident, you need to establish their negligence by proving the following:
- Duty Of Care – The restaurant has a legal responsibility to keep you safe. This duty depends on why you were there (customer, visitor with permission, or trespasser).
- Breach Of Duty – The restaurant failed to uphold this responsibility by not taking reasonable steps to prevent your fall.
- Damages – You suffered injuries or losses because of the restaurant’s negligence.
In some cases, the restaurant you visit may lease the space from the property owner. This means both the restaurant operator and the property owner could be responsible for your slip and fall injury, depending on the specific circumstances.
Don’t worry about figuring out who’s liable. Our California slip-and-fall lawyers will investigate all potential parties to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve from them.
Common Causes Of Restaurant Slip And Fall Accidents
Restaurants see a lot of daily foot traffic, and the number of accidents makes sense given the volume of customers and the hustle and bustle. From spilled ice, water, and food to an occasional rouge napkin, an accident can catch unsuspecting guests at any moment.
Restaurant owners are responsible for preventing accidents. Here are some common examples of how slip and fall accidents happen in restaurants.
Wet Floors
Spilled Food And Drink
Spilled foods and drinks in restaurants can easily cause a slip-and-fall accident. Particular areas are more susceptible to falls than others, like:
- Tray collection areas
- At the soda fountain
- In the bathroom
- At the bar
Accidents caused by food and drink happen for a lot of reasons, including overturned trays, stray pieces of food that might rest under customers’ feet, and even waiters who drop food on the way to tables.
Tripping over spilled foods and drinks is particularly dangerous for children, elderly, and people with physical disabilities. A simple slip can lead to lasting consequences. Call our restaurant slip and fall lawyers in California immediately to learn your options for compensation.
Exposed Wires
Exposed wires are a potential threat to customers. Depending on the age and layout of the building, wires might run under tables or walkways and become a trip hazard for customers. Restaurant owners must properly cover exposed wires to prevent customer injuries.
Tables And Chairs
In restaurants with no fixed seating, the way their tables and chairs are arranged or positioned can result in avoidable accidents. In some cases, these hazards may be caused by customers moving things around. Regardless of the cause, restaurant owners and their staff have a responsibility to make sure that their tables and chairs do not pose an unreasonable risk of harm.
Other Customers
Poorly Maintained Parking Lots
The responsibility to protect customers does not begin and end at the restaurant’s doors. The establishment’s owner must maintain a safe parking lot, as accidents happen frequently in poorly maintained ones. Cracked concrete and potholes can cause bodily injury and damage to customers’ vehicles. The property owner must fix issues as quickly as possible. Failure to do that can expose the owner to a civil lawsuit to recover damages.
Restaurant owners failing to keep their parking lots safe constitutes a breach of duty to keep their patrons safe. If you suffered injuries after slipping and falling in a restaurant parking lot or due to any of the discussed safety hazards, you should contact our restaurant slip and fall attorneys in California as soon as you can. We can advise you on your legal rights and potential options in pursuing compensation.
Common Injuries In Slip And Fall Accidents
Every slip-and-fall accident has a unique set of circumstances contributing to the type and severity of injuries that unsuspecting guests can suffer. Victims might suffer from various injuries that could be worth a substantial amount of money. Some of the most common types of restaurant accident slip and fall injuries our lawyers in California see include the following:
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Closed head injuries
- Nerve damage
- Broken arms
- Broken legs
- Sprained ankles
- Torn muscles
- Knee damage
- Disc problems
- Broken hips
- Concussions
- Broken fingers
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken tailbone
- Neck injuries
Any of the above injuries can lead to serious complications and financial setbacks. You might find yourself with medical bills piling up and no way to pay them as your injuries keep you from going back to work. If your injuries also prevent you from filing a claim on your own, our California restaurant slip and fall attorneys will do the legwork of pursuing the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Call us now for a free case evaluation or fill out our “Do I Have a Case?” form.
What Is My Case Worth?
Most accident victims want an estimate of what their case is worth. While there is no way to guarantee a specific dollar amount, there are some tell-tale signs that can help you understand the preliminary value of your case.
Typically, the more serious the injury, the higher its financial value. For example, if you fell but only suffered minor injuries that do not require extensive treatment, your case’s financial value might be low. On the other hand, if your injuries require surgery to treat, you might be looking at a higher settlement value.
To get a full picture of the potential settlement value of your case, contact an attorney and discuss the details. Our experienced California restaurant slip and fall lawyers will help you understand what damages are compensable and what monetary recovery you might be entitled to.
The value of your case is based on the surrounding facts. Some specific details that increase the value of your case can include:
- The extent of the treatment you need to recover
- How severe your injuries are
- The type of injuries that you suffered because of the fall
You can expect to recover many types of damages depending on the facts of your case. Many accident victims can expect to recover losses like:
- Medical expenses
- The cost of medical care
- The cost of rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Mental and emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
What Should I Do After A Slip And Fall Restaurant Accident?
The steps you take after a slip and fall accident are critical to your physical and financial recovery. You should act quickly to protect your legal rights after a fall. Consider the following if you were injured in a slip and fall accident in a restaurant to protect your rights to compensation.
Get Medical Attention Immediately
After any accident where you suffered injuries, you should seek immediate medical attention. Your health and well-being are the most important things. You might be tempted to skip medical care because your injuries do not appear to be serious or life-threatening. However, skipping medical care is a mistake. Some injuries are serious, but they do not manifest themselves until days or weeks after the accident. Getting medical attention is the only way to help prevent further complications..
As important as getting immediate medical attention is, it is just as vital for accident victims to complete their treatment plans. Insurance companies look for any reason to avoid paying for accident claims, and not completing your treatment gives adjusters the ammo they need to shoot down your claim. Insurance companies will use incomplete treatment plans as “proof” that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Document The Details
You will need as much evidence as possible when you pursue financial compensation after a slip and fall accident in a restaurant. Therefore, if you’re able, you must document the facts about the accident and the aftermath of the fall. Consider doing the following:
- Write everything down. After a traumatic injury-causing accident, you may be running high on emotions, which can mess with your memory. Try to write down your feelings and struggles as they come. Keeping a journal after an accident is a good way to organize your thoughts. Share your journal with your attorney. You might be entitled to non-economic damages, and having a record of the emotional impact of the accident can be helpful.
- Take pictures and videos. Again, you will need a lot of evidence to prove the restaurant is liable for causing the accident. Visual representations of the accident scene and your injuries will paint a picture for the insurance company, the judge, and the jury. If possible, take pictures and videos to present as proof of the accident and your resulting losses.
Speak To Witnesses
Especially in a busy restaurant, there will be a lot of witnesses to your accident. You should try to speak to as many potential witnesses as possible if your physical condition allows you to do so. In many cases, people who have seen an accident are happy to provide their information to help victims recover. Share your list of witnesses with your attorney. Your legal team will use this information as part of their accident investigation.
Report The Accident
Make sure to report the accident to a manager or the restaurant owner. Simply telling someone on the restaurant’s wait staff is not enough. After finding a manager or owner, you will complete an accident report form.
On the form, make sure that you do not offer more information than necessary. Never admit fault or apologize for the accident, either. Do not make any statements about your injuries. Restaurants and their insurers will use anything to avoid making a settlement payment. That is why you must be careful not to make mistakes when completing your accident form. Lastly, ask for a copy to keep for your records.
Contact An Attorney
Call our California slip and fall attorneys as soon as possible. We will act quickly to protect your legal rights and ensure that you do not lose the right to pursue compensation.
How Long Do I Have To File A California Slip And Fall Accident Lawsuit?
Accident victims do not have an unlimited amount of time to file a lawsuit. Every slip and fall accident victim must comply with California’s statute of limitations, a deadline set by law that limits the amount of time that an injury victim has to file a lawsuit to recover damages.
In California, accident victims have two years from the date the accident happened to file a lawsuit. It is important to file within this time, or you will lose your ability to sue.
There are, however, some exceptions that may extend the amount of time you have to sue. For example, the statute of limitations can be paused if the victim was a minor when the accident happened. If the slip-and-fall victim was under 18, the two-year window to file a lawsuit doesn’t start running until their 18th birthday. They then have two years from that date to file.
How Can California Personal Injury Attorneys Help Me?
Personal injury lawyers are the best resource you can have after suffering an injury in a slip and fall accident. Protecting your rights after an accident is hard, so you need someone with the legal experience required to help you accomplish your goal of recovering financially.
Our attorneys can help you in the following ways:
Negotiating For A Settlement
Negotiating with insurance companies is not easy. Insurance adjusters want to protect company profits, and they will do that at your expense by trying to deny paying out your claim. Unrepresented accident victims do not usually fare well when negotiating alone. However, with an attorney, you have an advocate with the expertise required to avoid the tactics that insurance companies tend to use to avoid making payments.
Investigating The Accident
An attorney will help you investigate your case. An experienced legal team will use their resources to help their clients gather evidence. For example, your lawyer and their team might want to visit the accident scene, read your medical records, watch videos, and talk to experts to help you build your case.
Preparing Your Case For Trial
Most civil accident cases are resolved during the negotiation phase; however, some cases proceed to trial. Getting to the trial phase of your case can come with stress and anxiety.
Fortunately, your attorney will stand up for you in the courtroom. Before you make it to the first day of the trial, you and your attorney will work together to prepare the best way to present your case to the judge or jury to get you the best results.
Is Filing A Lawsuit Right For Me?
The thought of filing a lawsuit can seem daunting. However, despite any pressure you might feel that will tempt you to avoid filing a lawsuit, you should pursue legal action after getting hurt. If you’re hurt in a restaurant slip-and-fall, talk to a qualified lawyer to get the legal help you need to file a premises liability claim during this challenging time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Slip-And-Fall Accident Claims Take In California?
Slip-and-fall claims in California can vary significantly in resolution time, ranging from a few months to several years. The main factors influencing this timeframe include:
- Injury severity – More severe injuries requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation will likely lead to longer claim durations.
- Liability complexity – Determining fault can be straightforward in some cases, but claims with unclear liability or multiple parties involved may take longer to settle.
- Settlement negotiations – Negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company can be lengthy, especially if there’s disagreement about fault or compensation amounts.
If you’re considering a restaurant slip-and-fall claim in California, consulting with one of Arash Law’s personal injury lawyers can help you understand the specific factors affecting your case and its potential timeline.
What Is The Average Compensation For Slip-and-Fall Accidents In California?
There isn’t a standard compensation amount for restaurant slip-and-fall accidents in California. Settlements typically range between $15,000 and $45,000 but can vary depending on the specifics of the case, especially the severity of injuries. In some cases, with strong evidence, compensation can be higher.
How Much Do Slip-And-Fall Attorneys Charge In California?
Don’t worry about paying upfront for a restaurant slip-and-fall attorney in California. Most lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you only pay if they win your case.
Call Our California Restaurant Slip And Fall Attorneys Today!
After getting injured in a restaurant slip and fall accident, you need a legal team with a successful track record of helping victims get the compensation they deserve. Our California restaurant slip and fall attorneys have the knowledge and skills you need to get your life back on track. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 888-488-1391 to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options.
We have headquarters in Riverside, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sherman Oaks, and San Francisco. Our lawyers serve other locations throughout California, including Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, Visalia, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, Oakland, and more. Our team is ready to answer your questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
