Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Injuries

Property owners in California must keep their premises reasonably safe, and a premises liability lawyer holds them responsible when a fall or other injury results from a hazard they knew about or should have found.

A wet floor with no sign, a broken step, a parking lot with no lighting, a store aisle with merchandise on the floor: a property owner who knows about a hazard, or should have found it with reasonable inspection, has a duty to fix it or warn about it. When they do not, and someone is hurt, California law holds them responsible (Civil Code section 1714). The question in most cases is notice: how long the hazard existed and whether a reasonable inspection would have found it. Stores keep sweep logs, apartment buildings keep maintenance requests, and most commercial properties have cameras. A preservation letter goes out within days so that footage and logs are not overwritten. For an older adult, a fall on someone else's property carries the same consequences as a fall in a facility.

Cases We Handle

• Slip and fall and trip and fall injuries in stores, restaurants, and parking lots

• Falls on broken stairs, uneven walkways, and poorly lit areas

• Injuries at apartment buildings and rental properties

• Injuries from inadequate security

• Dog bites and animal attacks

• Injuries at hospitals, clinics, and care facilities that are not part of the care itself

What We Investigate

• How long the hazard existed and whether the owner inspected the area

• Surveillance footage, incident reports, and prior complaints about the same hazard

• Maintenance and cleaning logs

• Building code and accessibility violations

• The medical record from the first treatment forward

What to Do After a Fall

1. Report the fall to the owner or manager before you leave, and ask for a copy of the incident report.

2. Photograph the hazard, your footwear, and your injuries.

3. Get the names of witnesses.

4. Get medical care the same day.

5. Keep the clothing and shoes you were wearing.

Time Limits Premises liability claims in California generally must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). Claims against a public entity, such as a city sidewalk or a county building, require a written claim within six months (Government Code section 911.2).