Slip And Fall Attorney in Los Angeles

Other firms may carry expensive price tags for their service, but we’re the opposite. We firmly believe that everyone should be able to afford comprehensive representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we operate on a contingency, meaning it costs nothing to hire us and we don’t get paid until you do. Our fee comes out of a favorable settlement or jury award, so you never have to worry about paying out of pocket for our assistance.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain a safe environment for all patrons that enter the premises. Any potentially dangerous or hazardous conditions must be remedied in a timely fashion to avoid causing harm to an innocent individual. Here are a few examples of hazardous conditions:

• Broken stairs/walkways
• Slippery spills
• No access to railings or other safety devices
• Potholes, ledges, or uneven walkways

A spill in a grocery store can be cleaned quickly, but a broken staircase may require a more lengthy repair. Either one of these scenarios can cause significant harm to an unsuspecting patron, so preemptive action must be taken. If a hazardous condition can’t be fixed immediately, the property owner must post a warning that explicitly states the risk.

Property owners and landlords are responsible for maintaining the property on which their tenants reside. They’re required to ensure the safety of the premises and, most importantly, to limit the risk of injury to those living on the property. If your landlord fails to perform the fundamental maintenance that was outlined in your lease, their actions could be considered negligent.

When injured in a slip and fall accident, the last thing you want to worry about is how you’ll pay your medical bills and make ends meet. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Speaking of compensation, the exact amount you may recover after deducting all fees and expenses will depend on several factors. Examples of these factors include the following:

• The unique circumstances of your slip and fall claim
• The amount and extent of damages you suffered
• The severity of your injuries
• Whether you can return to work after the injury
• Your attorney’s negotiation skills
• The strength of your case against the other party
• Your percentage of fault
• Whether you will need continuing care after the injury

A slip and fall lawyer is an attorney who represents individuals injured in slip and fall accidents. Since these lawyers understand the legal process of pursuing a slip and fall claim or lawsuit, they are better positioned to help their clients get the compensation they deserve.

Most slip and fall lawyers in Los Angeles, and throughout California work on a contingency basis. This means they only get paid if their client wins the case. The lawyer will then receive a percentage of the settlement or jury award, usually between 30 to 40 percent. This payment system has many benefits. For example, it allows the injured to get the legal help they need without having to worry about upfront costs.

In a typical slip and fall case, the attorney starts by reviewing its unique circumstances. This step helps determine whether the claimant has a valid case against the other party.

Then, they gather evidence to support the claim, that is if it is valid. We will discuss examples of evidence used in such a case shortly.

Once the attorney has built a strong case against the other party, they will file a claim, allowing the defendant to respond. The negotiations will then begin, usually out of court.

However, if the other party refuses to settle or cooperate, the attorney may proceed to file a lawsuit against them on behalf of their client. The lawsuit will detail the injuries and their causes and seek damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Even though some cases go to court, the majority settle before trial. If this happens, the lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement with the other party or their insurance representatives.

Keep in mind that the slip and fall process varies depending on the unique circumstances of your case. Some cases are straightforward, while others may be complex.

For example, suppose you slip and fall in a grocery store due to wet floors. In that case, the grocery store may be liable. On the other hand, let’s say you slip and fall on a sidewalk—proving liability may not be as straightforward in such a case.

No doubt hiring a skilled slip and fall attorney can be beneficial to your case. Here is why.

The attorney will review your case, ensuring it is valid. This step is very important; you don’t want to waste your time pursuing a claim considered dead on arrival.

The attorney can also help you gather crucial evidence to support your claim. Without legal representation, you may not know where and how to collect the most crucial evidence to support your claim.

A skilled lawyer will go out of their way to help you build a strong case against the defendant. This may include but is not limited to interviewing witnesses, reviewing any video footage, and obtaining an expert opinion as you focus on recovering from your injuries.

The lawyer will also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to get you the best possible settlement for your injuries. And since insurance companies tend to play games and frustrate the claims process, especially when they realize the claimant lacks legal counsel, it’s highly unlikely that they will want to play such games with your attorney.

This is because the attorney understands slip and fall laws in California and how they apply to your unique situation.

Lastly, a competent attorney will maximize your claim. They know when to file the claim, where to seek medical treatment, what to do or avoid during and after treatment, etc. As a result, you will always be one step ahead of the insurance company when you file a claim or lawsuit seeking compensation for your damages.

To establish liability in a slip and fall case, the attorney must demonstrate that your case meets all the elements of a slip and fall claim.

Firstly, they’ll need to show that the defendant owed you a duty of care. This means they were responsible for keeping the property safe from slip and fall incidents.

Next, your lawyer will need to prove that the defendant breached their duty of care. This means they knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. Your attorney can prove this element by demonstrating that the dangerous condition was present for a long time, that the owner was aware of it, or that it was so obvious that any reasonable person would have noticed it.

Once liability has been established, the next step is to prove that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to fix the problem or warn visitors about it. This can be done by showing that the owner did not take prompt action to repair the hazard or by demonstrating that there were no adequate warning signs about the danger.

Finally, the attorney must prove that you were injured and suffered damages due to the dangerous condition. If your claim satisfies all these elements, chances are the other party will want to settle out of court to avoid facing the judge or jury in court and potentially pay out more than the initial claim.

Yes, lawyers can help you recover compensation if you were partly at fault for a slip and fall in California. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20 percent at fault for the accident, you can only recover 80 percent of the total damages awarded. This is because The Golden State uses the pure comparative negligence law when determining liability in personal injury cases.

Lawyers need many different types of evidence to prove slip and fall cases. The most important piece of evidence will depend on the unique circumstances of your case. Generally, attorneys may rely on the following types of evidence to prove your claim:

• Like surveillance footage
• Photographs of the scene
• Medical bills and records
• Accident or incident reports
• Witness statements

With the help of a competent lawyer, it might be possible to file a wrongful death claim if someone died due to a slip and fall. If you win the case, you may recover economic and non-economic damages, including funeral expenses.

Typically, when determining the most reasonable settlement after a wrongful death caused by a slip and fall accident, the attorney will consider factors such as:

• The age of the deceased
• Their earning capacity before the death
• The unique circumstances of the case
• The needs of their dependents, such as the children of the deceased
• The health condition of the victim before the accident
• The psychological effects of the victim’s death on the survivors 

One of the most common causes of slip and falls is wet conditions, especially in public places and businesses such as grocery stores. Other common causes of slip and falls in California include but are not limited to:

• Cluttered or obstructed walkways
• Inadequate lighting
• Uneven floors
• Broken or missing railings
• Uncovered cords
• Loose carpeting or flooring

A slip and fall lawyer can sue a city or government agency if they believe that the entity is responsible for their client’s injuries. To win such a case, the lawyer must prove that the city or government agency was negligent in maintaining safe conditions, leading to the client’s injuries.

State government agencies are generally immune from lawsuits unless they have waived their immunity or been expressly named in a statute as subject to liability. This immunity, also known as sovereign immunity, is provided under the California Tort Claims Act.

However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as when the government entity has created a dangerous condition through its negligence or when the entity is vicariously liable.

It is also important to note that although you may be able to sue a state government agency or entity in California, you’ll need to follow strict laws. For example, while slip and fall cases typically have a two-year statute of limitations in California, you must inform the government agency or entity about the claim no later than six months after the injury. Failure to do so could mean losing your right to recover damages.

Because slip and fall cases are complex and dealing with insurance companies involves a lot of stress and headache, hiring a competent attorney could make a huge difference. But the truth is that not every attorney you come across can handle your claim.

Instead, you need someone with the experience and resources needed to handle the complexity of your case. You need a lawyer to stand up against the big bullies, in and out of court, and defend your rights. Most importantly, you need a slip and fall attorney in Los Angeles, California who understands your pain and genuinely wants the best for you and nothing less.

If that is what you are looking for, contact Morgan & Morgan, America's largest personal injury firm, for a free case evaluation today. The fee is free unless we win.