Slip and Fall injury Lawyers

Bakersfield Slip and Fall Attorneys

Slip and fall accidents are unexpected occurrences that can impact anyone at any time. While it may seem that an injury sustained from such an accident would be minor, serious injuries and even fatalities often occur as a result of slip or trip and fall incidents. Every day we manage to avoid dangerous situations while not realizing that they could easily be a slip and fall accident waiting to happen. When slip and falls occur due to the negligence of another individual or company, seeking representation from an experienced and dedicated slip and fall attorney can be the best means of recovering any relevant damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional or psychological trauma, or diminished quality of life.

Both property owners and businesses are responsible for providing a reasonably safe environment that is free from any hazards. If a property or location such as a grocery store, gas station, or parking lot is unsafe and an accident occurs due to negligence, the injured victim is likely eligible to receive various types of financial damages. Some of these damages can include:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages or earnings while you recover
• Lost future earning capacity due to an injury

Slip and falls may seem like straightforward, “open and shut” cases that can be easily proven. Sadly, even with a seemingly simple case where your accident is clearly due to negligence, proving fault in a court of law can be challenging without the assistance of a skilled personal injury attorney with experience handling slip and fall claims. To ensure your claim has the best chance at success (i.e. recovering the maximum compensation you are entitled to in a personal injury slip and fall case), you may want to take advantage of a top-rated Dordulian Law Group (DLG) attorney who will protect your rights under the law and help win your case.

What is a Slip and Fall (or Trip and Fall) Accident?

A slip and fall accident can be any trip, fall, or slip that occurs in an environment which should otherwise be safe. Dordulian Law Group encounters slip and fall cases every day – at Costco, Ralph’s, community centers, hotels, parking lots and garages, private residences, yoga studios and gyms, etc. We have the knowledge and experience required to fight for your rights and win, no matter how the accident occurred. Some common causes of slip/trip and fall accidents include:

• Damaged carpets
• Poorly constructed hardwoods
• Uneven tiles
• Slippery walking surfaces
• Broken stair platforms and handrails
• Low/poor lighting
• Potholes or cracks in roadways, streets, or sidewalks
• Debris or pathway obstacles

Tripping hazards like dangling cords or spills also contribute to slip and fall accidents on a regular basis. Weather-related hazards including icy or snowy sidewalks can lead to slip and fall or trip and fall accidents.

At DLG, we see many slip and fall accidents caused by wet and slippery floors. Grocery stores, for example, often neglect to post a clearly visible warning sign indicating a wet floor or spill. Even if a sign is properly posted, such warnings are not always placed in locations that are easily identifiable for vulnerable customers.

Clutter is another common cause of trip and falls, ranging from a power cord strewn across the floor to a propped ladder in an unexpected location. Damaged and loose flooring, unlit or dimly lit spaces can also cause slip and fall accidents. Any of these scenarios (and more) can warrant a personal injury civil lawsuit seeking financial compensation for damages.

Whether your injury is minor or severe, a slip and fall due to another’s negligence likely entitles the injured party to damages. You may believe a slip and fall needs to be a serious accident in order to be worthy of a DLG Bakersfield lawyer’s time. But any slip, trip, or fall accident can involve compensable injuries. Simply falling and breaking a hip after a slip on a wet surface may result in due financial compensation. No matter the circumstances, be sure to share all pertinent information regarding your slip and fall accident with your team of DLG attorneys during the free consultation. While you focus on what’s most important – your recovery – we will work tirelessly to build a winning legal strategy.

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Frequently Occur?

A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere in Bakersfield. Some locations tend to have an inordinate number slip and fall accidents, like icy driveways or specific job sites. The experienced team of slip and fall lawyers at DLG has decades of experience in successfully handling various types of accidents occurring at various locations (and leading to numerous injuries).

Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.

Some common slip and fall locations may include:

• Grocery stores: One of the most common locations for a Bakersfield slip and fall accident to occur is in the grocery store. Practically every major chain – Ralph’s, Meijer, Kroger, Albertson’s, Aldi, Vons, Costco, etc. – has experienced a lawsuit after a customer experienced a slip and fall. Spills occur regularly in supermarkets, and if they are not cleaned up immediately, a slip and fall accident can easily take place. Additionally, injuries in grocery stores are often caused by under-trained security, improper lighting, uneven flooring, and much more.
• Schools or other places of learning: Students of all ages can be involved in slip and falls. However, children at both private and public schools can be even more prone to these types of accidents for any number of reasons. Lack of supervision by teachers, uneven stairways, defective playground equipment, poor lighting, or any other hazardous condition can lead to a school slip and fall. Afterward, the child and his or her family could be eligible for substantial financial compensation.
• Hotels: Hotels pay out millions in slip and fall claims annually for injuries sustained by their guests. A hotel slip and fall can happen at various areas throughout the property. If negligence was involved, a victim could be entitled to damages for a Bakersfield hotel slip and fall.
• Airbnb rentals: If you rented an Airbnb and suffered a slip and fall, you could be awarded compensation after filing a civil claim. Airbnb user agreements include insurance coverage for property owners up to $1 million for any guest injuries.
• Condominiums and apartments: Slip and fall accidents regularly take place in the common areas of condominiums or apartments. If any negligence was involved, the injured party could be eligible for a financial damages award.
• Elevators/escalators: Escalators and elevators need to be regularly maintained. Failure to do so can lead to severe injuries, such as lacerations, amputations, soft tissue damage, and fractures. If an escalator or elevator is broken, a visible sign alerting the public should be posted, and the electricity disconnected. If the property owner failed to fix a known issue and you were hurt in a slip and fall, a Bakersfield personal injury claim could help you recover damages.
• Gyms: A slip and fall at a gym that was due to negligence can lead to a lawsuit against the gym or property owner. Even if you signed a liability waiver when starting a membership, you may still have a claim.
• Swimming pools: While a very nice possession, any owner can be held liable for a slip and fall accident in or around a Bakersfield swimming pool. Pool deck slip and falls are quite common, but also avoidable.

Wherever your slip and fall accident happened, the DLG team has all the tools necessary to help your win your claim and recover a substantial financial damages award for any injuries – both physical and psychological.

Can You File a Lawsuit After a Slip and Fall Accident?

In California, after a slip and fall accident the court will need to determine whether or not the property owner used reasonable care to maintain a safe environment. “Reasonable care” may entail limiting access to high-risk areas, fixing hazards or broken equipment, posting warnings to guests, and conducting annual inspections. Supermarkets often require employees to walk the floor each hour and inspect areas for spills or other dangerous situations. This policy could be presented in a slip and fall civil lawsuit as evidence – demonstrating that reasonable measures to keep the property safe were not taken.

Whether a property manager failed to maintain a staircase, or a parking lot was not properly shoveled after a snowstorm, you are likely eligible to recover financial compensation for various types of damages after suffering a slip and fall due to negligence.

That said, the owner of a property or business is not certainly liable for each accident occurring on their premises. If a supermarket owner specifically warned you about a spill via a “Caution: Wet Floor” sign but you failed to notice said sign while looking at your phone, the property owner would likely not be liable for any injuries in this exact instance. However, if a property owner failed to replace parking lot lights and you tripped, fell, and suffered a bone fracture due to the conditions, you more than likely have a valid claim.

How Much Are Slip and Fall Claims Worth?

The value of a slip and fall lawsuit hinges on many factors, including the severity of the accident, the extent of any injuries, and the amount of any resulting losses. DLG has successfully handled a wide variety of lawsuits in the slip and fall subset of personal injury law.

DLG’s Slip and Fall Victories Recover Multi-Million Dollar Settlements

• DLG recently prevailed in a case at trial involving a teenager impaled while using a trampoline at an industrial park. The judgment led to $1.1 million dollars recovered after the property owner initially offered just $5000.
• Additionally, a recent premises liability lawsuit involving a slip and fall led to a $3.25 million damages award for one of our personal injury clients. The property owner initially tried to settle for only a few thousand do

llars, but we demonstrated the total value of our client’s injuries. As a result, we recovered due compensation equaling over $3 million for injuries, lost income, and pain and suffering.

• We also recovered $1.95 million in a workplace case involving a slip and fall. Our client sustained a major head injury, and we fought to secure the proper damages.

Insurance companies are notorious for attempting to lowball injured victims. Without extensive legal training, it’s easy to be taken advantage of by these huge corporations. But while you take time to focus on your own physical recovery, Dordulian Law Group is here to fight on your behalf. In all of the above examples, we successfully turned an initial $5,000 offer from an insurance company or at-fault party defense team into a multi-million dollar settlement. Don’t settle for anything but the DLG Advantage after a slip and fall injury.

Are Slips and Falls Common in California?

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles data on accidents and injuries in the workplace. Its 2019 data for California suggests there were 88 reported slips, trips, and falls at worksites across the state. However, these statistics do not include unreported injuries and anyone injured in public spaces or while not on the job. Additionally, these figures do not include slip and fall accidents occurring inside private residences.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 33% of seniors 65 and older fall each year. Many of these accidents result in compensable injuries. Data from the CDC also indicates that slip and fall accidents are a common cause of brain trauma, which can lead to significant damages.

What is the Statute of Limitations in California for Slip and Fall Lawsuits?

Slip and fall injury victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. There may be extenuating circumstances or exceptions, such as an instance of negligence surfacing after the statute of limitations expires. When this happens, you have one year from the time you discover the negligence to file a lawsuit.

However, it’s important to realize that laws pertaining to slip and fall claim deadlines can be complex and often difficult to understand. Ensuring you have a DLG slip and fall lawyer on your side means your claim will be filed timely, and your right to recover financial compensation via the legal process will be maintained.

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