People slip and fall every day for all types of reasons, but falls are often due to someone else’s negligence. If you suffered an injury from slipping or tripping over a dangerous condition on someone else's property, you may be entitled to monetary compensation under the law. Property owners are responsible for taking reasonable measures to maintain safe conditions for visitors, business customers and in some cases, even trespassers. Even if you have a clumsy tendency or contributed to the injury, you still may be able to collect a financial recovery for your medical bills, pain and suffering or wage loss. Our San Jose slip-and-fall injury lawyers at Golden State Lawyers, APC have represented people injured in slip and fall cases throughout California. Our Injury and Death Attorneys in California have served Bay Area clients from San Jose to San Francisco and nearby cities such as Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, and Los Gatos for more than 40 years.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries
A San Jose slip and fall may result in a minor scraped knee or a serious head and spinal injury. If you suffered from a slip and fall on someone else's property, a knowledgeable San Jose slip-and-fall injury lawyer at Golden State Lawyers in San Jose can evaluate whether you have a solid legal claim. Common causes of slip and fall injuries that generally necessitate legal intervention include:
- Poor lighting
- Broken or uneven steps
- Slippery floors
- Cracked floor tiles
- Inadequate handrails
- Defective The teamps
- Torn carpets
- Uneven rugs or flooring
- Faulty elevators or escalators
- Foreign objects on the floor
- Sidewalk defects
- Potholes
If a San Jose slip and fall injuries caused you a serious personal injury, we want to know about it. There may be more than one contributing factor, such as rain combined with slippery floors. Our seasoned injury attorneys meet with you to discuss the various possible causes of your slip and fall and to determine whether you have a case for compensatory damages.
A Landowner's Duty
Under the law, people have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for others. This includes private homeowners, shopkeepers and government agencies. If an injury occurs because the property owner knew, or should have known about a dangerous condition, the landowner is liable. In the event that a landowner knows about a specific threat to visitors, they must provide an adequate warning. For example, if a floor has been recently mopped, the law requires property owners to alert others that the floor is wet.
San Jose Slip/Trip and Fall FAQ
Many different questions might arise in your mind if you are hurt as a result of a slip and fall or trip and fall incident. After you seek the medical help you need, contact our San Jose slip/trip and fall lawyers who can provide answers to your questions. Below are only some of the many common questions we address.
What are some of our slip/trip and fall case results?
Our attorneys stand up for the rights of slip/trip and fall victims regularly. We have obtained successful results for injured clients for decades.
Here are some examples of related case results:
- $675,000 for a fall victim with a broken leg;
- $675,000 jury verdict for a trip and fall victim with a shoulder injury;
- $500,000 for fall victim with a broken leg;
- $350,000 for a trip and fall victim with a disputed neck injury.
The value of your case will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries and losses. We know how to get full and fair compensation in every case - no matter what your injuries. Contact us now for more information.
How do you know if you have a San Jose slip/trip and fall case?
Not everyone who trips or slips and falls has the right to compensation for their injuries. Sometimes, tripping or slipping happens without anybody being at fault. This is not compensable. In most situations, however, trip or slip and falls occur because another party negligently created or allowed hazards to exist on their premises.
There are different requirements for a trip/slip and fall claim, including:
- Was the hazard which caused the fall dangerous?
- Did the property owner or manager breach the duty of care to keep its property safe by creating or negligently allowing hazards?
- Did the fall occur as a result of the hazardous condition?
- Did the property owner conduct reasonable inspections of the premises for hazards and/or warn pedestrians of known dangers?
- Were you hurt as a result of the fall?
If this is the case, you can hold stores, restaurants, hotels, residential property owners, commercial property owners/managers, and other parties responsible by making an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit for compensation. The best way to know if you have a claim is to have an experienced San Jose slip/trip and fall attorney evaluate what happened and identify the parties who should be held accountable.
How much is my San Jose slip and fall claim worth?
In a San Jose slip/trip and fall case, you can recover compensation for your economic and non-economic losses including medical expenses, lost income, physical and emotional pain and loss of enjoyment of life. With this in mind, it stands to reason that more serious injuries typically result in more compensation.
For example, if you suffer a traumatic brain injury in your slip/trip and fall, you may receive more compensation than a person who twisted their ankle.
Some of the specific factors that may affect how much compensation you can obtain include:
- The severity and extent of your injuries;
- Your diagnosis and prognosis;
- Your age and pre-incident health;
- Your occupation and income.
How long do I have to file a San Jose slip and fall claim?
You don’t have an unlimited amount of time to file a slip/trip and fall claim. While the sometimes begins with an insurance claim, you might need to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties to obtain full compensation. In California, you only have two years to file a San Jose slip and fall lawsuit, so you want to make sure that this option is available to you when needed. If your claim is against a public/government agency, you have even less time.
That said, it is always in your best interest to start your slip/trip and fall claim as soon as possible. Retaining an attorney early in the process ensures that your lawyer has time to investigate your case before evidence is lost or destroyed and has plenty of time to prepare the necessary paperwork. For example, stores regularly wipe their surveillance footage. If you wait too long to start your claim, they might erase the footage.
Can I afford a San Jose slip/trip and fall attorney?
One common concern that those injured in slip/trip and falls have is whether or not they can afford an attorney. They assume that all law firms charge high hourly fees to handle cases. Fortunately, the way our fee system works allows everyone to afford the help of a slip and fall lawyer.
At Golden State Lawyers, we take all of our San Jose slip/trip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis. When lawyers use a contingency fee agreement, it means that any legal fees are contingent upon obtaining compensation for their clients. In other words, if we do not recover any compensation on your behalf, you will not owe us anything.
If we do secure a settlement or award on your behalf, we are paid an agreed-upon percentage of your compensation. At no point will you need to pay for our services out of pocket. By utilizing this type of fee agreement, we can ensure that everyone who needs legal help after an injury-causing incident can get it.
Why hire our San Jose slip and fall lawyers?
At Golden State Lawyers, APC, our legal team has decades of experience representing injured people and families of people killed by others, including people injured in slip/trip and falls. If you are undergoing medical treatment for unexpected injuries, you do not need any additional stress in your life. You can focus on your physical recovery while our lawyers focus on your financial recovery.
The philosophy of our firm is to always fight hard for the maximum recovery in every case. Your injuries and losses are uniquely personal so your case deserves personalized attention. Our staff has a dedication to service and professionalism, and we truly care about the result in your case.
To learn more about how we operate and get to know our team, please contact us for your free case evaluation.
We Only Get Paid if You Win
If you are in San Jose or the surrounding Bay Area and you suffered from a slip and fall injury, contact Golden State Lawyers today for your free initial consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay us if you win. Let our experienced San Jose Slip-and-Fall injury attorneys help you get the compensation you deserve for falls resulting from slips or trips. Call 408-279-4222 or contact us online today.