Contrary to what many people think, slip and falls are not minor accidents. These incidents can result in extremely serious injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and more. Not all slip and falls result in legal action, but if the property owner’s negligence caused your accident, you can file a claim against them for compensation. Below, our Irvine slip and fall accident lawyer explains more about these claims.
Determining Liability in Slip and Fall AccidentsIt is typically property owners who are held liable in slip and fall claims. However, there are other people who can also be responsible for paying damages. These include:
It is important to identify all of the liable parties so you can claim the full compensation you deserve. For example, someone may attend an event at a hotel. The hotel rented out the room to the host of the event. In this case, there could be multiple liable parties, including the renter of the room, the hotel, and the hotel’s parent company. In this instance, the accident victim could file a claim against all of the negligent parties with the help of a slip and fall accident attorney in Irvine.
When Are Property Owners Negligent?It is not always easy to determine if a property owner or occupier was negligent. This is due to the fact that a hazardous condition alone is not enough to prove the property owner was negligent. You must also prove that the property owner or occupier knew of the negligent condition and did not repair it.
For example, a spill in a grocery store is a dangerous condition. If the spill just happened and it caused you to slip and fall, you likely could not file a claim because the store owner or staff members may not have had time to notice the hazard. On the other hand, if the spill had been present for many hours and staff members did not clean it up, that would provide grounds for filing a lawsuit.
What is the Time Limit on Slip and Fall Claims?Like all personal injury claims, those involving slip and falls have a time limit. This is known as the statute of limitations, and in California, it is typically two years from the date of your accident. There are certain situations that can toll, or extend, the statute of limitations, but these are limited. For example, if the victim was a child under the age of 18 years old or the defendant was out of state for an extended period of time, that could toll the statute of limitations.
Call Our Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Irvine Before Time Runs OutIf you have been injured on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation. It is critical to speak to our Irvine slip and fall accident attorney at Brod Law Firm before time runs out on your claim. Call us now at (800) 427-7020 or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case and to learn more.