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Can I File a Lawsuit After a Slip and Fall Accident in Long Beach (California)?

According to the premises liability law, if you trip and sustain injuries in someone’s property, the owner may be held liable for your injuries. According to California’s premises law, if the property owner did not ensure the conditions of the place were safe, they may be found at fault for any accidents that happen as a result of their negligence.

These accidents can result in minor or life-threatening conditions. Wet floors, clutter, holes or worn-out carpets can all contribute to accidents. If you have been injured due to a business owner’s carelessness, contact a Long Beach slip and fall lawyer at Salamati Law for legal advice.

You can try to get compensation if you have sustained injuries in someone’s property due to their negligence. However, to get compensation, you will need to prove the party at fault caused the accident because of their carelessness. You will need to prove the property owner or landlord was careless and did not take any action towards dealing with the hazard.

Proving negligence

You will be required to show that there was a hazard that caused the incident, the owner did not take any measures to fix the issue and that you were not made aware of its existence. However, sometimes proving these things may be tricky because the property owner may try to hide evidence of the dangerous condition before investigations begin.

Accident injuries

Injuries sustained in such incidents may range from minor bruises to major injuries like sprains, gashes and cuts. Other injuries include head or brain injuries, broken bones and spinal trauma.

Causes

Tripping can be caused by many hazards such as wet floors, disconnected cables, broken handrails, loose carpeting, and inadequate lighting in buildings. All these causes can make the building owner liable for any injuries sustained.

Liability

According to California law, the property owner has a legal obligation to ensure the premises are safe for visitors who have the legal right of being there. Therefore, if any accident occurs, they could be the party at fault.

Comparative negligence

If you decide to file a lawsuit against the property owner, he or she may come up with a counterargument. They may claim you also share liability for the injuries sustained and if they win, the settlement’s value may reduce, and you may lose a huge chunk of the compensation. The property owner can make claims such as you were in an area where visitors are not allowed, you were not attentive when walking or the hazard should’ve been obvious to you.

The comparative negligence rule will determine the compensation amount. For instance, if you are 20% liable for the accident, and the damages amount to $100,000, you will get $80,000 as compensation.

Conclusion

An attorney will assist you to file the lawsuit, guide you on the process, collect and safeguard evidence and ensure you get compensation for any damages sustained. So, if you have sustained injuries in California due to a property owner’s negligence, explore your legal options with the help of an experienced attorney.