San Diego Slip and Fall Attorney

At Haffner & Morgan of San Diego, we understand the serious consequences of slip-and-fall accidents. In the U.S, slip-and-fall incidents account for over 3 million emergency room visits. They are also a major cause of lost work days and workers’ compensation claims. Serious consequences for slip-and-fall accidents are especially harmful to older Americans, sometimes causing devastating hip fractures that increase the chances of a second fall. 

All slip-and-fall accidents are painful and upsetting, but when it happens due to someone else’s negligence, it’s even more frustrating to endure the pain and expense of recovery. In some cases, slip-and-fall accidents in California fall under the state’s premises liability laws. Victims can not only achieve justice in cases where someone was at fault for the accident, but they can also gain the financial compensation and damages they deserve so they can focus on their recovery. Our San Diego personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling slip-and-fall cases.

When Do Slip and Fall Accidents Fall Under California’s Premises Liability Laws?

Unlike falls inside your own home, some slip-and-fall accidents that occur outside the home have a direct link to someone else’s negligence. When negligence led to a fall, a victim can file a successful liability claim. A person is negligent in a slip and fall accident under the following circumstances:

• An owner or manager created the dangerous condition
• They knew about a hazardous condition and didn’t rectify it
• They weren’t aware of the danger of the condition when any person taking reasonable care would have understood that it presented a hazard
• They failed to prevent the hazard or to provide adequate warning about the hazard, such as placing “Wet Floor” signs in a business after mopping or a spill.

Most premises liability claims involve negligence on the part of a property owner or manager. California law demands that property owners must take reasonable care to maintain their property in a manner that keeps it safe for guests, customers, or patrons. If they fail to take that care and it causes a visitor to fall, the property owner or manager is liable for the injuries.

The attorneys at Haffner & Morgan work diligently on behalf of every client injured in a slip-and-fall accident to ensure they gain the financial compensation they deserve.

How Do I Prove a Slip-and-Fall Case?

In order to have a successful slip-and-fall claim in California, victims must prove negligence on the part of the property owner or manager. Typically this involves collecting evidence such as the following:

• Doctor’s treatment notes 
• Medical bills
• Surveillance video footage of the incident
• Witness statements
• Photos of the accident scene
• Pay stubs or W2 forms showing typical monthly income before the accident
• Testimony from experts in accident reconstruction

Experienced slip-and-fall lawyers know how to gather the evidence needed to prove liability in slip-and-fall injuries.

What Damages are Possible in a Slip-and-Fall Case?

If the defendant is provably negligent in a slip-and-fall claim, victims are typically entitled to financial compensation for the damages they experienced. Compensatory damages may include monetary awards covering:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages and future lost earnings
• Pain and Suffering
• In some cases, punitive damages

Punitive damages are sometimes awarded in California premises liability cases if the defendant’s behavior was particularly egregious or reckless and resulted in catastrophic injury, disability, or wrongful death.

Why Choose Haffner & Morgan For Your Slip-and-Fall Accident Claim?

At Haffner & Morgan, we understand the serious and sometimes long-term impacts a slip-and-fall accident can have on your finances and your quality of life. Our San Diego attorneys are skilled, experienced, and ready to use diligent investigative procedures to gather evidence and advocate for full compensation for your injury. Contact Haffner & Morgan today so we can evaluate your case with a free consultation. Our firm specializes in other practice areas such as car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, and more.