Although slip and falls are frequently associated with ice-streaked parking lots, that doesn’t mean they don’t happen in sunny California. Quite the contrary; slip and fall cases are among the most common injury claims in the Golden State. Unfortunately, these falls often result in significant injuries that can impact a victim’s quality of life.
Given the gravity of these injuries, anyone involved in a slip and fall in Madera, California should pursue compensation to cover the damages resulting from their injuries.
How Do California Residents Prove a Slip and Fall?
Defining a “slip and fall” case in California largely has to do with where you are. To be classified as a “slip and fall,” there must be some degree of negligence involved. Fall victims must prove property owners failed to take the proper precautions to prevent a fall. For instance, if there’s a spill in a store aisle, owners are responsible for cleaning up the mess in a timely fashion and providing warning signs.
For additional information, you can find the official standards for unsafe conditions in the California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) No. 1003.
What Damages Could Slip and Fall Plaintiffs Recover in California?
If slip and fall plaintiffs successfully prove their case, they can expect financial compensation for medical expenses related to their fall. For this reason, it’s imperative for slip and fall patients to keep detailed records of all their medical bills.
Beyond medical payments, slip and fall victims should receive compensation for any time lost at work. It’s also possible for plaintiffs to secure financial assistance for pain and suffering and reduced earning capacity.
Although punitive damages are rare in slip and fall cases, they are not impossible. However, clients would have to prove the defendant knowingly created a hazardous situation or tried to eliminate damaging evidence.
Where Should California Slip and Fall Claimants Start?
Generally speaking, the more evidence a slip and fall plaintiff can obtain, the better. In addition to detailed medical reports, witness testimonies can go a long way to building a successful case. If the slip and fall accident happened in a public area, there’s a good chance a security camera captured the fall. If so, this could prove a patient’s claim to negligence. However, you cannot rely on the owner to release this video. So, it is important to also take your own pictures of the accident scene or to ask a helpful witness to do so.
Contact a Madera Slip and Fall Lawyer
California’s statute of limitations for slip and fall cases is two years. As with most other injury claims, plaintiffs should start building a case as soon as possible. This should start with a call to our Madera slip and fall lawyers for a free consultation and case evaluation. We will make every effort to answer your questions and provide you with an overview of your legal options. When you hire us to represent your case, you can rest assured that we will work towards obtaining the maximum settlement for you.
