Slip And Fall Lawyer Santa Monica, CA

Injured in a Slip and Fall in Santa Monica? We’re Here to Help

Imagine going about your day, walking through a grocery store or into the DMV, when suddenly, your feet skid, and you go flying. A slip and fall accident is more than just an embarrassing blunder. It can change your life, and the injuries you suffer may be severe. If you hit your head when you fall, you may suffer a brain injury. Or, you may have sprained or broken both wrists—most people instinctively put out their hands to break the fall, and the impact can easily damage the small bones and delicate ligaments in your wrist. Our skilled Santa Monica, CA slip and fall lawyer can help you get the money you need for medical care and other losses.

At Choulos & Tsoi Law Firm, we focus on the needs of accident victims like you. You have rights, including the right to file a civil claim for negligence against the property owner of the place where you fell. We help you understand your legal options after a fall, and we can draft your claim and handle all the legal matters related to it. Contact our firm today for a complimentary case review.

What Does a Santa Monica Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Do?

Slip and fall accident attorneys are personal injury lawyers who litigate premises liability claims, which are claims against a negligent property owner or manager after someone comes to harm on their property. Property owners are responsible for maintaining their premises so that it is safe for guests and visitors. If they fail to do so, either by leaving it in disrepair or by failing to keep it in a clean, safe condition (like cleaning up slips that someone could slip in), then they can be held liable for the harm someone suffers if they fall.

We investigate the incident and gather evidence proving that the property owner was negligent, such as security camera footage of your fall, satisfaction, and maintenance records that a business may keep, and witness accounts of the accident. Our focus is on either negotiating a fair settlement with the property owner’s insurance company or taking your case to trial and presenting our evidence to a jury.

Damages Available in a Slip and Fall Case

Damages refer to the losses you suffered after a fall, material and non-material. You are entitled to claim compensation for all necessary medical care, replenishment of wages you didn’t earn because you missed work to heal, and any property damage when you fell, like a phone or watch. You also deserve compensation for your non-material losses. This includes the pain and suffering you have from your injuries and the trauma and anguish you may feel. You may not be able to enjoy activities you once did because of your injuries, so we ask for compensation for your diminished quality of life, too.

Our firm utilizes expert witness testimony, such as medical experts who attest to the cause of your injuries and vocational experts who determine the impact of your injuries on your ability to work. We focus on your needs today and any future needs that may arise, such as treatment for complications from your injuries.

Strong Legal Support in Premises Liability Claims

If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you may have grounds to seek compensation in a premises liability claim. A Santa Monica slip-and-fall lawyer from our firm can help. Call Choulos & Tsoi Law Firm today for a free consultation.

Key Elements of a Strong Slip and Fall Claim

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common types of personal injury cases, but not all falls automatically lead to a valid legal claim. In order to pursue compensation for injuries sustained in a slip and fall incident, it’s essential to demonstrate that the property owner or responsible party was negligent in some way. A strong slip and fall case hinges on several key elements that must be established in order to have a successful case. Get experienced legal help for your personal injury claim by contacting Choulos & Tsoi Law Firm and scheduling a free consultation with our Santa Monica, CA slip and fall lawyer.

Proving Property Owner’s Duty of Care

The foundation of any slip and fall claim is establishing that the property owner owed you a duty of care. Property owners, whether for residential, commercial, or public spaces, are legally required to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for visitors, customers, and tenants. This duty extends to anyone legally on the property, including guests, employees, and customers.

In order to prove a slip and fall claim, you must show that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition that caused your fall. For example, if there was a spill in a grocery store aisle, the store owner or staff must either have known about it or should have discovered it within a reasonable amount of time. The duty of care also involves taking reasonable steps to repair or warn visitors about any dangerous conditions, such as slippery floors, uneven sidewalks, or poorly lit stairways. If the property owner failed to take action to address the hazard, it could be a sign of negligence and form the basis of your claim.

Demonstrating Negligence or Knowledge of the Hazard

Once our Santa Monica slip and fall lawyer establishes the duty of care, the next key element in building a strong case is proving that the property owner was negligent, or that they had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition. Negligence refers to the failure to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. A property owner may be found negligent if they did not repair a known hazard or failed to warn visitors about it in a timely manner.

It’s crucial to show that the owner knew about the hazard or should have known about it. For example, if a business owner has received multiple complaints about wet floors in a hallway but has not addressed the problem, this could show that they were aware of the danger and failed to act. If you fell because of a hazard that the property owner had plenty of time to fix, or if they ignored standard safety protocols, this can strengthen your case for negligence.

Constructive knowledge means that even if the property owner didn’t directly know about the hazard, they should have known. In cases where a hazard was present for a prolonged period, a property owner can be expected to have noticed it and taken corrective action. A strong slip and fall claim will typically include evidence that the hazard had been present for enough time that the owner should have discovered it during regular maintenance or inspections.

Proving Causation and Injury

The final critical element in a slip and fall claim is proving that the fall directly caused your injury. This factor can sometimes be the most challenging part of a case, particularly if the injury is not immediately apparent or if you did not seek medical treatment right away. To establish a direct link between the fall and your injuries, medical documentation is crucial.

It’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after a slip and fall incident, even if you don’t feel pain immediately. Many slip and fall injuries, such as soft tissue damage, sprains, or head trauma, may not show symptoms right away but can worsen over time. If you wait too long to seek treatment, the opposing party may argue that your injuries were unrelated to the fall or were caused by another incident.

A strong slip and fall claim is built on the three fundamental elements of duty of care, negligence or knowledge of the hazard, and clear evidence that the fall caused real injuries. Establishing these factors requires careful documentation, timely medical attention, and a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident and believe the property owner is at fault, call Choulos & Tsoi Law Firm now. Our firm believes in holding others accountable for their actions and obtaining justice and fair compensation for our clients. Our Santa Monica slip and fall lawyer offers free 30-minute consultations.  We have a desire to help and a determination to win.