If you get hurt in a fall, you should seek legal help to secure maximum compensation. You can consult with a slip and fall lawyer in Walnut Creek from our team at Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys. We can review your legal options and find out if you have grounds for a claim against a liable party.
We have secured millions of dollars in personal injury verdicts and settlements. Our Walnut Creek personal injury lawyers can help you with your slip and fall accident case. Contact us today to get started.
Why Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Walnut Creek, CA?
Hiring a personal injury attorney after a fall accident can significantly boost your chances of securing fair compensation for your losses. It’s essential to reach out to us immediately after your fall so you have someone on your side every step of the way.
We know how to level the playing field when you have to deal with insurance companies that try to deny your claim, downplay your injuries, or blame you for the accident.
Our personal injury lawyers will handle all legal matters so you can focus on recovering and rebuilding your life. You can trust us to pursue fair financial compensation for all your losses.
Types of Injuries Caused by Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious and life-altering injuries. After a fall, victims may need immediate treatment for:
- Bruises and soft-tissue injury.
- Joint sprains and muscle strains.
- Hand, arm, and wrist injuries.
- Broken bones and fractures.
- Hip, leg, and knee injuries.
- Concussion and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries (SCIs).
The severity of slip and fall accidents can depend on the body’s orientation when falling, so even a fall from a short height can cause lasting complications. For example, a falling injury that damages the spinal cord can cause permanent or partial paralysis in the limbs or torso.
Regardless of the nature of your injuries, you should get prompt medical treatment after a fall. You will need medical documentation when you file a personal injury lawsuit, and delays in treatment could jeopardize your claim.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Falling accidents can happen virtually anywhere, but are most common in places with high foot traffic and features that could cause people to lose footing. Below are some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents we encounter in Contra Costa County:
- Wet flooring from spills or leaks
- Slippery walkways without proper mats for traction
- Clutter and obstructions on the floor (e.g., bunched carpets, stacked merchandise)
- Cracked or uneven sidewalks
- Weather conditions like rain, ice, or snow
- Insufficient lighting
- Unexpected steps or slopes
- Lack of safety features, including handrails
- Dangerous designs like narrow staircases
- Lack of wet floor or other warning signs
Who Is Responsible for Slip and Fall Injuries?
Property owners are generally responsible for slip and fall injuries according to the concept of premises liability.
For example, a business owner has a legal responsibility (i.e., a duty of care) to take reasonable care of their property and prevent injuries from happening. If the property owner ignores hazards and a visitor falls and gets hurt on the premises, they can be held accountable.
The key issue is whether the property owner failed to take action if they knew or should have known about a given hazard. Below are some hypothetical examples where a property owner’s negligence could justify filing a premises liability lawsuit:
- A grocery store owner fails to put up a “wet floor” sign after mopping, and a customer slips and breaks their wrist.
- A restaurant patron trips and falls on a loose floorboard on an outside dining patio.
- A person trips and falls into the stairwell of a parking garage due to insufficient lighting.
- A houseguest trips and falls down the stairs due to a bunched-up rug on the upstairs landing.
- An apartment tenant slips and falls on an icy patch on the sidewalk in front of their building.
- A construction crew does not properly fence off their digging site, and a pedestrian falls in while walking at night.
Injured in an accident?
Our personal injury lawyers in Walnut Creek are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
Damages You Can Get in a Walnut Creek Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Below are some of the damages a personal injury attorney could recover in your slip and fall accident lawsuit:
Medical Bills
To treat your injuries, you visit an emergency room, take prescription medications, and attend follow-up appointments with your doctor. The costs to do these things can be significant. Your lawyer will account for your medical bills as they add up your damages.
Lost Income
You miss work since your injuries prevent you from performing your job duties. Days away from work can result in a financial strain that shows no signs of letting up any time soon. Your attorney will consider your lost wages and include them in your damages request.
Pain and Suffering
Mental anguish and emotional distress are two forms of pain and suffering you could experience after a fall. It is difficult to quantify pain and suffering, and your lawyer will help.
Your attorney can use doctors’ notes and other medical records to help you show a judge or jury that you are dealing with pain and suffering and similar losses.
Your lawyer can provide insights into how much a personal injury case is worth in California. They will encourage you to ask for damages for your quantifiable and subjective losses.
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in an accident?
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Comparative Negligence for Slip and Fall Claims
California uses pure comparative negligence laws to handle personal injury claims. Under comparative negligence, the compensation you receive can change based on your degree of fault for an accident.
Therefore, the property owner and their insurance company may try to attribute some fault for the accident to you in an attempt to avoid providing a fair settlement for your losses.
You can rely on a Walnut Creek slip and fall lawyer from Omega Law Group to counter these allegations. Your attorney can collect and present evidence to minimize your fault and cement the other party’s blame for your injuries and losses.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
Prioritize your health and well-being after a slip and fall and avoid doing things that could cause your injuries to escalate.
- Get medical care: Visit a doctor who will evaluate your injuries, perform treatments, and provide tips and recommendations for addressing them in the future.
- Report your slip and fall: Notify the owner of the property where your fall happened and the police about your accident.
- Document the scene: Take photos and videos of the property and your injuries.
- Gather witness information: If anyone saw your accident, get their contact information.
In addition, the professionals recommend that you meet with a Walnut Creek slip and fall attorney after your accident. Omega Law Group will prioritize your case and help you pursue maximum damages. Request a consultation with our attorneys.
Why Choose Omega Law Group After a Fall Accident?
Our team at Omega Law Group will put you first after a fall accident. We have decades of combined experience that we can draw on to identify the responsible party and build your claim.
We focus on listening to your concerns and providing personalized support. Our law firm believes in putting our clients first, always, and we work on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay legal fees after we resolve your claim.
We have a reputation for bringing our clients millions in compensation for their losses. You can go over our case results to see specific examples of our work for clients like you.
How We Handle Your Slip and Fall Accident Claim
We handle the entire process of preparing your legal claim after you fall on someone else’s property. Depending on your circumstances, we may need to:
Collect Evidence
We investigate the causes of your fall accident and gather evidence to back up your story. We take this step to prepare for your claim. Based on your specific needs, we may:
- Speak to all eyewitnesses and take their official statements
- Visit the location of your accident
- Collect footage from surveillance cameras showing your fall
- Get copies of any accident reports
We may use the evidence we collect to construct a solid personal injury claim on your behalf.
Track Your Losses
We can track the medical expenses for your injuries and add them to your claim for compensation. We can also keep a tally of other monetary losses from your injuries, such as missed work payments or reduced earning capacity.
You should reach out to us quickly so we do not miss any of your expenses.
Handle Insurance Negotiations
We step in to help with negotiations involving the insurance company that represents the liable party. We know how to assess any settlement offers sent by insurance representatives to ensure they fairly cover your losses.
If the insurance company tries to downplay your expenses, our law firm can push back, demanding more compensation on your behalf.
Help With a Lawsuit
If the insurance company will not treat you fairly, you can rely on us to help with a lawsuit against the liable party. Our personal injury law firm has the training and resources to take your claim to court when necessary to secure funds to cover your economic and non-economic damages. Your attorney will also help you file your injury lawsuit within California’s statute of limitations.
The Importance of Trial Preparedness
The vast majority of personal injury claims settle before going to trial. Trials take significant time and money, so both parties usually try to settle before moving to explicitly legal solutions.
However, it’s a good idea to work with a personal injury lawyer as if the case will go to trial. If the claim does not go to trial, you will still have a robust case that can fully prove the extent of your injuries and losses.
If, in the off chance the case does go to court, you need experienced trial lawyers on your side to represent you. Our attorneys have decades of combined legal experience and understand how to build a case to withstand legal scrutiny and prove your claim to damages.
We Can Help After a Fatal Fall Accident
If a family member dies in a slip and fall accident, you may be able to pursue damages on behalf of the deceased person (decedent). Damages you can recover in a wrongful death claim include:
- Loss of financial support.
- Loss of household services.
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- Medical expenses incurred before death.
- Pain and emotional distress.
- Loss of consortium, affection, and guidance.
Throughout your litigation, your Walnut Creek wrongful death lawyer can provide compassionate care and handle your legal matters so you and your loved ones can focus on taking care of one another.
How Much Time Do You Have to File Your Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
There are deadlines to sue someone if you suffer an injury in a slip and fall accident. In California, the statute of limitations gives you up to two years from the date of your injury to sue for damages. Similarly, you have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit for a slip and fall accident.
Suing a liable party does not guarantee you will receive damages to cover your losses. You are responsible for the burden of proof in your lawsuit. With your lawyer’s help, you could prepare a body of evidence that proves you deserve compensation from an at-fault party.
How Long Does a Slip and Fall Claim Take?
The time it takes to resolve your claim after a fall accident will vary based on the extent of your injuries, the method you choose to seek compensation, and other factors. Generally, we can conclude insurance negotiations in only a few months.
However, a lawsuit could take a year or more. We can provide more exact information about the timeframe to resolve your claim when you reach out to us for professional assistance.
Our Team Always Put Our Clients’ Needs Front and Center
You can take charge after an accident with professional help from a Walnut Creek slip and fall lawyer. We stand ready to assist with all your legal concerns, and we can adapt our services to address your unique needs.
Omega Law Group wants you to get the best results in your litigation. Our lawyers will help you at each stage of the legal process, putting you in a great position to collect the most damages possible in your slip and fall lawsuit. Schedule a consultation with our attorneys.
