A slip and fall accident can result in painful and debilitating injuries, including bone fractures and head injuries.
At Jacoby & Meyers, our premises liability lawyers are committed to seeking justice for slip, trip and fall accident victims in Riverside and throughout Southern California.
Our Riverside slip and fall lawyers have years of experience in the field, allowing us to generate bigger, better and more immediate results for our clients.
Let our office and team handle everything related to your case while you focus on healing after a slip and fall. Contact us today (951) 720-3007 to start with a free initial case consultation.
No Fees Unless We Win
$1.95 Million Won Against the City – We Win the ‘Hard to Prove’ Cases
Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers
- We put our clients first at every stage of the claims process. Our team is composed of lawyers, medical case managers and other team members who will make your legal journey easy.
- We have collected more than $2 billion in settlements for our clients, including $1.95 million for a premises liability case against the city. We have a 99 percent case success rate.
- Our slip and fall attorneys in Riverside operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay us anything for our services unless we win your case.
Common Types of Slip and Fall Accidents in Riverside
Fall accidents are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in the United States, according to the National Safety Council.
In 2022, 46,643 people lost their lives in fatal falls both at home and in the workplace.
Where Slip and Falls Occur
Slip and falls can happen anywhere in Riverside, but are especially common in locations with hazardous conditions.
Frequently reported fall locations include:
- Grocery stores and retail establishments
- Restaurants and bars
- Shopping malls and parking lots
- Hotels and resorts
- Apartment complexes and rental properties
- Sidewalks and public walkways
- Workplace facilities
- Construction sites
- Medical facilities and hospitals
- Parks and recreational areas
- Private residences
Business owners have a higher duty of care regarding the safety of customers than social hosts in Riverside.
The government, landlords, employers and homeowners can also be held responsible for preventable fall accidents that occur on their premises.
Common Hazardous Conditions
Fall accidents in Riverside are 100 percent preventable.
They typically arise due to a property owner failing to maintain a safe environment for lawful guests, visitors and workers.
Common examples of premises hazards that can lead to falls are:
- Wet or slippery floors (due to spills, cleaning, weather, etc.)
- Uneven surfaces and broken pavement
- Poor lighting and visibility issues
- Torn carpeting or loose flooring
- Cluttered walkways and obstacles
- Exposed cords or wires
- Missing handrails on stairs
- Potholes in parking lots
- Defective stairs or steps
- Inadequate warning signs
It is a property owner’s duty of care in California to prevent foreseeable fall hazards and remedy them as soon as any are discovered.
Otherwise, a serious fall accident can take place.
Common Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents
A fall accident in Riverside can lead to trauma-related injuries from the impact between your body and the ground or floor surface.
If you strike objects on the way down, such as a staircase or desk, this can inflict additional impact injuries.
Common injuries seen in emergency rooms from fall accidents include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Head injuries and concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and back trauma
- Soft-tissue injuries (sprains and strains)
- Shoulder injuries and dislocations
- Knee and ligament damage
- Cuts, bruises and lacerations
- Chronic pain conditions
- Wrongful death
Slip and fall accidents can be catastrophic, resulting in much more than just scrapes and bruises.
Falls from heights can be deadly. Older adults are most at risk of suffering fatal injuries and health complications from falls.
Understanding Premises Liability Law in California
If you get hurt in a slip and fall accident in Riverside, it is worthwhile to look into whether you have grounds to file a premises liability claim.
Premises liability is an area of law that governs a property owner’s responsibility to prevent unsafe and hazardous conditions.
Breaching this duty of care is known as negligence, and can give the victim grounds to file a civil claim in pursuit of financial compensation.
Property Owner Responsibilities
The specific responsibilities a property owner has in terms of preventing slip and fall accidents vary based on the type of property and visitor.
There are three visitor classifications:
- Invitee: someone who has been invited to the property for the owner’s benefit, such as a customer at a business. Invitees are owed the highest standards of care; the owner must inspect the property for hidden or unknown hazards, repair known risks, and warn visitors of potential dangers.
- Licensee: someone with permission to enter the property, such as a social guest. A landowner in Riverside has a duty to warn licensees of dangers that might not be obvious, but he or she does not have to check for unknown hazards.
- Trespasser: someone who does not have permission or lawful authority to be on a property. Trespassers are owed the least duty of care, with an exception for trespassers under the age of 18.
Proving a slip and fall accident claim requires evidence that the defendant owned, controlled or occupied the property; the defendant was negligent in meeting his or her duty of care to maintain a reasonably safe property; and the plaintiff suffered an injury or damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence.
Why You Need a Riverside Slip and Fall Attorney
Slip and fall accident cases can be difficult to win. Insurance companies often reject these claims or use defenses such as comparative negligence (“the victim is at fault”) to reduce payouts.
An attorney in Riverside with experience handling slip and fall accident cases can protect you from insurance company tactics.
Your lawyer will be able to investigate the fall, collect evidence against the defendant, combat defenses and seek maximum compensation on your behalf.
Your lawyer will navigate the complex elements and laws involved in your slip and fall case, such as multiple liable parties and a potential court trial, while you concentrate on healing.
Contact a Riverside Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
Achieving a fair case outcome and getting the financial compensation you need after suffering an injury in a slip and fall accident may take help from a qualified personal injury attorney in Riverside.
Jacoby & Meyers has been representing slip and fall clients in California for more than 50 years. We will fight for the justice you deserve.
Contact us online or call (951) 720-3007 today to discuss your situation in detail with an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer at no cost or obligation. We have 14 offices conveniently located throughout California.