You will need an expert lawyer experienced in slip and fall cases if you have slipped and fell at the fault of another party. California law allows victims of such accidents to recover for their injuries from all responsible parties. Victims of slip and fall accidents in Stockton are recommended to contact a competent and experienced attorney near their home because when you’re near your lawyer in terms of distance, the lawyer is better able to serve your needs.

Stockton is one of the fastest growing cities in California; between the year 2000 and 2010 the population of the city grew by nearly 20%.  The population growth has corresponded with an increase in the number of personal injury claims including slip and fall accidents.  Most victims of slip and fall accidents will need a dedicated personal injury attorney to represent them in their case in order to maximize their monetary settlements. Our top-rated law firm is dedicated to protecting the legal rights of individuals who have suffered severe injuries caused by the negligent or intentional conduct of property owners, store owners and managers in Fresno and surrounding communities. Victims of slip trip and fall accidents are entitled to monetary recovery for all damages they have suffered. Below you will find important information regarding your right to recovery for injuries suffered due to a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. If you have any further questions or if you would like to speak with an accomplished Stockton slip and fall lawyer, feel free to contact our law offices. All legal consultations and case reviews are provided by our experienced lawyers 100% free of charge.

What Should Be Done After a Slip and Fall Accident – Step to Take

One: If injured, seek medical attention immediately. Contact the local paramedics or ask the security personnel or manager of the store to provide you with immediate medical care. Immediate medical attention and a diagnosis of your injuries can play an important role in determining the extent of the damages you suffered and the potential recovery you are entitled to.

Two: File an incident report with the manager or security. Tell them that you would like to file an incident report. Once the report is taken ask them for a copy.

Three: Gather evidence. Take pictures of any spills, debris, or irregular surface conditions that caused the accident. If there are any witnesses ask for their contact information including their names and numbers.

Four: Do not speak with any manager or insurance adjuster regarding your case. Any comments or statements you make to them can be uses against you to reduce or eliminate your chances of recovery.

Five: Seek legal help from a skilled lawyer in Stock with experience handling slip and fall injury claims.

Please note that failure to take the above steps does not necessarily ruin your case. A qualified attorney with expertise in slip and fall injury lawsuits can still overcome obstacles in a case if they have the experience and expertise required. The above steps should be taken in an ideal situation; but we do realize sometimes victims of accidents are in a state of shock and they may fail to take some or all of the above steps.

Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents

There are numerous injuries which can result from a slip and fall accident. Some of the most common injuries include the following.

• Spinal cord injuries: Back and neck pain are the most common symptoms of spinal cord injury. Victims of spinal cord injuries should receive medical evaluation and treatment by an orthopedics doctor or a pain management physician with a specialty in spinal cord damage.
• Knee Damage: Including tears to the meniscus, ACL and MCL and shattered knee caps.  Following intensive physical therapy victims may have to undergo knee surgery and knee replacement surgery.
• Broken bones: Mainly fractures to the tibia, cracked ribs as well as hand and wrist injuries.
• Trauma sustained to the head resulting in traumatic brain damage. Victims of brain injury may often suffer from symptoms that may go undiagnosed. Common signs of brain injury include loss of consciousness at the time of the traumatic event, short term memory loss, and sensitivity to light.
• Injuries to the ankles and feet.
• Other injuries: Fractures to the hip, internal organ injuries, bowel obstruction, damage to the pancreases and rupturing of the spleen.
• Mental stress: One the most overlooked injuries is the psychological damage resulting from the damage suffered by the individual. Victims often suffer from extreme levels of anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress.

The Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall / Trip and Fall Accidents

Based on years of available data our team has compiled a list of the most common causes of slip, trip and fall injuries in Stockton, CA.

• Torn or loose carpeting or floor boards.
• Failure to place warning signs following polishing or mopping the floor.
• Failure to pick up debris from the floor within a reasonable time frame.
• Uneven walkways and sidewalks.
• Defectively designed stairways.
• Electrical wiring left unattended.
• Poor lighting conditions on walkways, hallways and stairways.

Such accidents can take place in many public spaces including supermarkets, grocery stores, public roads and sidewalks, shopping malls and shopping centers, stadiums and other sporting facilities such as gyms and health clubs, movie theaters, office buildings, public schools and universities.

Proving your Case in the Court of Law – Slip and Fall Lawsuit Information

The majority of premises liability lawsuits are predicated on a negligence based cause of action. There are four elements in a negligence based lawsuit that must be proven in order for the victim to recover monetary compensation.

• Duty: Does the defendant (at fault party the lawsuit is filed against) owed a duty to the victim who is pursuing a claim.
• Breach: Did the defendant breach a duty owed to the victim.
• Causation: Was the breach of the duty of care a legal and actual cause of the accident.
• Damages: Did the victim suffer actual damages and diagnosable injuries as a result of the accident.

Duty Owed by Property Owners

The duty that is owed by a property owner is based on the status of the injured victim at the time of the accident. For example trespassers are owed virtually no duty from property owners. Those who enter a property with permission but for a non-economic purpose, such as invited guests to a home, are owed a duty to be warned of all known dangers and a duty to have any dangers eliminated before entering the property. Individuals who enter a property for an economic purpose are owed the highest duty of care; the property owner must protect them from all known dangers, properly warn them of those dangers, and to routinely inspect the property for any potential dangers.

Deadline for Filing a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Lawsuit in California

Victims of personal injury have two years from the date of the accident to file a civil lawsuit in the state of California. Failure to file a lawsuit within the statutory time limit will eliminate your right to recovery. Minors, individual under the age of 18 have two years from the date of their 18^th birthday to file a lawsuit. In some instances courts have granted a tolling of the statute of limitations thus allowing individual to pursue a civil case in the court of law for recovery even when the two year statute has passed. Examples include mental or physical incapacitation, time of war and active military service.

• Claims against government entities: Individuals injured due to the negligent conduct of government entities must first file an administrative claim with the government agency in question within 6 months from the date of the accident. Once the administrative claim has been rejected victims have 6 months from the date of the denial to file a lawsuit in the court of law.

Victims of personal injury are entitled to compensation for all the damage they have suffered. This includes recovery for all current and future medical expenses, loss of income, loss of future earnings due to long term injuries, damage to property, and mental anguish. In some cases victims may recover punitive damage when the at fault parties actions rise to the level of intentional conduct or reckless endangerment of others. An attorney who has experience in slip and fall cases in Stockton can assist you further.

Attorney Consultation Available

If you have been recently injured due to a slip and fall or trip and fall accident feel free to reach our law firm. All consultations and case reviews are provided free of charge by our top attorneys with experience in slip and fall cases.