I Slipped and Fell in Poway: Now What?

Nobody plans to slip and fall when they are out to dinner in Poway or walking on a sidewalk for leisure or exercise. Yet slips, trips, and falls can happen almost anywhere in Southern California. While pedestrians can sometimes bear responsibility themselves for injuries sustained in a slip and fall, many slips and falls happen because a person who owns or rents property has been negligent in maintaining that property. Negligence can take many different forms, from failing to clean up a liquid spill on the floor to failing to repair or warn people about torn carpeting that poses a tripping hazard. What should you do if you slipped and fell in Poway? Consider the following steps.

Photograph the Area Where the Slip and Fell Occurred

First, take photographs of the area where the slip and fall occurred. In particular, be sure to document the hazard on the premises that caused you to slip, trip, or fall. That hazard might be a liquid spill, rough flooring, torn or damaged carpeting, or an area where lights were not working properly.

Report the Slip and Fall Accident to the Owner or Manager of the Premises

You should tell the person in charge of the premises about your slip and fall, but it is important not to provide any personal assessment of the situation or to apologize. You will want to do everything you can to preserve your right to full compensation for your losses.

See a Doctor for a Medical Assessment

You need to see a doctor after you have slipped and fallen so that your injuries can be assessed, and so that you have a medical record that clearly links your current injuries to the fall you experienced on another party’s premises.

Speak With a Lawyer to Determine if You Have a Claim

Seek advice from a personal injury lawyer in Poway as soon as you can. A lawyer can assess your case and provide you with information about the best path for seeking financial compensation and holding the negligent property owner accountable.

File Your Lawsuit Before the Statute of Limitations Runs Out

Finally, you must file your slip and fall lawsuit before the California statute of limitations runs out. For most slip and fall cases, California law gives you two years from the date of your slip and fall accident to file a lawsuit. Yet it is critical to keep in mind that a slip and fall on public property could require you to file a claim within six months from the date of the accident, so it is best to seek advice from a lawyer as quickly as possible to ensure that you do not end up with a time-barred claim.

Contact a Poway Personal Injury Attorney

Slips and falls can occur almost anywhere in Poway, from the entryway to a neighbor’s home or a retail store to a public sidewalk or a workplace. Depending upon what led to your slip and fall accident and whether the owner or manager of the premises was negligent, you may be able to file a lawsuit in order to seek compensation. An experienced Poway slip and fall lawyer at our firm can tell you more about premises liability law in California and can speak with you about filing a claim. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about the services we provide to injured plaintiffs and their families in Southern California.

See Related Blog Posts: How to Avoid Poway Hotel and Motel Injuries During the Holiday Season What Should I Do About a Slip and Fall in an Oceanside Supermarket?