Fresno Slip & Fall Injury Lawyer

Slip and fall accidents happen in a split second, but the aftereffects can stay with you for years. You may have a right to compensation if injured by unsafe premises. At SSD Law Firm PC – Star Accident Injury and Immigration Law Firm, we are committed to assisting Fresno residents through the legal system and obtaining the justice they owe. This blog will assist you in finding answers and offering you some guidance. Rely on our Fresno Slip & Fall Injury lawyer to fight for your rights from beginning to end.

Causes of Slip & Fall Incidents in Fresno

Slip and fall accidents in Fresno involve a variety of dangers created by negligence. Here are some common causes:

Wet or Slippery Surfaces

Wet or slick surfaces are among the most common causes of slips and falls. The hazards can come from spills, leaks, or freshly waxed floors that are not correctly marked. When no visible strobe lights indicate that people need to step through these surfaces, there is a high possibility of injury. Avoiding such accidents is simply routine maintenance and cleaning up after yourself.

Poorly Designed or Damaged Staircases

Badly designed or compromised staircases become instant danger zones. Loose floorboards, broken or shaky handrails, and uneven steps can all pose safety risks. Such problems can cause people to lose their balance and lead to critical injuries.

Cluttered Walkways

A common tripping hazard is a walk space with boxes, tools, or stray cords. These accidents can be hidden dangers in workspaces or other busy locations, creating an unsafe environment for workers or visitors. One renewed but relatively easy way to mitigate risk is to keep walkways clear and organized.

Uneven Sidewalks or Potholes

Outdoor surfaces — such as sidewalks and parking lots — tend to have hazards, such as cracks, uneven pavement, or potholes. These present tripping hazards and can result in twisted ankles or falls. Regular maintenance and timely pothole repair can sharply limit these hazards.

Poor Lighting

Inadequate lighting significantly increases the likelihood of accidents. Poor visibility can make spot hazards such as uneven floors, obstacles, or spills difficult. Ensuring well-lit spaces, especially stairwells and entryways, helps keep everyone safe by highlighting potential dangers.

Identifying what caused your fall is critical to proving a property owner’s liability.

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

While a fall might sound minor, the injuries can often be severe. Common slip and fall injuries include:

• Fractures: Broken bones can happen in a fall or sudden force. Wrists, hips, and ankles are especially susceptible, either through how we brace ourselves in a fall or the weight-bearing nature of these joints. Hip fractures — especially among the elderly — can have a major impact on mobility and quality of life, often requiring surgery and lengthy rehabilitation.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): An impact to the head caused by an accident or fall can lead to a traumatic brain injury. These types of injuries include a concussion, which can result in severe brain injuries and complications like amnesia, distractedness, and impaired motor coordination. TBI treatment involves an urgent medical evaluation to understand and address the injury.
• Spinal cord injuries: The amount of damage to the spinal cord can range from mild to complete paralysis, depending on the severity and location of the injury. Such injuries scramble the body’s ability to move or regulate basic functions, often necessitating a lifetime of care and adaptations.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Strains, sprains, and tears of muscles, ligaments, and tendons are all common soft tissue injuries you may sustain in an accident. These injuries can range from limiting your mobility to being incredibly painful to the point that you need physical therapy to recover from them.
• Lacerations and Bruises: While cuts and bruises may look to be minor, they can be an indication of something more serious, like internal bleeding or damage to organs, and warrant a medical evaluation.

Prompt medical care is vital, even if you don’t immediately notice your injuries. Documenting the visits will also lend credence to your case.

Who is Responsible for a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall?

Under California law, property owners have a duty of care to maintain safe premises. If they fail to repair hazardous conditions or warn visitors, they may be held liable for resulting accidents. Examples include:

• Business owners neglecting spilled liquids.
• Apartment landlords failing to fix broken stairs despite complaints.
• Municipalities are responsible for poorly maintained sidewalks or public spaces.

To prove liability, you’ll need to demonstrate that the property owner either knew about the danger or should have reasonably known about it and failed to act.

Proving a Fresno Slip and Fall Claim

To claim this successfully, you must prove four fundamental elements:

1. Duty of care: Property owners are legally obligated to keep visitors  safe. Take steps to identify hazards and mitigate risks. If you were on the property legally, the owner had a duty to keep you safe.
2. Breach of Duty: They breach their duty of care when property owners do not uphold this responsibility, either by failing to fix a dangerous condition or warn visitors and omitting the proper markings for others to be aware of, especially if there is no wet sign on the wet floor.
3. Causation: You’ll need to show that the property owner was responsible for your slip and fall accident, meaning that the hazardous condition caused the slip. There must be a direct correlation between their negligence and your injuries.
4. Damages: Finally, you must demonstrate that the accident directly resulted in compensable damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and emotional distress from your injuries.

Gathering proactive evidence, including photographs of the danger, medical documents, witness statements, and even accident reports, is critical to developing a compelling case.

Compensation Available to Fresno Slip and Fall Victims

Slip and fall accident victims may be eligible for compensation for:

• Medical Expenses

Some of these medical expenses include treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, medication, and medical equipment needed to aid in recovery, as well as future medical expenses that might be incurred.

• Lost Wages

If your injuries prevent you from working during the recovery process, you may qualify to recoup lost income to replace the days or weeks you miss on the job due to your injuries.

• Pain and Suffering

They include compensation for physical pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and mental anguish caused by the injury.

• Loss of Earning Capacity

If your injury affects your ability to work or earn income in the future, you may receive compensation for the long-term impact.

A knowledgeable attorney can help calculate the full scope of your losses to ensure you receive fair compensation.

California Comparative Negligence in Fresno, CA

California operates under a pure comparative negligence rule. This means even if you’re partially at fault for the incident, you can still recover damages—though your compensation will be reduced based on your level of fault.

For example, if the court finds you 30% responsible for wearing inappropriate footwear on wet floors, you would recover 70% of the total settlement amount.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident

What you do immediately after an accident can affect your claim significantly. Here’s what to do:

• Go to the Hospital: A doctor should check whether you feel fine or not. TBIs and other injuries can take time to exhibit symptoms.
• Document the Scene: Take photos or videos of hazards, injuries, and surroundings.
• Exchange Information: Collect contact information from all parties. And their statements might bolster your case.
• Notify the Property Owner and File a Report. Ask for a copy to keep for yourself.
• Do Not Sign Statements: Never discuss your case or sign any document from the property owner’s insurer without an attorney.
• Talk To An Attorney: A skilled slip-and-fall injury lawyer in Fresno can help you on your path to recovery and ensure you have your best foot forward legally.

Contact Fresno’s Trusted Fresno Slip & Fall Injury Lawyer Today

SSD Law Firm PC – Star Accident Injury and Immigration Law Firm can help if you’ve suffered a slip and fall injury. We have decades of experience managing personal injury cases, and we will help you gain the compensation you are entitled to so that you can focus on recovering.

We’re located at 2170 N Winery Ave, Fresno, CA 93703, and we’re proud to serve the residents of Fresno. Contact either attorney today for a free consultation at (559) 342-2000

Client Reviews

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

Jamie N.

January 2025

In December 2023 a woman completely blew a stop sign and nailed me on my bicycle in Old Fig Garden (Fresno, Ca.). This was my first experience dealing with this type of incident, and due to my injuries it was advised I seek legal representation. Mr. Sarwinder Dhanjan agreed to take my case. He clearly explained my case in a way that easy to understand and assured me that he would fight for a fair conclusion. His team stayed in contact with me throughout the process until its conclusion in October 2024. I was very happy with how his team handled my case and would recommend his team to anyone who is going through a similar situation.

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