Trip and Fall
When an accident leaves you injured through no fault of your own, the road ahead can feel overwhelming before you even begin. Medical appointments, missed work, and a claims process designed to minimize what you receive all compound the stress of recovery. California’s personal injury laws exist to hold negligent parties accountable, but navigating them effectively requires knowing how to build a claim, how to document losses, and how to counter insurance industry tactics that work against injured victims from the start. Se habla español, and our Fresno team is ready to walk you through every step in the language you are most comfortable with.
Setareh Law has recovered over $400 million for injury victims throughout California, and our Fresno personal injury attorneys bring that same commitment to every case we handle in the Central Valley. The firm has earned more than 900 five-star Google reviews and maintains seven California office locations, with home and hospital visits available for clients who cannot travel. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
California Gives You Only Two Years to File a Personal Injury Claim
Waiting too long can permanently cost you the right to recover compensation. Acting quickly preserves evidence and protects your case.
Personal injury claims filed in Fresno County are generally resolved through the Fresno County Superior Court, either through negotiated settlement with the at-fault party’s insurer or, when necessary, through a filed lawsuit and trial. Before any compensation is available, though, your attorney has to establish that the other party was legally negligent. California courts look at four distinct elements when evaluating a negligence claim, and missing any one of them can weaken an otherwise strong case.
The other party owed you a legal obligation to act reasonably, such as a driver’s duty to follow traffic laws.
The party failed to meet that obligation, for example by texting while driving or ignoring a known hazard.
The breach has to be directly connected to how you were hurt, not just a coincidental factor in the incident.
You suffered actual harm, whether medical costs, lost income, or pain and suffering, as a result.
California also follows a pure comparative negligence standard, meaning you may still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident, though your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Insurance companies frequently attempt to assign injured victims a greater share of blame than is warranted, which is one of the most common tactics used to reduce a payout.
Fresno’s combination of high-traffic corridors, agricultural vehicle routes, and dense commercial districts creates conditions where serious accidents occur across a wide range of categories. Our firm handles the following types of personal injury claims in Fresno.
Collisions caused by distracted, speeding, or impaired drivers on Fresno roads.
Crashes where riders face a higher risk of severe injury from inattentive drivers.
Collisions with commercial trucks and agricultural vehicles common on Central Valley routes.
Injuries to cyclists sharing the road with vehicle traffic.
Injuries from scooter falls or collisions in high traffic areas.
Crashes caused by impaired drivers, which may support a claim for punitive damages.
Injuries to passengers, drivers, or pedestrians involved in a bus crash.
Neck and back injuries common even in low speed collisions.
Claims pursued by surviving family members after a fatal accident.
Injuries from dog attacks, generally governed by strict liability in California.
Falls caused by hazardous conditions at a business establishment.
Injuries caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.
Falls, equipment failures, and other jobsite injuries.
Dog bite claims in California operate under a strict liability standard, meaning the owner may be responsible regardless of whether the animal had previously shown aggression. Slip and fall cases at commercial properties require demonstrating that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to address it. Truck accident cases often involve multiple liable parties, including the driver, the trucking carrier, and cargo loaders. Understanding which legal framework applies to your situation is one of the first things our attorneys assess when we take your case.
California personal injury law allows injured victims to pursue two broad categories of compensation. The table below breaks down what each category can include.
| Damage Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Economic Damages | Medical bills, surgery costs, physical therapy, prescription medication, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage |
| Non-Economic Damages | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium |
| Punitive Damages | Available in limited cases involving extreme negligence or intentional misconduct |
Setareh Law is among California’s most recognized personal injury firms, and our attorneys bring that experience to bear from the very first phone call. Our team investigates your accident, gathers police and medical records, works with professionals to document the full scope of your losses, and handles all insurer communications on your behalf so you can focus on recovering. You can learn more about our firm’s history and attorneys on our firm profile page, including founding attorney Daniel Setareh.
Results matter more than promises. In one recent Fresno-area matter, our firm secured a $1,000,000 settlement for a client injured in a collision with an Uber vehicle. Outcomes vary by case, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome, but they reflect the kind of preparation and negotiation our clients can expect. You can review additional case outcomes on our case results page.
As an injured accident victim in California, you have the right to seek full compensation for your losses, the right to decline a recorded statement to the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney, and the right to seek a second medical opinion if you disagree with an insurer-referred provider’s assessment of your injuries. You also have the right to be represented by counsel of your own choosing rather than one suggested by an insurance company, and the right to reject a settlement offer that does not reasonably reflect the value of your claim.
Adjusters are trained to obtain information that can be used to reduce your settlement or deny your claim entirely. Setareh Law handles all insurer communications on your behalf from the moment you retain us, protecting you from common tactics used to minimize payouts.
Small missteps in the days after an accident can meaningfully reduce what you are able to recover. The steps below are among the most common issues we see in Fresno cases.
Conditions including traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage can present with delayed symptoms, and gaps in treatment give insurers a reason to question your claim.
Speaking to an adjuster before consulting an attorney can produce statements later used to minimize your settlement.
Initial settlement offers are frequently well below the actual value of a claim, especially before the full extent of injuries is known.
Photos or posts suggesting activity or well-being can be used by insurers to argue your injuries are less serious than claimed.
Evidence can be lost and witness memories fade quickly, and California’s filing deadline does not pause while you decide.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, most personal injury victims have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Claims against a government agency, such as those involving a city vehicle or a hazard on public property, generally require a formal claim to be filed within six months, a much shorter window than the standard two-year deadline. Missing either deadline typically bars you from recovering compensation altogether, regardless of how strong the underlying case may be.
The timeline for resolving a claim varies considerably depending on the complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Cases involving clear liability and defined injuries may resolve in several months through negotiation, while more complex cases involving catastrophic injuries or multiple defendants may take longer to reach resolution.
If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, time matters. Evidence can be lost, witnesses become harder to reach, and legal deadlines approach quickly. Setareh Law is ready to evaluate your case at no cost, explain your options in English or Spanish, and begin working on your claim right away.
Call our Fresno office at (310) 659-1826 or submit our contact form to get started today. There are no fees unless we recover compensation for your case.
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The experienced team of Beverly Hills auto accident lawyers at our law firm, Setareh Law, is standing by, ready to provide you with zealous legal representation.
We move quickly to investigate your accident, gather evidence, and start negotiating with insurance companies right away, so you’re not left waiting to find out what your case is worth.
You pay nothing to hire us and owe no attorney fees unless we win your case. Our fee comes out of your settlement or verdict, so there’s no financial risk in reaching out.
Talk to us about your accident at no cost and with no obligation. We’ll walk you through your options and let you know how we can help before you decide anything.
Everything you share with us stays between you and your legal team. We handle every case with the discretion it deserves, from your first call through the final resolution.
If you, a family member or a friend has suffered a personal injury, contact us today at 310-356-0023 for a free case evaluation. Our experienced team can evaluate the facts of your case, discuss the viable avenues for compensation recovery, and serve as your counsel throughout the personal injury claims process.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. This is our “No Recovery, No Fee” promise. Our fee comes as a percentage of the final settlement or verdict, so there is no financial risk in speaking with us about your case.
In most California personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If your claim is against a government entity, the deadline is much shorter, as you generally have only six months to file a formal claim. Because these deadlines can affect your ability to recover anything, it is best to reach out to us as soon as possible.
California follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for what happened. Your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault, you can still recover 80 percent of your damages.
We represent people across California in a wide range of personal injury matters. Our work covers motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, motorcycle, rideshare, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, and electric scooter cases, as well as premises liability claims, such as slip-and-fall and dog-bite incidents. We also handle construction and workplace accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and insurance bad faith cases.
The value of a case depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, lost wages, future care needs, and the impact on your daily life. No two cases are the same, so an honest valuation requires a careful review of your specific situation. During a free consultation, we can discuss the details and give you a clearer picture of what your claim may be worth.
Insurance companies often aim to settle claims quickly and for as little as possible. Having an attorney levels the playing field by handling negotiations, gathering evidence, and protecting you from tactics designed to reduce your payout. With more than 60 years of combined experience and over $250 million recovered for our clients, we know how to pursue the full value of a claim.
Your health comes first, so seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor. After that, try to document the scene with photos, gather contact information from any witnesses, and keep records of your medical care and expenses. Avoid giving recorded statements to the other party’s insurer until you have spoken with us.
Yes, we provide bilingual services in both English and Spanish so that language is never a barrier to getting help. Our team is proud to serve California’s diverse communities from our eight office locations.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
We’ll review your accident details, explain your legal rights, and answer all your questions. You have no obligation to hire us.
Our legal team collects police reports, medical records, witness statements, and evidence to build your strongest case.
We handle all insurance communication, presenting compelling evidence and pushing back against lowball offers to secure full compensation.
If negotiations fail, we file a formal lawsuit to protect your rights while handling all legal filings and keeping you informed.
Many cases settle before trial, but we’re fully prepared to present your case to a jury if needed to secure fair compensation.
Once we reach a settlement or win at trial, you receive your compensation and move forward with your recovery.
Home Visits are Available. Call for More Details
If you, a family member or a friend has suffered a personal injury as a result of an accident, negligence, or a defective drug, contact us today at 310-659-1826 for a free case evaluation. Our experienced team can evaluate the facts of your case, discuss the viable avenues for compensation recovery, and serve as your counsel throughout the personal injury claims process.
Trip and Fall
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Start With a Free Case Review. Fill Out the Form Provided or Call 310-659-1826 and Our Attorneys Will Be in Touch.
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