San Mateo Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer
Slip and Fall Attorney in San Mateo, CA
Slip-and-fall accidents may not sound serious, but they can cause severe injuries that may prevent victims from working or performing daily activities for weeks, months, or even years. This is why victims of slip-and-fall accidents have the chance to recover monetary compensation through a premises liability claim. The compensation they receive from a resolved claim can help them cover medical bills, mobility aid devices, loss of wages, and other losses resulting from the accident.
Setareh Law knows how damaging a slip-and-fall accident can be and are ready to help victims recover the compensation they need to aid their recovery. Our experienced attorneys have handled numerous premises liability cases and know what it takes to build a strong claim. When you work with us, you not only benefit from our resources, expertise, and Spanish-speaking lawyers, but we can also make sure you have the legal and moral support you need throughout the entire process.
What Is the Premises Liability Law?
Slip-and-fall accidents fall under the umbrella of the premises liability law. Under the premises liability law, private and public property owners are legally responsible for protecting others from dangerous conditions or defects on their property that may cause injury. A property owner is held liable (financially responsible) if they fail to meet their legal duty of care and someone is injured on their property.
Filing a Slip-and-Fall Claim in San Mateo, California
After a slip-and-fall accident in California, there are several options for recovering compensation for injuries, out-of-pocket losses, and other damages. Those options are:
- Filing a claim under a company’s commercial liability insurance if your accident occurred in a store or other business.
- Filing a claim under a homeowner’s insurance policy if your accident occurred at someone’s home.
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the property owner or other at-fault parties regardless of whether you filed an insurance claim first.
The insurance claim process is supposed to be for victims to come away with a fair settlement that covers the cost and impact of their slip-and-fall injuries and other related losses. However, when insurance companies or property owners try to undervalue or deny a claim, the slip-and-fall case may end up in court, where it can be resolved in a trial.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a San Mateo Slip-and-Fall Case?
The statute of limitations is the timeline the law sets on someone’s right to file a claim or lawsuit. In California, the statute of limitations for a premises liability case is the same as the one applied to general personal injury cases: two years. Victims have two years from the date of the accident to file their claims. If victims don’t file within two years, they give up their right to seek compensation. Therefore, filing your claim as soon as possible is essential to avoid missing the deadline.
What If Government Negligence Caused Your Slip-and-Fall?
If the carelessness of a government employee caused your slip-and-fall accident, there are different laws to keep in mind, including:
- You’ll likely need to provide the government entity with a notice of your claim within six months of the accident
- You may need to give the state or municipality government a chance to respond to your allegations
Whether you suffered injuries because of a broken city-owned sidewalk or on a DMV parking lot, dealing with government agencies isn’t easy. A government agency will have strong representation that wants your claim to go away. You need to even the playing field by hiring a strong representation of your own. At Setareh Law, we have experience going up against large adversaries and are not afraid to do what we need to ensure our clients receive fair treatment and compensation.
What Needs to Be Proven in a Slip-and-Fall Case?
In a premises liability case, it’s necessary to prove four main elements:
- The defendant owned or was in control of the property where the accident occurred (only certain parties, such as landlords, property owners, occupiers, leasers, and business owners, have a responsibility to keep the premises safe).
- That the defendant was negligent. Negligence refers to any form of careless or reckless behavior that a rational person would not do in the same or similar circumstances.
- The defendant’s negligence is a significant factor that contributed to causing the accident and your injuries.
- The dangerous conditions on the property harmed you and your injuries would not have occurred had it not been for the dangerous conditions.
You have grounds for filing a slip-and-fall claim if the owner failed to keep their premises reasonably safe. Property owners often want these kinds of cases to go away quickly and may offer a seemingly good offer, but they’re often significantly less than a claim is actually worth. Contact Setareh Law to ensure you recover the full compensation you are entitled to.
Contact Our Experienced San Mateo Slip-and-Fall Lawyers Today
When you’re injured on someone else’s property, it’s crucial to understand whether the property owner or another party is legally responsible for covering your damages. Discussing your situation with an experienced San Mateo personal injury lawyer is a good first step. They can ensure your rights are protected and that you don’t accept any offers that don’t come close to what you deserve.
At Setareh Law, we know how critical it is to have strong representation that can stand up for your rights and ensure your claim gets the resolution it deserves. Our team is committed to providing our clients with exceptional legal counsel and services. Facing property owners may seem intimidating, but we’ll make sure you don’t get taken advantage of. Contact our firm today through our online contact form or call (310) 659-1826.