Thousand Oaks, CA Slip and Fall Lawyer

California Slip and Fall Attorneys Representing Plaintiffs in Thousand Oaks

Suffering a slip and fall accident in Thousand Oaks, California can result in serious injuries that require costly medical care and lead to lost workdays. If a slip and fall accident happens on another person’s property, it is important for the injury victim to know that she may be able to file a claim against the property owner (or anyone in control of the property) if the accident happened because the property owner did not take sufficient precautions. California, like many other states, requires property owners to ensure that their premises do not pose unnecessary risks of harm to people who are lawfully on the property, from friends and family members to potential customers. Both residential and commercial property owners can be held liable when a slip and fall accident occurs.

If you have questions about filing a slip and fall claim, you should speak with an experienced Thousand Oaks, CA slip and fall lawyer today about filing a claim for financial compensation.

What is a Slip and Fall in Thousand Oaks?

A slip and fall claim is one type of premises liability claim. With premises liability lawsuits, California law recognizes that a person on someone else’s property should not have to worry about hazards on the property that could lead to an injury. When such hazards do exist and someone gets hurt, they may be able to file a premises liability claim.

More specifically, slips and falls in Thousand Oaks, CA involve any situation in which a hazard causes a person to slip, trip, or fall. Slip and fall accidents can happen in many different ways, such as when a restaurant or grocery store floor is wet due to a liquid spill, an office building has an area with loose or torn carpeting, a homeowner fails to repair an outdoor pathway light, or an electrical cord is placed in a common walking area.

Who is Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident in Ventura, CA?

Generally speaking, property owners, as well as anyone who leases, rents, or manages the property, has a duty to use and maintain that property in such a manner that prevents unreasonable hazards. Anyone in control of the property in California is required to exercise ordinary care so that another person who is lawfully on the property will not be exposed to an unreasonable risk of harm. Ordinary care may involve cleaning up liquid spills when they happen, repairing damaged flooring or a damaged stairway railing, or changing a burned-out lightbulb along an exterior walkway.

Proving Fault in a Thousand Oaks, CA Slip and Fall Claim

Under California law, to win a slip and fall lawsuit, a plaintiff typically must be able to prove that the defendant—the one against whom the claim has been filed—owned, leased, occupied, or controlled the property where the slip and fall accident happened. Then, the plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant was negligent in maintaining the property. Next, the plaintiff will need to be able to prove that she suffered an injury and that the defendant’s negligence played a substantial role in causing the injury.

Common Causes of Thousand Oaks, CA Slips and Falls

The National Safety Council (NSC) emphasizes that, while slips and falls often result in injuries form which a person can recover, that can be much more serious. Indeed, in 2016 alone, nearly 35,000 people died from injuries they sustained in falls, and nearly 50,000 workers suffered fall-related injuries that prevented them from working. The following are some common causes of slips and falls:

Slick floors at a workplace or in a residence;
Work area with tripping hazards or slipping hazards, such as liquid spills or large objects in a walking path;
Clutter on floors and other walking surfaces;
Electrical and phone cords in foot traffic areas;
Lack of handrails on stairways; and
Lack of adequate lighting outdoors or in dark areas.

Places Where Thousand Oaks Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents Happen

Slips and falls can happen almost anywhere in Thousand Oaks, including but not limited to the following:

Office building;
Construction site;
Restaurant;
Parking Lot;
Retail store;
House of a family or friend;
Sidewalk; and/or
Interior or exterior stairway.

When a slip and fall accident happens, it is extremely important to seek advice from a premises liability lawyer in Thousand Oaks. The longer you wait to file a claim, the longer it will take to obtain financial compensation to help cover your injuries and lost wages.

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Ventura, CA Slip and Fall Accident Claim

If you get hurt in a slip and fall accident, you should begin working with an experienced Thousand Oaks premises liability attorney as soon as possible to ensure that your claim is filed in a timely manner. California’s personal injury statute of limitations requires most slip and fall lawsuits to be filed within two years from the date the accident occurred. This means that the “clock” on the statute of limitations starts ticking on the date of the slip and fall incident, and from that point, the plaintiff only has two years to file a claim. If the “clock” runs out, California law bars a plaintiff from obtaining compensation through a civil lawsuit.

In some situations, the “clock” actually could be much shorter. For example, if the slip and fall accident occurred on government property, you may need to file a claim in as little time as six months from the date of the accident. You should work with a slip and fall lawyer in Thousand Oaks to be certain that your claim gets filed on time.

Contact a Thousand Oaks, CA Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Today

Were you injured in a slip and fall accident? You should learn more about filing a claim by speaking with an aggressive Thousand Oaks slip and fall accident lawyer about your case. At Fisher & Talwar, we have years of experience representing plaintiffs in a wide variety of personal injury cases, and we can discuss your options with you today. Contact Fisher & Talwar to learn more about the services we provide to plaintiffs in Southern California.

Other Thousand Oaks Practice Areas