Slips, Trips & Falls

Slip & Fall Attorney in Glendale

Personalized Slip & Fall Representation in Glendale Since 1997

A slip, trip, or fall can result from a wet floor, uneven pavement, unsafe stairs, poor lighting, or another dangerous property condition. These incidents occur in stores, apartment properties, offices, parking areas, sidewalks, and other public or private premises. Injuries can include lacerations, sprains, concussions, fractures, and other serious harm.

Slip and fall accidents may fall under personal injury law when a property owner, occupier, or other responsible party fails to use reasonable care. These are generally called premises liability claims. A successful claim requires evidence connecting a specific hazard to the fall, showing who controlled the property, and establishing that the responsible party knew or should have known about the condition and had a reasonable opportunity to repair it or provide a warning.

Call Law Offices of Harout Balian at (818) 938-2597 for a free consultation with a Glendale slip, trip, and fall attorney, or use our online contact form.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Slip, Trip & Fall Accident Claim?

To establish liability, you must show that the defendant owned, leased, occupied, or controlled the property and owed you a duty of reasonable care. Next, you must demonstrate that the defendant failed to fulfill this duty. This could involve failing to repair a known hazard, warn visitors about a dangerous condition, or conduct reasonable inspections to identify unsafe conditions.

The evidence must also establish actual or constructive notice. Actual notice means the responsible party knew about the hazard. Constructive notice means the condition existed long enough, or occurred often enough, that a reasonable inspection should have discovered it.

You must also establish causation by showing that the hazardous condition was a substantial factor in causing the fall and your injuries. Finally, you must prove actual losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

California follows comparative fault rules, meaning compensation may be reduced if the evidence shows that the injured person also failed to use reasonable care. Photographs, witness accounts, incident reports, medical documentation, and records showing how long the hazard existed may affect this analysis.

Examples of conditions that can contribute to an injury include:

Wet floors: Spills or leaks that haven’t been promptly cleaned.
Uneven surfaces: Cracks or misaligned tiles that create tripping hazards.
Poor lighting: Insufficient illumination that makes hazards difficult to see.
Obstructed walkways: Equipment, debris, or furniture blocking a path.
Unsecured rugs or mats: Rugs that slide or bunch up, creating a tripping risk.
Inadequate handrails: Missing or damaged railings on stairs or elevated areas.
Loose floorboards: Boards that aren’t adequately secured.
Animal waste: Droppings that can cause slips, especially in residential areas.
Potholes in parking lots: Holes that haven’t been marked or repaired.

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Why Premises Liability Claims Can Be Difficult to Prove

Establishing who is responsible can be challenging, especially in cases involving multiple parties, such as property owners, tenants, landlords, property managers, businesses, public entities, or maintenance companies. Responsibility often depends on who controlled the area and had authority to inspect, repair, or warn about the condition.

Questions about notice, control, and comparative fault can require detailed evidence and witness testimony.

Insurance Claim Disputes

An insurance company may dispute whether a dangerous condition existed, whether the property’s owner or occupier had sufficient notice, or whether the condition caused the fall. It may also question whether the reported injuries resulted from the incident or challenge the extent of medical treatment and physical limitations.

Statements given soon after the accident can affect the claim, particularly when the injured person hasn’t yet received a complete diagnosis. Missing photographs, incomplete medical records, lost surveillance footage, and unresolved questions about property control can also complicate settlement discussions.

An insurer may extend an early settlement offer before the full effects of the injury are documented. Any offer should be evaluated against the available evidence of medical expenses, lost income, pain, physical limitations, and anticipated future effects. Accepting a settlement generally ends the claim, so the amount and release terms require careful review.

Steps to Take After a Slip, Trip, or Fall

What you do after a fall can affect the availability and quality of evidence. Your health comes first, but you should also preserve information about the property condition when it’s safe and practical to do so.

Helpful steps may include:

Seek medical attention: Obtain appropriate care and follow the treating provider’s instructions.
Document the location: Photograph or record the hazard, lighting, warning signs, surrounding conditions, and visible injuries.
Report the incident: Notify the property representative and keep a record of what you reported and when.
Identify witnesses: Collect names and contact information from people who saw the fall or the condition.
Preserve relevant items: Keep photographs, clothing, footwear, receipts, medical records, and insurance communications.

Prompt legal review can be important when surveillance footage, inspection records, or maintenance documents may become unavailable. Avoid repairing or discarding footwear or other physical items that could help explain how the fall occurred.

California Deadlines for Premises Liability Claims

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit based on another party’s wrongful act or neglect. The applicable California statute of limitations can vary based on the defendant, the injured person’s circumstances, and other legal rules.

Public entity claims can involve a much shorter preliminary deadline. Under California Government Code section 911.2, a claim relating to injury generally must be presented to the public entity within six months after the claim accrues. This claim-presentation requirement is separate from the deadline for filing a lawsuit.

These general time limits shouldn’t be treated as case-specific advice. Identifying whether a private party, public entity, or multiple parties controlled the property can be essential to determining the correct procedure and deadline.

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What Sets Us Apart
The Advantages of Choosing the Law Offices of Harout Balian

24/7 Help Anytime You Need It
Our dedicated team is available around the clock to provide you with the support and guidance you need. No matter when an accident occurs, we're here to help you every step of the way.
Hablamos Español
We are proud to offer legal services in both English and Spanish. Our bilingual team ensures that you receive clear and comprehensive legal assistance in the language you are most comfortable with.
We Offer Contingency Fees
We believe that everyone deserves access to justice. That's why we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay us unless we win your case. Your financial peace of mind is our priority.
Over $10 Million Recovered
Our track record speaks for itself. With over $10 million recovered for our clients, you can trust our expertise and dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes for your personal injury case.

Glendale Slip & Fall Claim Representation

Law Offices of Harout Balian has represented Californians in personal injury claims and lawsuits since 1997. We’ve handled thousands of client cases and recovered more than $10 million for clients. A slip and fall lawyer from our firm can assess the incident, the parties controlling the property, the available evidence, your medical treatment, and the losses connected to your injuries.

Our team can collect evidence, including photographs, incident reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements, for use in settlement negotiations. We can also provide legal representation in court if your case goes to trial. Our preparation may include reviewing property and maintenance records, documenting medical damages, addressing insurance communications, and identifying the parties that had control over the dangerous condition.

Clients receive personalized service, close client-attorney interaction, and a legal strategy tailored to the facts of the claim.

We provide legal services in Armenian, Spanish, and English to clients throughout Glendale, the San Fernando Valley, and the Greater Los Angeles Area. We handle personal injury matters on a contingency fee basis, with no upfront fee and no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered.

Call (818) 938-2597 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with a Glendale slip, trip, and fall attorney today.

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