Oceanside Slip & Fall Lawyer

1. Report the accident to the store owner or manager. 
2. Take pictures of the environment where you fell. 
3. Document what happened. What were you doing? Who was there? What were you wearing? What part of your body hit the ground first? What was the condition of the ground and environment where you fell? 
4. Try to determine how long the obstacle or spill or whatever it was that caused your fall was there before the accident. If had just happened, it may be hard to prove negligence. 
5. Limit communication with employees, the owner, and the insurance adjuster. 

For other things to avoid doing, see the section above on how to ruin your case. 

According to the California Business Journal, the average slip and fall settlement in California ranges between $15,000 and $50,000. That is true here in Oceanside as well. What you’re entitled depends on the severity of your injuries and the cost you’ve incurred as a result.  

These are the most common places Oceanside slip and fall accidents occur:

• Accidents at nursing homes and hospitals: The elderly and infirm may not get the assistance they need to keep from falling.

• Construction sites: Falls often occur at construction sites that put workers at high levels, particularly when care is not taken to prevent falls. 

• Sidewalks,  walkways, parking lots: Broken pavement, cracks, and uneven surfaces in walkways, driveways and parking lots can cause slips and trips. In addition, improper lighting may also be to blame. 

• Steps and stairways:  Steps that are too high or railings that are either non-existent or wobbly can cause falls. 

• Gas stations, stores, shopping malls, public events or anywhere where spills or obstruction to walkways can occur. 

• Public events where there may be improper lighting to get to your seat, improper management of crowds, or spills in walkways. 

It should be noted that slips, trips and falls can happen anywhere at any time, but that doesn’t necessarily mean someone else is to blame or that compensation is due you. See the next question. 

To win a slip and fall claim, you need to prove: 

• Liability: The defendant had a duty of care, meaning it was their responsibility to provide a safe environment. 
• Negligence: The defendant failed to meet the duty of care and the plaintiff was harmed. 
• Cause: The defendant was responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries. 
• Damages: You have documented expenses. 

Our office works with a variety of doctors in the Oceanside who can provide immediate medical treatment and defer payment until the case is finished.

You pay us only IF we recover compensation for you through a settlement with the insurance company or a verdict through the court. If we do not recover compensation for you, you do NOT have to pay us for our time.

This depends on the extent of your injury. Typically, a Oceanside slip and fall case takes anywhere from two to eight months. Sometimes, cases take longer if they are more complex or if a lawsuit is filed. See our personal injury lawsuit timeline page for all the details on how long your case may take.

Not necessarily. Sometimes you are far better off without filing a lawsuit. Our San Diego personal injury law office typically files a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, if any. We then attempt to negotiate with the insurance company. If you are dissatisfied with the insurance company’s offer, we may decide to file a lawsuit.