Wet floors & spills
Supermarkets, restaurants, big-box stores, and hotels with unaddressed spills and no warning cones.
Premises Liability & Slip-and-Fall
California Premises Liability Lawyer
Property owners in California owe invitees and guests a safe space. When they fail — through hidden hazards, poor maintenance, or willful neglect — they answer for the injuries that follow.
Reviewed by Ryan D. Kocaj, Founding Attorney — CA Bar No. 321680Last updated
"Slip and fall" sounds minor. It isn't. A fall on a wet supermarket floor or a broken stair can cause hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disability — particularly for older adults. The CDC reports that one in four Americans over 65 falls each year, and many of those falls are preventable.
California Civil Code § 1714 imposes a duty of reasonable care on every property owner. We hold owners and their insurers to that duty.
Cases we take
What we handle
Each fact pattern is investigated with the same intensity — whether it settles before suit or proceeds through trial and appeal.
Broken stairs & handrails
Defective stairways, missing handrails, and code violations that cause falls.
Inadequate lighting
Parking lots, stairwells, and walkways too dim to see hazards.
Negligent security assaults
Apartment complexes, hotels, and parking structures with foreseeable criminal activity and inadequate security.
Swimming pool drownings
Hotel and apartment pools without proper fencing, signage, or lifeguarding.
Dog bites on rented premises
Landlord liability when prior knowledge of a dangerous animal can be proven.
Why this matters
The stakes are real.
Premises cases turn on two questions: did a dangerous condition exist, and did the owner know — or should they have known — about it? Answering those questions requires fast investigation. Stores rotate surveillance footage on short cycles. Maintenance logs get "lost." Witnesses leave.
We send preservation letters within hours, depose corporate maintenance representatives, and use industry experts (human factors, building codes, security) to prove what the owner knew and when.
Compensation we pursue
Damages available to you
- Hospital bills, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Long-term care for disabling injuries
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of independence
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium for spouses
What to expect
How we build your case
- 01
Preserve the evidence
We send spoliation letters, request video footage, and photograph the scene before it's altered.
- 02
Prove notice & duty
Through depositions, maintenance records, and prior incident reports we establish what the owner knew.
- 03
Maximize the recovery
We work with vocational and life-care planners to document long-term harm — and litigate when carriers won't pay.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What if I was partially at fault for the fall?
California uses pure comparative negligence — you can still recover even if you were partially at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Don't assume you don't have a case.
How long do I have to file a slip-and-fall claim?
Two years from the date of injury for most premises liability claims. Claims against government entities (e.g., a fall in a public building) require a written claim within six months.
What if I fell at a friend's house?
These claims are typically paid by the homeowner's insurance policy, not by your friend personally. Pursuing the claim does not personally cost your friend anything.
Do I need to have reported the fall to win?
Reporting helps but isn't required. Photographs of the scene, medical records, and witness statements can establish liability even without an incident report.
Related practice areas
You may also be looking for
Many of our cases overlap with the areas below. Explore related representation we offer across California and Michigan.
Dangerous Sidewalks
Falls on public walkways trigger a strict 6-month government claim deadline under Gov. Code § 910.
Learn about Dangerous SidewalksDog Bites
Bites on rented property may also implicate landlord liability when prior knowledge can be shown.
Learn about Dog BitesWrongful Death
Fatal falls — particularly involving older adults — often support wrongful death claims.
Learn about Wrongful DeathNo Recovery. No Fee.
Injured? Let’s talk — your consultation is free.
You pay nothing unless we recover for you. Speak directly with Adam Kocaj today.