Hurt in a Slip & Fall in LA? Property Owners Can Be Held Responsible.

California Premises Liability Law

Under California Civil Code § 1714, property owners and occupiers have a duty of reasonable care to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. This applies to residences, commercial businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, parking lots, shopping centers, government property, and more.

To succeed in a slip and fall claim in California, you generally need to prove:

1. The defendant owned, leased, or occupied the property
2. The defendant was negligent in the use or maintenance of the property
3. You were harmed
4. The defendant's negligence was a substantial factor in causing your harm

Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents in Los Angeles

• Wet or slippery floors without adequate warning signs
• Uneven sidewalks, pavement, and parking lots
• Cracked, broken, or missing steps on stairs
• Inadequate lighting in stairwells, hallways, or parking structures
• Loose carpeting, rugs, or flooring
• Spills not cleaned up promptly in grocery stores and restaurants
• Debris, clutter, or obstructions in walkways
• Broken handrails or missing guardrails

Where Slip & Fall Accidents Happen in LA

Slip and fall accidents can happen virtually anywhere, but common locations in Los Angeles include:

• Grocery stores and supermarkets — spills, wet produce areas, recently mopped floors
• Retail stores and shopping malls — throughout the LA metro area
• Restaurants and bars — particularly crowded venues in Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Downtown LA
• Hotels and resorts
• Public sidewalks — the City of Los Angeles is responsible for maintaining public sidewalks
• Apartment complexes — landlord-maintained common areas
• Hospitals and medical facilities
• Gyms and fitness centers

Common Injuries in Slip & Fall Accidents

Slip and fall injuries can be surprisingly severe, especially for older adults:

• Hip fractures — especially common and serious in elderly victims
• Wrist and arm fractures (from instinctively trying to break a fall)
• Knee injuries — ACL, MCL, and meniscus tears
• Shoulder injuries and rotator cuff tears
• Back injuries and spinal cord damage
• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Neck injuries and whiplash
• Cuts, bruising, and soft tissue injuries

Suing the City of Los Angeles for a Sidewalk Fall

If you fell on a cracked or uneven public sidewalk in Los Angeles, the City may be responsible. However, claims against government entities — including the City of Los Angeles — follow different and stricter rules:

• You must file a government tort claim within 6 months of the injury under the California Government Claims Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 911.2).
• The government has 45 days to respond to your claim before you may file a lawsuit.
• This 6-month deadline is much shorter than the standard 2-year statute of limitations — so you must act quickly.

What Evidence Helps in a Slip & Fall Case?

Evidence is critical in premises liability cases. If you are physically able, preserve as much as possible:

• Photographs of the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area
• The shoes and clothing you were wearing (do not wash them)
• Witness names and contact information
• Incident report from the business or property owner
• Surveillance video — request it immediately, as it is often overwritten within days
• Medical records documenting your injuries