Can I Sue If I Slipped on a Wet Floor in a Riverside?
Shopping for groceries and dining at a restaurant is a normal part of life. Whether you’re grabbing weekly supplies at Ralphs, picking up a few things at Albertsons, or doing a quick run to Food 4 Less or Vons here in Riverside, you expect to walk in, get what you need, and leave safely. The same applies to any business, including a restaurant mopping floors in the middle of peak hours. But sometimes, the unexpected happens.
One moment you’re looking for your favorite cereal, or simply trying to pick up food from the counter, and the next you’re on the floor, having slipped on a wet spot you didn’t see. It’s startling, it can be painful, and it leaves you with a jumble of concerns. Beyond the immediate injury, you’re probably asking, “What happens now? Is the store responsible? Can I sue if I slipped on a wet floor?”
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your slip and fall accident, you might be able to seek compensation. Under California law, property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for visitors, and that includes making sure spills and other hazards are taken care of.
Knez Law Group, LLP has helped injured Riverside slip and fall accident victims for over 40 years. Attorney Fred J. Knez understands the pain and suffering you’ve endured, and he can put this experience to work for you! Call us today at 951-742-7681 or fill out our contact form.
Who is Responsible for a Wet Floor Slip?
It might seem simple – you slipped on a wet floor, so the store is at fault, right? Well, it’s a little more detailed than just that. In California, to hold a property owner responsible for a slip and fall, you generally need to show a few things. This area of law is called “premises liability.”
First, you need to show that the grocery store, or the company that owns or controls the property, was careless in how it managed the store. California Civil Code Section 1714(a) talks about how people are responsible for injuries caused by their failure to use ordinary care in managing their property. In the case of a grocery store or restaurant, this means taking reasonable steps to keep the aisles and floors safe for customers.
Second, you need to show that a condition on the property created an unreasonable risk of harm. A puddle of spilled liquid in an aisle could be an example of such a condition. Even if floor safety cones are displayed, it may not relieve the company from liability.
Third, and this is often a key point, you need to show that the store either knew about the wet spot or should have known about it if they were being reasonably careful. They can’t just say, “We didn’t know it was there.” Property owners are expected to do regular checks to find and fix problems. If the wet spot was there for a long time, or if an employee just spilled something and didn’t clean it up or put up a sign, that could show they should have known or did know about it.
Finally, you must show that you were harmed and that the store’s carelessness was a significant reason your injury happened.
Think about it this way: Did the store have a system for cleaning up spills? Did employees check the aisles regularly? Was the wet spot something that appeared just seconds before you fell, or had it been there for a while? These questions help figure out if the store was careless.
How Long Do You Have to Take Action?
There are time limits for filing lawsuits in California, and they are serious. For a personal injury claim like a slip and fall in a grocery store, you generally have two years from the date you fell to file a lawsuit. This is called the “California statute of limitations.” If you wait longer than two years, you will likely lose your chance to sue for damages.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For this reason, we recommend contacting our law firm immediately. After all, valuable evidence is often lost or destroyed when injured accident victims wait too long. Think about it, the store might have valuable surveillance footage that could help your case. But after a few months, they may delete that footage, record over it, or lose it entirely.
This is why hiring an experienced Riverside premises liability lawyer is so important.
Why Getting Legal Help Matters
Trying to take on a large grocery store or restaurant chain or their insurance company on your own can feel overwhelming. These companies have legal teams whose job is to protect the company. They may try to argue that you were at fault for the fall, or that your injuries aren’t as serious as you say.
A law firm that handles slip and fall cases knows how to investigate these accidents, gather the necessary evidence, and deal with the insurance companies. They understand the specific laws in California that apply to your case, like the rules about premises liability and the statute of limitations. They can help you figure out if the store was careless and what your case might be worth.
Compensation in a successful slip and fall case can help cover things like your medical bills, any income you lost because you couldn’t work, and even the pain and suffering you have gone through.
Contact Our Riverside Injury Law Firm Today
Slipping and falling can shake you up, both physically and emotionally. You have enough on your plate focusing on getting better. Figuring out the legal side shouldn’t add to your stress. Our injury law firm can step in, handle the details, and fight for your rights while you focus on recovering.
If you slipped on a wet floor in a Riverside grocery store or restaurant and got hurt, don’t wonder about what to do next. Find out how you can move forward. Don’t wait. Contact Knez Law Group, LLP today at (951) 742-7681 or visit our website to take the first step toward getting the support and compensation you deserve.
Andrew J. Knez earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton. During his college years, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and interned at the College Legal Clinic, where he assisted underprivileged communities in obtaining affordable legal services. Mr. Knez credits this experience with fostering his appreciation for the law and its positive impact on society. Additionally, during college, Mr. Knez worked as a paralegal, gaining hands-on experience in civil litigation. Learn more here.