California & Nevada Slip & Fall Attorneys

Hurt in a Slip or Fall Accident?
Property owners have a duty to keep you safe.

When they fail and you get hurt, they can be held responsible. Free consultations in English and Spanish, 24/7. You pay nothing unless we win.

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Slip and fall lawyers in California and Nevada

If you slipped, tripped, or fell on someone else's property because of a hazardous condition they failed to fix, you may have a premises liability claim. Property owners in California and Nevada are legally required to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they don't, and you get hurt as a result, they can be held responsible. Mendez & Sanchez APC has recovered over $1 billion for injury victims. Consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we win.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is the legal theory that holds property owners and managers responsible for injuries that happen on their property due to unsafe conditions. It applies to private homes, businesses, grocery stores, parking lots, restaurants, hotels, and government property.

To win a slip and fall case, you generally need to show four things: the property had a dangerous condition, the owner knew about it or should have known about it with reasonable care, they failed to fix it or warn you, and you were injured as a direct result of that failure.

Common Slip and Fall Hazards

  • Wet or slippery floors without warning signs
  • Broken, uneven, or cracked sidewalks and pavement
  • Damaged or missing stair railings
  • Torn or loose carpeting
  • Poor lighting in stairwells, parking garages, and walkways
  • Unmarked changes in floor elevation
  • Spills or liquid not cleaned up promptly in stores or restaurants
  • Ice or debris left on walkways

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

  1. Get medical attention right away. Injuries from falls can include broken bones, head injuries, spinal injuries, and soft tissue damage that may not feel serious at first.
  2. Report the incident to the property owner or manager and ask for a written incident report. Get a copy before you leave.
  3. Photograph the hazard before it gets cleaned up or repaired. A photo of a wet floor without a warning sign or a broken step is strong evidence.
  4. Get names and contact information for anyone who witnessed the fall.
  5. Do not post about the accident on social media. Insurance companies monitor social media and look for anything they can use against you.
  6. Contact an attorney before giving any recorded statement. Property owners and their insurers move quickly to build their defense.

Comparative Fault in Slip and Fall Cases

Property owners and their insurers often argue that you were partly to blame: you were looking at your phone, wearing the wrong footwear, or ignored a warning sign. California's pure comparative fault rule means you can still recover even if you were partly at fault. Your recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Nevada uses a modified comparative fault rule: you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for your own fall.

How Long Do You Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim?

In California, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is 2 years from the date of the accident (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). Nevada also allows 2 years. If a government entity owned the property, the deadline is much shorter. In California, you have just 6 months to file a government claim against a city, county, or state agency. Missing this deadline typically means you lose your right to sue.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

  • Medical bills, including emergency care, surgery, and physical therapy
  • Lost wages if your injury kept you out of work
  • Future medical expenses for ongoing treatment
  • Pain and suffering and emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life if your injury has lasting effects

Frequently asked questions

There are two main ways: either the owner was directly notified of the hazard (actual notice), or the hazard had existed long enough that a reasonably careful owner would have discovered and fixed it (constructive notice). Evidence includes maintenance logs, employee witness statements, prior complaints, and surveillance footage. An attorney knows what to request and when.
A warning sign does not automatically protect the property owner. If the sign was improperly placed, too small to see, or the hazard was more dangerous than the sign suggested, the owner may still be liable. The existence of a sign is one factor among many, not a complete defense.
Yes, but the process is different and the deadline is much shorter. In California, you must file a government tort claim within 6 months of the accident before you can sue. In Nevada, there are also specific procedures and notice requirements. These deadlines are strict, so contact an attorney immediately if a government property may have been involved.
Workplace injuries are typically covered by workers' compensation, not a traditional premises liability lawsuit against your employer. However, if a third party was responsible (such as a contractor who created the hazard), you may have both a workers' comp claim and a separate personal injury claim. An attorney can evaluate both options.
Most slip and fall cases settle without going to trial, often within several months to a year or two. Cases that involve disputed liability, serious injuries, or government defendants can take longer. Mendez & Sanchez APC will give you an honest assessment of the timeline based on the specifics of your case.
Nothing upfront. Mendez & Sanchez APC handles slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Initial consultations are free, in English and Spanish.

Meet our attorneys

Managing partners with personal injury experience across California and Nevada

Giancarlo Mendez, Esq.

Giancarlo Mendez, Esq.

Managing Partner

Michael Sanchez, Esq.

Michael Sanchez, Esq.

Managing Partner

Arya Tahmassebi, Esq.

Arya Tahmassebi, Esq.

Managing Partner

Other cases we handle

Car AccidentHurt in a car crash? We fight for your medical bills, lost wages, and everything else you deserve.Truck AccidentHit by a semi or big rig? Trucking companies deploy response teams fast. So do we.Motorcycle AccidentInjured on your bike? We fight past the bias and get you what your injuries are actually worth.Rideshare (Uber & Lyft)Hurt in an Uber or Lyft? We know exactly how rideshare insurance works — and how to use it.Workers' CompensationInjured on the job and getting the runaround? We fight for your full benefits and appeal denials.Wrongful DeathLost a family member because of someone else's negligence? We fight for justice and for your family.
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