Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Injury in Pasadena, CA 2025

Slip and fall accidents can occur at any time. You might be at your favorite boutique in Old Town Pasadena or visiting a friend’s apartment building. Whatever the case, victims of slip and falls often find themselves at a loss for what to do next. It is essential to know the steps to take after a slip and fall injury in Pasadena, CA, to protect your health and rights while maximizing your ability to obtain compensation.

Table of Contents

Seek Medical Attention

Your health is always the number one priority following a slip and fall injury. You should seek medical treatment immediately, even if your injuries appear to be minor.

Seeking medical attention from a physician or other healthcare professional can help ensure your well-being and create medical documentation that directly ties your injuries to the slip and fall accident. Your medical records function as key evidence that demonstrates how the property owner’s negligence caused your slip and fall injuries.

Report the Incident

Slips and falls are common in the workplace, particularly in the construction industry. There were 79 fatal occupational falls, trips, and slips in California in 2023. The statistics are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics. These incidents accounted for 18% of all fatal work injuries in California for the year. A total of 46,653 people died in 2022 from falling at home or work in the U.S.

After addressing your immediate medical needs, report the incident to the property owner, manager, or on-duty supervisor. If your accident took place at a business establishment, like a grocery store or restaurant, request a copy of the incident report. If it happened in a rental property or public area, ensure the landlord or the appropriate city department is notified. Having a formal report is critical if your case goes to trial.

Document All Evidence

Photographic evidence is one of the greatest ways to help you prove your slip and fall case. Take pictures of the area where the accident occurred. Capture images of all features that increase your risk of falling, such as wet floors, broken staircases, poor lighting, or other hazards. If possible, take the pictures immediately before the property is repaired or cleaned.

Also, get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw what happened. The testimony of witnesses helps establish your version of events and challenges the property owner’s denial of responsibility.

Understand Slip and Fall Laws in California

California’s slip and fall laws are part of a larger area of law known as premises liability. Property owners and managers have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. Property owners must promptly repair hazards and routinely inspect their premises, alerting visitors to any dangers they cannot fix right away. Generally, you must prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous conditions to prevail in a claim.

Pasadena follows the state’s comparative negligence rule, so if you are partially to blame for your fall, your award could be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you were texting and walking when you slipped, you can still recover damages, but not as much as you would otherwise be entitled to.

Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer

Many victims wonder if they need to hire a slip and fall lawyer for their accident. In fact, a slip and fall claim is more complicated than it might seem. Insurance companies typically seek to reduce claims or deny them outright, saying injuries are minor or blaming the victim.

A Pasadena slip and fall attorney provides full support from evidence collection to insurance negotiations and courtroom representation when needed.

About Us

At Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, our dedicated and compassionate legal team has served the Pasadena community and those surrounding areas for decades. We are a local law firm with integrity, heart, and a track record of results that represent injury victims and their families when someone else’s negligence changes their lives.

When you sustain injuries from a slip and fall or car accident, we take action to ensure you receive justice and rightful compensation. If your slip and fall case proceeds to litigation, it may be heard at the Pasadena Courthouse, part of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, located on Hill Street in downtown Pasadena.

FAQs

What Is the Average Payout for a Slip and Fall in California?

Compensation for slip and fall cases in California varies widely, as it depends on individual case circumstances. It will depend on the extent of your injuries, medical expenses, time off work, and the future life-altering consequences of your injuries. Settlements and verdicts depend on the particular details of your case and the specific damages you have incurred.

What Are the Steps in a Slip and Fall Case?

The first step in a slip and fall case involves assembling evidence, including scene photos and witness statements, together with medical records. The injured person submits their insurance claim to the property owner’s insurance provider. Should negotiations fail to produce a settlement, the case must go through litigation stages involving discovery and negotiations before potentially reaching trial.

What Is the Most You Can Get From a Slip and Fall Settlement?

California has no statutory maximum for slip and fall settlements. Several large dollar verdicts and settlements have emerged from catastrophic injury cases that resulted in paralysis or permanent disability and wrongful death. An experienced slip and fall attorney can seek to maximize the recovery by fully documenting the extent of current and future damages.

Are Slip and Fall Cases Hard to Win?

A: Slip and fall accidents can be difficult to prove. This is because the plaintiff must provide evidence that the property owner or manager was negligent. In other words, the hazard must have been present, the owner knew or should have known about it, and the owner’s actions were the proximate cause of the accident.