What To Do After A Slip & Fall In Marin County
In the moments and days after a fall, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. Taking a few careful steps can protect your health and also make it easier to prove what happened if you later decide to bring a claim. Even if some time has already passed, there are still actions you can take now.
Focus on your safety and medical care:
- Check for injuries and get medical attention as soon as you can, whether that is through an emergency department, urgent care, or your regular doctor.
- Explain to the provider exactly how you fell and what body parts hit the ground, so they can document and evaluate all possible injuries.
- Follow through on recommended tests and follow up visits, since gaps in care can affect both your recovery and your claim.
Report the incident promptly:
- Tell the property owner, manager, or an employee what happened as soon as you are able.
- Ask that an incident report be completed, and if possible, request a copy or at least note the date, time, and name of the person you spoke with.
- Stay factual in your description and avoid speculating about fault at the scene.
Preserve evidence of the hazard and your injuries:
- If it is safe to do so, take photos of the area where you fell, including any visible liquid, debris, broken flooring, stairs, or lighting issues.
- Photograph your shoes and clothing, and keep them rather than throwing them away or washing them right away.
- Write down names and contact information for any witnesses who saw either the fall or the dangerous condition.
Be cautious with insurance communications:
- You may be contacted by a property manager, landlord, or insurance adjuster asking for a statement or trying to discuss settlement early.
- Be careful about giving recorded statements or signing documents before you understand your rights.
- Talking with a slip and fall lawyer Marin County before dealing extensively with insurers can help you avoid mistakes that are hard to fix later.
If you are unsure about any of these steps, we can walk through them with you. Our goal is to make a confusing situation more manageable, not more stressful.
Slip & Fall Injuries Can Be Life Changing
People sometimes brush off a fall as “just an accident” or feel embarrassed and try to move on. We see what really happens when someone goes down on a wet floor, loose tile, broken stair, or uneven walkway. Injuries like broken wrists and ankles, torn ligaments, concussions, and back injuries can require months of treatment and can affect your ability to work, drive, or care for your family.
Falls often happen in places many of us visit every week. That can include grocery stores, shopping centers, office buildings, apartment complexes, restaurants, and walkways connecting parking areas to entrances. When these spaces are not inspected and maintained regularly, hazards can develop, such as spilled liquids, food debris, cracked pavement, poor lighting, or missing handrails on stairs.
The impact is not only physical. You may be attending appointments at medical offices, arranging rides because you cannot drive, and watching bills arrive while your paychecks shrink. Sleep can be difficult when you are in pain or worrying about the future. Recognizing how disruptive a fall can be is the first step toward making sure the property owner, landlord, or business is held responsible if their choices created the risk that hurt you.
Don’t settle for less. Fight for full compensation.
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$2,000,000 Truck Accident
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$1,850,000 Pedestrian Accident
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$1,800,000 Motorcycle Accident
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$1,750,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
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$1,495,000 Premises Liability
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$1,410,000 Premises Liability
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$1,300,000 Pedestrian Accident
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$1,000,000 Rollover Accident
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"Mr. Kuvara and his team are truly amazing! He is the most kind hearted and will do everything he can to win your case."
They are very prompt with responses and follow up. The entire process was stress free (especially going through this during the middle of the pandemic) and seamless! He heard, understood my pain and had the most sincerest empathy for me. This review has been LONG overdue. He took care of me in 2020 and has left an everlasting impression in my life. I recommend everyone to Mr. Kuvara and his outstanding team! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
- Kay M. -
"They were kind, understanding, and extremely helpful in every conversation."
Beyond grateful with the service and support the professionals at Kuvara Law Firm offered me every step of the way in this process. I know being in a situation of need and not knowing where to begin is overwhelming and quite frankly a bit scary.
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"Coby Kuvara is caring, compassionate, patient and knowledgeable."
She consistently checked in on my wellness and kept me updated, which was instrumental in the pursuit of my mental and physical health progression. I have no regrets choosing Kuvara Law Firm, if I ever find myself needing help again I know I can trust Kuvara Law.
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"Simply the best."
Neal and Colby Kuvara worked tirelessly to achieve a result I am happy with. They did not promise me anything they did not deliver. Along with this, they are decent people, not something you may associate with Lawyers. They proceeded at a pace that allowed me to heal and kept me informed of all developments in a timely manner. I could not recommend them more highly.- Jason D.
Do I Have A Slip & Fall Case?
One of the most common questions we hear is whether a fall is “just bad luck” or a legal case. In California, property owners and those who control property generally have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for people who are lawfully there. This area of law is often called premises liability. It covers situations where a hazardous condition on the property causes someone to slip, trip, or fall.
To evaluate a possible claim, we look at several key questions. Was there a dangerous condition, such as a spill, broken flooring, cluttered walkway, or inadequate lighting. Did the owner or manager know about it, or should they have known if they had been inspecting and maintaining the area properly. Was there enough time to clean it up, fix it, or warn visitors, and did they take those reasonable steps. Finally, did that hazard directly cause your fall and your injuries.
Insurance companies often argue that the injured person was not watching where they were going or that the danger was “open and obvious.” California uses a comparative fault system, which means responsibility can be shared among different people. Even if someone suggests you were partly at fault, that does not automatically mean you have no case. It is important not to assume that a comment from a store employee, landlord, or adjuster is the final word.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If My Slip & Fall Is A Case?
The best way to know is to talk with an attorney who handles premises liability claims and have them review the details. In general, a potential case exists when a dangerous condition on someone else’s property causes you to fall and get hurt, and the person or business responsible for the property either knew about the hazard or should have known about it. Examples can include unattended spills, loose carpeting, broken stairs, or poor lighting that makes a hazard hard to see.
We look at where you fell, what caused you to lose your footing, and what the owner or manager did or did not do to find and fix the problem. We also consider whether there were warning signs, how long the condition appears to have existed, and whether inspections were being done regularly. Even if you are not sure what caused your fall, it can still be worth talking to us, because investigation sometimes uncovers issues that were not obvious at first. During a free consultation, we can listen to your story, ask follow up questions, and give you an honest view of whether it makes sense to move forward.
marin county FAQs
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When Should I Contact a Lawyer?
There is a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, for pursuing a personal injury matter. In California, the statute of limitations is 2 years for most personal injury claims (except medical malpractice, which has a 1-year statute of limitations). Generally, the clock starts to run on this time limit when you knew or should have known of the injury.
For this reason, you should schedule a free consultation with a Marin County personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. During this appointment, they will offer you legal advice on your claim, so that you can make a decision on how to proceed. If you choose to hire a personal injury law firm, they will make sure that all legal paperwork is filed on time.
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What Is a Good Settlement Offer?
Because each case is unique, a good settlement offer will vary based on a number of factors, including the nature and severity of your injuries, whether you have suffered a permanent disability, the amount of insurance that the at-fault party has, and if a fault is clear. For example, a person who suffered serious burn injuries that will never fully heal will typically receive a higher settlement offer than a person who broke their arm in an accident and who will fully recover within a few months.
During a free consultation, a personal injury lawyer can give you a ballpark estimate of the value of your case. As the case proceeds, this estimate may increase or decrease. Throughout the process, your attorney will offer you legal advice on what fair compensation might be given the specific facts of your case.
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Hurt in an Accident?
Being hurt in an accident can be devastating, causing physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial strain. For many people, the thought of pursuing a personal injury matter is overwhelming. Our law firm is here to help.
Based in San Rafael, Kuvara Law Firm has law offices throughout Northern California, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo, Fairfield, and Redwood City. For more than 40 years, our team has provided aggressive representation to injury victims, working hard to help our personal injury clients get the maximum compensation.
To learn more or to schedule a complimentary consultation with a seasoned Marin County personal injury lawyer, give us a call at (628) 240-1014 or fill out our online contact form.
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Past & Future Medical Bills
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Call Kuvara Law Firm (628) 240-1014
We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis. We only ask for payment if we are successful in getting you compensation.
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Bringing a Unique Perspective To The Table Meet Founder & Attorney Neal Kuvara
Our personal injury law firm was founded more than 50 years ago by attorney Neal Kuvara. Neal’s experience goes beyond representing injured victims in personal injury claims.
- Neal served as a medic in the Army, and he has a unique understanding of the medical elements that are at play in personal injury cases.
- Neal also worked as an insurance adjuster, so he knows firsthand the tactics insurance companies use.
Our team uses this unique perspective to our clients’ advantage when handling personal injury claims in California.
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¿Cómo Saber Si Usted Tiene Un Caso?
Llámenos al (628) 240-1014 o llene nuestro formulario de revisión de caso. Nuestras oficinas se encuentran en San Rafael, San José, San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek, Sacramento, Redwood City, San Mateo, Newark, Vallejo, Stockton, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, y Pleasanton.
Compensation In California Slip & Fall Cases
After a serious fall, you may be asking whether pursuing a claim will actually make a difference in your life. In California, people injured due to dangerous property conditions can seek compensation for a range of losses. The goal is to account for the full impact of the injury, not only the bills that have already arrived.
Economic damages often include past and future medical expenses, such as hospital visits, diagnostic tests, physical therapy, and medications. They can also include lost wages if you miss work, as well as loss of earning capacity when injuries affect your ability to do your job long term. Non economic damages involve harder to measure harms, such as pain, limitations in your daily activities, and the emotional distress that can follow a traumatic fall.
The value of any particular case depends on several factors. These can include how severe the injuries are, how long recovery is expected to take, whether you can return to your prior work, and how strong the evidence is that the property owner failed to act reasonably. The amount of available insurance coverage and the willingness of the insurer to negotiate fairly also play major roles.
At Kuvara Law Firm, we look at the entire picture before advising you about settlement offers. Our history includes multiple seven figure outcomes in serious injury and premises liability cases, which reflects our thorough approach to documenting losses and presenting claims. Past results cannot predict what will happen in any new case, but they do show the level of cases we have handled for many years. Our role is to prepare your case carefully, explain your options clearly, and work toward fair compensation based on the evidence.
Talk With Our Team About Your Slip & Fall In Marin County
You do not have to figure out liability rules, insurance calls, and paperwork on your own while you are trying to recover from a painful fall. When you reach out to Kuvara Law Firm, you connect with a team that has spent decades helping injured people in this area work through the legal and practical challenges that follow an accident. We listen first, then offer guidance tailored to your situation.
To talk with a slip and fall attorney Marin County about what happened and your options, call (628) 240-1014 or contact us online today.