Hurt some other way? Not sure if you have a case? Ask.
Not every serious injury happens on the road. If someone else’s carelessness hurt you, Ari Friedman will tell you honestly whether you have a claim. Free, confidential consultation.
Call 323-596-1234Free case reviewCalifornia law says everyone is responsible for injuries caused by their failure to use ordinary care, including in how they manage their property (Civil Code § 1714). That covers far more than car crashes: a fall in a store, a broken sidewalk, an unsafe stairway, an e-scooter crash or a collision with a big rig. If you were seriously hurt and aren’t sure whether it’s someone else’s fault, it’s worth asking.
A fall can be just as serious as a crash.
Broken hips, wrists and shoulders, head injuries and back injuries are common in falls, especially for older adults. These cases turn on what the property owner knew and when.
Other injury cases Ari handles
A real example: the gas station fall
- The facts
- A man parked at a gas station and walked to the window to pay. He tripped on a piece of cement protruding where a handicap ramp met the walkway, and fell face-first into the mini market’s wall.
- The hazard
- The ramp had no railing, there were no warning signs, and the cement came to an abrupt point right where customers walk from their cars to the market.
- The injuries
- A fractured shoulder (humeral neck fracture), with injuries to his head, wrist, knees, back and face. He was admitted to the hospital for almost a week, followed by months of treatment.
When is a property owner responsible?
Owners and businesses must use reasonable care to keep their property safe. A claim usually depends on showing the owner created the hazard, knew about it, or should have found and fixed it, and didn’t.Hurt on a city sidewalk?
A public entity may be liable for a dangerous condition of its property if it knew, or should have known, about the danger in time to fix it. These claims have strict rules and a short deadline. Read Ari’s sidewalk injury article.Just ask
Many people never call because they assume an accident was “nobody’s fault,” or that it was their own. Often it isn’t. A short, free conversation can tell you whether you have a claim, and what to do next to protect it.What to do after an injury
- Get medical care right away. Falls and other accidents can cause fractures, head injuries and internal injuries that aren’t obvious at first. A delay in treatment is one of the first things insurers use to argue you weren’t really hurt.
- Report it. Tell the store manager, property owner or landlord, and ask for a copy of any incident report. For public property, note the exact location.
- Photograph the hazard right away. Spills get mopped up and broken steps get fixed. Take photos of the exact spot, the lighting and any missing warning signs, before it changes.
- Keep what you were wearing. Your shoes and clothing can show what happened.
- Find witnesses. Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident or knew about the hazard. Ask whether there are security cameras.
- Be careful with insurance companies. You don’t have to give a recorded statement, and anything you say can be used to reduce your claim. Talk to a lawyer first.
It can feel like a lot to handle while you’re hurt.
When Ari represents you, he helps untangle all of it, from incident reports and government claim forms to medical bills and calls from insurance adjusters, and he assists you throughout your claim.
- Mechanism of injury. How you fell or were struck, and what you hit.
- Level of consciousness. Early signs of a head injury.
- Your first complaints. What hurt at the scene, in your own words.
- Imaging and treatment. X-rays, CT scans, admissions and surgery.
- What’s missing. Gaps an insurer will try to use against you.
Why medical experience matters
Most injury claims are won or lost on the medical evidence. Ari reads ambulance reports, ER records and treatment notes the way the people who wrote them do. He knows what each entry means, what is missing, and how to show an insurer the full course of your injuries.
His knowledge of emergency medicine is recognized beyond his own cases: Ari has been retained as an expert witness on EMS standards of care.
What compensation may be available
Depending on the facts, an injured person in California may be able to recover:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation and future care
California deadlines you should know
There are many deadlines that can affect an injury claim. A few common ones are listed below, but this list is not complete.
- Two years to file a lawsuit for personal injuries in most cases (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1).
- Six months to file a written claim if a government agency is involved, such as an injury on a city sidewalk or other public property (Government Code § 911.2).
Which deadlines apply, and when they start, depends on the facts of your case. Some are much shorter than two years. Review the deadlines with an attorney early so the statute of limitations doesn’t run on your claim. Missing one can end your case.
Not sure if you have a case? Ask Ari.
Free and confidential consultation. Serving Los Angeles County and all of Southern California.
Call 323-596-1234Free case review formAttorney advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.