Fresno Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

If you were hurt in a fall at a Fresno store, apartment complex, or sidewalk, J&Y Law can help. A Fresno slip and fall injury lawyer will listen to what happened, explain who may be responsible, and outline your next steps at no cost. You owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. 

J&Y Law has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients across California. Every case depends on its own facts, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.

Fresno Slip and Fall: Who Owns the Property

The owner of the spot where you fell decides who you file a claim against and how much time you have. In Fresno, sidewalks and rentals each follow their own rules.

Sidewalks. The City of Fresno says Fresno Municipal Code § 13-217 makes the property owner in front of a sidewalk responsible for maintaining it. A cracked slab outside a shopping center points to the shopping center’s owner. The City states an exception: the owner is not responsible for repairs when a City tree caused the damage. A City street tree is planted in the public right-of-way, usually in the strip between the curb and the sidewalk. If roots from a City tree lifted the slab, the City belongs in the investigation.

The City also repairs sidewalks one neighborhood at a time. Until crews arrive, its Street Maintenance Division places temporary patches on raised slabs. A City patch on the slab that tripped you is evidence the City knew the slab was raised.

Rentals. Fresno has more than 53,000 rental units, and the City says a majority are over 50 years old. When someone reports a possible violation through FresGO or by calling 3-1-1, Code Enforcement inspects the property. Officers confirm any violation and tell the owner what to fix and by when. Those records can show what the owner knew about a broken stair or railing.

Injury Statute of Limitations in Fresno

Government entities run many Fresno destinations. The City of Fresno operates the airport and the convention center. It also operates city parks and the FAX bus system. California State University, Fresno is a state university. The Big Fresno Fair is run by the 21st District Agricultural Association, a state institution.

A fall at any of these places requires a written claim to the government entity within six months of the injury under Government Code § 911.2. File a claim with the City of Fresno’s Risk Management Division at 2600 Fresno Street, Room 1030. The City requires two copies, delivered in person or by mail. Claims against Fresno County go to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at 2281 Tulare Street. If the entity rejects your claim in writing, you then have six months to file a lawsuit. In most cases, the deadline to sue a private owner is two years. Missing these deadlines can end a strong case before it starts.

Take These Steps After a Fresno Slip and Fall

Your health comes first, and these steps also protect your claim.

• Get medical care the same day. Tell the provider how you fell. Some concussion symptoms do not appear for hours or days, according to the CDC.
• Report the fall. Tell the manager or landlord and ask for a written incident report.
• Photograph the scene. Capture the hazard, the surrounding area, any warning signs, and your shoes. On a sidewalk, include any City patch and nearby trees.
• Collect witness contacts. Get names and phone numbers before people leave.
• Keep your shoes and clothing. Do not wash them.
• Report the hazard. Call 3-1-1 or use the FresGO app to report a broken sidewalk, street light, or unsafe rental to the City. Save a screenshot of your report.
• Wait before giving statements. Do not give a recorded statement to the property’s insurance company until you have spoken with a lawyer.

Prove the Owner Knew or Should Have Known About the Hazard

Most California slip and fall cases turn on one question: did the owner know about the hazard, or should the owner have known? Lawyers call this notice. Notice is central to premises liability law, which holds property owners responsible for unsafe conditions on their land.

In Ortega v. Kmart Corp. (2001), a customer slipped on a puddle of milk at a Torrance Kmart and suffered ligament tears in his knee. The store kept no written inspection records, and its manager admitted the milk could have sat on the floor for two hours. The California Supreme Court sided with the customer. It held that if a store fails to inspect an area within a reasonable time, a jury can infer the hazard was there long enough for the store to find and fix it. The ruling cuts both ways: a store that inspects its premises reasonably is not liable.

Evidence that proves notice includes:

• Inspection logs and cleaning schedules for the day of the fall
• Security video from before and after the fall
• Maintenance requests and repair invoices for that spot
• Incident reports and employee statements
• Earlier complaints about the same hazard, including City reports through 3-1-1 or FresGO and Code Enforcement inspection records

Store video can vanish within 7 to 14 days. J&Y Law founder Yosi Yahoudai explains in his article on video retention that many retail stores purge footage on that schedule unless someone saves it. Courts often treat deletion before formal notice as routine housekeeping, so early notice to the business protects the evidence.

Responsibility can also sit with a business tenant, a management company, or a cleaning contractor. Leases and service contracts show who controlled the area. 

If a store may still have video of your fall, call (877) 735-7035 today.

Recover the Losses the Fall Caused

Money losses include medical bills, future care, and lost income. Personal losses include pain, emotional distress, and lost enjoyment of life.

Common fall injuries include fractures, torn ligaments, and head injuries. Records from the ambulance crew and the emergency room document your injuries from the first hours. Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno is the designated Level I trauma center for the Central California region.

Some falls cause catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injury. If a fall killed someone you love, our Fresno wrongful death lawyers can explain your family’s options.

Get Answers to Common Fresno Slip and Fall Questions

What if I was partly at fault?

You can still recover. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, set in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975), the court reduces your compensation by your share of fault. If your losses total $100,000 and you are 20 percent at fault, you recover $80,000.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor fall?

Not always. If your injury is minor, you missed no work, and the owner accepts responsibility, you can handle the claim yourself. Call us after a fracture, a head injury, or surgery. Call us if you missed work or the owner blames you. The consultation is free.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?

Do not sign anything until you know the full cost of your injuries. A settlement ends your claim, and you cannot ask for more money later.

Where is a Fresno slip and fall lawsuit filed?

A lawsuit can be filed in the county where the fall happened. Fresno County Superior Court hears civil cases over $35,000 at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse, 1130 O Street, in downtown Fresno.

Call J&Y Law for a Free Fresno Slip and Fall Consultation

Call (877) 735-7035 to speak with a Fresno slip and fall injury lawyer. The consultation is free, and you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Our Fresno personal injury lawyers work from 516 West Shaw Avenue, Suite 200, Fresno, CA 93704.