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A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere — in a grocery store, parking lot, restaurant, or even on a neighbor’s property. While some falls cause only minor injuries, others lead to broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, or long-term disability.
If your fall was caused by unsafe conditions, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Mesa, AZ are here to fight for your rights.
People can slip and fall for a myriad of reasons. Some common causes of slip and fall accidents are due to:
Property owners, managers, and businesses have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors. When they fail to do so, serious slip and fall accidents can occur — leading to injuries that could have been prevented.
Understanding these responsibilities is key to proving negligence in a slip and fall claim.
Property owners must exercise reasonable care in keeping their premises safe for customers, tenants, and visitors. This includes:
Regularly inspecting the property for hazards
Fixing dangerous conditions promptly
Providing proper lighting and visibility
Warning visitors of known risks (e.g., “Wet Floor” signs)
Many slip and fall or dog bite accidents happen on the property of someone you know — a friend, neighbor, or relative. Understandably, many people hesitate to pursue a claim because they don’t want to damage personal relationships.
The good news: in most cases, you are not directly suing your friend — you are filing a claim against their insurance policy.
Seek medical attention → Your health comes first.
Document the accident → Photos, witness statements, and reports.
Notify the property owner or dog owner → Let them know what happened.
File a claim with their insurance company → Usually through a lawyer to protect your rights.
Negotiate for fair compensation → For medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, your ability to file a claim is limited by the statute of limitations — a strict legal deadline that determines how long you have to take action.
The statute of limitations sets the maximum time frame for filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, no matter how strong your claim may be.
Property owners owe a duty of reasonable care to invitees and licensees. The duty depends on visitor status: invitees (customers) get the highest duty, licensees (social guests) a middle duty, trespassers almost none except to avoid willful harm. Slip-and-fall claims usually involve invitees.
Four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Specifically: the owner knew or should have known of the hazard (actual or constructive notice), failed to fix or warn, the hazard caused the fall, and you suffered provable injury. Surveillance video and prior incidents matter.
Arizona's pure comparative fault rule applies (ARS 12-2505). If a jury finds you 30% at fault for not watching the floor, your award is reduced by 30%. Open-and-obvious hazards shift more fault to you. Lighting and distractions rebut that defense.
Two years from the date of the fall under ARS 12-542. If the fall was on government property, a 180-day notice of claim under ARS 12-821.01 applies. Commercial premises have the standard two-year window, but evidence degrades fast, act early.
Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care for permanent injuries. Hip fractures and TBIs in elderly plaintiffs drive high awards. Pre-existing conditions complicate but do not bar recovery under Arizona's eggshell-plaintiff rule.
