At Nordean Law, we strive to keep our community safe. We pursue justice for the injured and we share critical information on how to keep you and your family safe.
Follow the link below for the best tips to prevent accidents of all kinds. If you have a specific question, or if you were injured in an accident, reach out to one of our attorneys today.
Slip and fall injuries always come as a shock. One moment, you are walking along normally. The next moment, you are splayed on the ground, in pain and possibly bleeding. You may face steep medical bills and lost income when serious injury results.
Property owners are liable for many slips and fall because they allow hazards to persist on their premises. However, when you suffer injury because of another’s negligence, Nordean Law’s Orange County personal injury lawyers take the responsible parties to court and win.
Slip and fall injuries occur when a person falls and suffers trauma, including shattered kneecaps, concussions, and broken hips. They consist of literal slips and falls, such as slipping on a wet floor, and falls from higher places, such as tumbling down a staircase due to a collapsing handrail.
In many cases, courts find a property owner liable for these accidents. As a result, homeowners, business owners, commercial landlords, and others can all be in a lawsuit if someone falls and hurts themselves on their property. In addition, municipalities also face litigation if, for example, they leave a sidewalk in a dangerous condition.
Damages include economic losses, such as hospital bills and lost wages, and general damages, such as pain and suffering. In addition, California’s personal injury law governs these types of lawsuits and bases awards on pure comparative negligence.
We understand that premises owners have legal obligations in terms of safety. We use the experience to build ironclad cases and negotiate settlements with excellent terms. Reasons why you should choose Nordean Law to handle your personal injury claim:
Most often, a severe slip and fall injury necessitates an attorney. For example, when a plaintiff brings a suit against a property owner, the defendant usually files a claim with their insurance company.
In the case of a homeowner, homeowners’ insurance covers the liability of this type. In addition, business owners and commercial landlords have insurance policies covering injuries occurring at their place of business, and municipalities carry comprehensive casualty policies.
The insurer for the defendant has staff lawyers and litigation teams. Their attorneys will construct a defense and try to either pay a low settlement or drag the case on in hopes of wearing down the plaintiff. Their settlement decisions tend to center around the amount of money involved rather than the strength of the plaintiff’s case.
Insurance companies are willing to spend more time and money on a large claim–even if their defense is weak–versus a smaller claim where their defense has more chance of success. Even if the evidence seems in your favor, insurance companies can save large amounts of money if they transfer a small part of the liability to the plaintiff.
California personal injury law requires courts to base awards on pure comparative negligence. Under this legal framework, each party to the accident is assigned a portion of the liability as circumstance dictates. Therefore, plaintiffs strive for the defendant(s) to be assigned 100% of the liability because the injured party receives 100% of court-approved damages. If defense attorneys can convince a judge or jury to assign part of the blame to the defendant, be it 10%, 20%, or more, they save the insurance company that percentage of the damages.
For instance, imagine an elderly plaintiff slipped and fell on a wet grocery store floor, breaking a hip. This plaintiff asked for $150,000 in economic damages and $200,000 for general damages for a total of $350,000. The defense may argue that the plaintiff shares some liability because a store employee warned of the wet floor, though no signs were posted.
If the court rejects the defense argument, the plaintiff receives the entire $350,000 in damages. On the other hand, if the court accepted the defense argument and assigned 20% of the liability to the plaintiff, the defendant would pay just 80% of the $350,000, or $280,000.
Tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars are at stake in many slip and fall injury cases. Your attorney will build a strong case based on the evidence and law, negotiate on your behalf, and bring the case to trial if necessary.
Injuries from a fall range from superficial to life-threatening. While one person may walk away from a slip and fall no worse for wear, another person may have the bad luck to strike their head, damage their back, break a hip, or suffer some other serious injury.
Regardless of the severity, property owners bear responsibility when they leave their premises in an unsafe condition. These are the slip-and-fall injuries that most often result in a lawsuit:
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when you receive a blow to the head. If you slip and fall, your body has defense mechanisms that protect the head by contorting the body to take the impact in less vital areas.
However, this defense mechanism cannot prevent a head injury in all cases. For example, slipping and falling backward or down steps often makes it impossible for you to avoid head trauma.
Even moderate TBI requires extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation therapy. Depending on the injury, TBI victims may need speech and mobility care. Severe cases often require even more extensive treatment, and some effects may be irreversible.
Unsurprisingly, broken bones are a common slip-and-fall injury. The wrists, elbows, legs, and hips are frequently broken in falls.
Tendons are the strong tissue fibers that connect muscle to bone. A fall may cause tendons to stretch or tear. Traumatic tendon damage may require surgery.
Even if surgery is unnecessary, tenon injuries cause substantial pain, and rehabilitative therapy may last for years. However, scar tissue and restricted range of motion often cause a loss of ability to participate in physical activities.
Back and spinal cord injuries present some of the trickiest problems for doctors. Unfortunately, success with surgery doesn’t happen in all cases, and back pain and postural problems may become permanent.
People naturally flail their arms in an attempt to catch a fall. While this action may prevent injuries in other areas, it often results in shoulder injuries, including dislocations and tendon strain.
Damages from a slip and fall range from a few medical bills to millions of dollars in economic and general damages. The worth of a case depends upon the severity of the injury, the impact on the victim’s life, and the court’s determination of the defendant’s liability.
Economic damages often include the following:
General damages usually include the following:
Sam Nordean has made a commitment to helping victims get back what was taken away from them. He fights for people that are injured and can’t fight for themselves.
“Going to court or negotiating a settlement is not akin to my client winning a lottery ticket. It’s about balancing the scales; it’s what they’re owed.”
Sam Nordean
Hiring the right Slip & Fall Accident Attorney will make a huge positive difference in this unfortunate and difficult part of your life. You can spend countless hours at the Orange County Courthouse trying to piece together what you need to do next on your own. By not hiring an attorney, you are throwing countless hours out the window, you will also get on average 40% less when the settlement finally comes around, which will happen much faster with professional help.
It’s free to talk with us, please reach out if you have any questions or would like an estimate of what you could be owed. In California, you have up to two years to file a claim and sue for compensation. If you wish to take this court journey alone, Orange County Courthouse is located at 700 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
If you want to take professional help, our Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer in Orange County will be more than happy to help you.
Orange County, which lies in Southern California, is a compact yet vibrant region known for its diverse cities, stunning landscapes, and rich history. Home to popular cities like Anaheim, known for Disneyland, and Santa Ana, the county seat, it also boasts coastal cities like Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.
The county is connected by the Interstate 5 (Santa Ana) Freeway and hosts shopping centers like South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. Tourist attractions include Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park and Mission San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano.
Geographically, it's adorned with features like the Santa Ana Mountains and the Santa Ana River. With a pleasant average annual temperature of 68 °F (20 °C), Orange County offers an unforgettable experience for all.
From our office in Costa Mesa, we are proud to extend our services to a wide range of cities within Orange County. This includes Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, and Mission Viejo. We also cater to clients in Newport Beach and larger cities such as Los Angeles, Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, and Norwalk. We're committed to serving these communities with dedication and excellence.
We’re proud to have helped countless clients across California achieve justice and compensation.
"After my car accident in Irvine, I didn’t know where to turn. This team took care of everything, from dealing with insurance to getting me a fair settlement. Highly recommend!"
"I was injured in a truck accident on the freeway near Riverside. They fought hard for me and won my case in record time. Professional and caring every step of the way."
"Nordean Law is working in my injury case and can't thank them enough. Sam and his team have been reaching and keeping me informed with all pending matters. I appreciate that because with all that is currently going in right now, I need some stress off my shoulders. Thank you Nordean Law!!!"
"The best lawyer in the area! He and his team will take great care of you. They are very good with taking questions and answering them without lying to you. I will use Sam and his firm for any cases I might encounter. Highly recommend!!"
"If you are worried about your claim you should contact Nordean Law. Sam Nordean and his team are not only true professionals with integrity, but also sincerely care about their clients well being and state of mind throughout the process."
Being involved in a slip and fall accident is a stressful event. It is easy to become overwhelmed and confused about the next steps. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about accidents as a quick reference.
