Posted in Slip & Fall on October 13, 2025
You do not need an attorney to file a claim for a slip and fall accident. You can calculate your losses, file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party’s insurance policy, and negotiate a claim settlement on your own. You may need to represent yourself in court if the insurance company refuses to provide compensation.
However, slip and fall cases can be challenging because of the burden of proof. Having a Long Beach slip and fall attorney to manage your slip and fall accident may be more effective in recovering fair damages for you.
How an Attorney Helps with a Slip and Fall Accident
Your slip and fall accident lawyer provides you with the resources necessary to prove your losses and recover fair compensation under the law. Your attorney will:
- Provide legal guidance: Your attorney helps you determine if the property owner is negligent and what evidence is available to substantiate that claim. They then offer insight into seeking a claim.
- Establish losses with evidence: Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries, but proving the value of those claims can be challenging without medical knowledge, evidence, and an understanding of your rights surrounding losses such as pain and suffering.
- Challenge denials and claims of pre-existing conditions: It is very common for insurance companies to try to put the blame for the accident on you, the victim, or state that your injuries and losses stem from pre-existing conditions, not the result of the fall.
- Negotiate for a fair settlement: Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company to recover a fair settlement. If you try to do this on your own, you may only recover a fraction of what may be owed to you unless you understand your legal rights.
- Seek legal action in a court of law: There are times when a slip and fall accident will result in going to court. Your lawyer will represent you, ensuring you make the most out of this opportunity.
Your attorney’s knowledge and experience in slip and fall cases, as well as how your local court system handles such cases, can prove vital. Without that insight, insurance companies will take advantage of you and limit what they pay you.
Times When You Should Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer
It is always a good idea to have a legal team to discuss your Long Beach accident case and losses extensively. The following are some examples of when working with a slip and fall lawyer can be critical:
- You have serious losses, including those resulting in hospitalization or catastrophic injuries.
- The insurance company has already denied or limited the amount of compensation they are willing to offer to you.
- You have pre-existing conditions that were aggravated by the slip and fall.
- The settlement offered by the insurance company does not cover all of your losses and creates financial instability for you.
- You are running out of time (in California, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is just two years) and need fast help.
In these cases, you need and will benefit from an attorney. Even better, most lawyers provide a free consultation, allowing you to get information about your rights and how they can help you long before agreeing to work with the lawyer. Discuss your case with a Long Beach injury lawyer before you settle.