Shopping at your local Walmart in Lancaster should be routine and safe. When dangerous conditions cause you to slip and fall, the physical pain and financial stress that follow can overwhelm even the strongest person.
You’re dealing with medical appointments, insurance paperwork, and lost wages while trying to heal from injuries that never should have happened.
Walmart presents unique legal challenges that distinguish these cases from typical slip-and-fall claims.
As one of the world’s largest retailers, Walmart maintains its own insurance company, Claims Management, Inc., and deploys teams of adjusters and attorneys trained to minimize payouts. They have the resources to fight claims aggressively and often refuse to offer fair settlements unless subjected to sustained legal pressure.
At Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we represent clients against corporate defendants in Lancaster and the Antelope Valley. Our attorneys understand the specific tactics Walmart uses to deny or reduce legitimate injury claims.
We know how to preserve critical evidence, counter their defense strategies, and build cases that demand fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Why You Need a Lancaster Walmart Slip and Fall Lawyer
A Walmart slip and fall accident can leave you injured, confused, and facing mounting medical bills. You deserve an experienced attorney who understands how to take on corporate giants like Walmart and their insurance teams.
Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers has long served clients throughout the Antelope Valley. We understand precisely how Walmart handles injury claims and what is required to secure fair compensation for our clients.
Walmart stores present unique challenges because they are self-insured through Claims Management, Inc. This means they have their own team of adjusters and lawyers working to minimize your claim from the moment you report your accident.
What to Do Immediately After Your Walmart Fall
Your actions in the first few hours after a slip and fall can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Following these steps protects both your health and your legal rights.
Report Your Accident to Store Management
Find a manager or supervisor immediately and ask them to complete an incident report. Obtain the report number and request a copy before leaving the store. If they refuse to give you a copy, write down the manager’s name and the report number.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
Even if you feel fine, it’s best to see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, like concussions or soft tissue damage, may not show symptoms for hours or days. Receiving prompt medical care establishes a clear connection between your fall and the resulting injuries.
Document Everything You Can
Take photos of the exact spot where you fell, including any liquid, debris, or other hazards. Photograph your injuries, your shoes, and the surrounding area from multiple angles. If other customers saw your fall, ask for their names and phone numbers.
Avoid Giving Statements to Walmart
Walmart’s representatives may contact you to request a recorded statement or to ask that you sign forms. Politely decline until you speak with an attorney. These statements can be used against you later to reduce or deny your claim.
Contact Our Lancaster Office
Call Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers at (661) 945-6969 immediately. We will send preservation letters to Walmart, demanding that they preserve surveillance footage, employee records, and other critical evidence before it is destroyed.
How We Prove Walmart Was Negligent
Premises liability law requires property owners to maintain safe conditions for their customers and visitors. This means Walmart has a legal duty to regularly inspect its store, fix dangerous situations, and warn customers about hazards it cannot immediately repair.
To win your slip and fall case, we must prove Walmart knew or should have known about the dangerous condition that caused your fall. We also need to demonstrate that they had sufficient time to fix the problem but failed to do so.
Obtaining Walmart’s Internal Records
We demand access to Walmart’s sweep logs, which are hourly records showing when employees checked each area of the store. These logs often reveal that staff were aware of spills or hazards but failed to clean them up promptly.
We also request employee training records, staffing schedules, and any previous incident reports from the exact location in question. These documents help us understand whether Walmart was following proper safety procedures.
Securing Surveillance Video Evidence
Most Walmart stores have extensive security camera systems that capture accidents as they happen. This footage is often the most substantial evidence in slip and fall cases, as it provides a precise account of how the accident occurred.
Surveillance footage may be overwritten after a short period, so acting quickly is essential to preserve this critical evidence. Our legal team sends immediate preservation notices to prevent this crucial evidence from being destroyed.
Working With Expert Witnesses
We often hire safety experts who can analyze the scene of your accident and identify code violations or unsafe practices. These experts can testify about industry standards and explain how Walmart failed to meet its duty of care.
Common Hazards That Cause Walmart Accidents
Walmart’s high customer volume and large inventory create numerous opportunities for dangerous conditions. Understanding these common hazards helps us build stronger cases for our clients:
Liquid spills:
Broken bottles, leaking refrigeration units, and tracked-in rainwater create slippery surfaces
Merchandise in aisles:
Boxes, pallets, and restocking equipment left in walkways
Defective flooring:
Torn carpeting, broken tiles, and uneven surfaces
Poor lighting:
Burned-out bulbs in parking lots and store aisles
Inadequate signage:
Missing wet floor signs and blocked exit routes
Grocery Section Dangers
The grocery section presents particular risks due to refrigerated cases that can leak and produce that may fall from displays. Walmart employees are supposed to inspect these areas frequently, but they often fail to adhere to proper cleaning schedules.
Parking Lot and Entrance Hazards
Walmart parking lots are notorious for potholes, oil slicks, and poor drainage that creates puddles during rain, hazards that frequently cause pedestrian accidents. The entrance areas can become extremely slippery when customers track in water during bad weather.
Injuries We See in Walmart Fall Cases
Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment. The sudden, unexpected nature of these falls often results in victims being unable to break their fall properly.
Bone Fractures and Joint Injuries
Hip fractures are prevalent among older adults who fall in stores. These injuries often require surgery and months of rehabilitation. Wrist and arm fractures frequently occur when people try to break their fall.
Knee and ankle injuries can lead to long-term mobility issues, particularly when ligaments or tendons are torn. These soft tissue injuries may not show up on initial X-rays but can cause chronic pain and instability.
Head and Brain Trauma
Hitting your head during a fall can cause concussions or more severe traumatic brain injuries. These injuries may not be immediately apparent but can lead to memory problems, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.
Even minor head injuries require careful monitoring by medical professionals. Brain injuries can have lasting effects on your ability to work and enjoy daily activities.
Back and Spinal Cord Damage
Falls can cause herniated discs, compression fractures, and other spinal injuries that result in chronic pain, and in the most severe cases, can lead to wrongful death. Some victims develop nerve damage that affects their ability to walk or use their hands normally.
Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious consequences of slip and fall accidents. These injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis and require lifelong medical care.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
California law allows slip and fall victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages from property owners who are negligent. The total value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries and how they impact your life.
Medical Expenses and Future Care
You can recover compensation for all medical treatment related to your injuries, including emergency room visits, surgery, physical therapy, and prescription medications. If your injuries require ongoing care, we calculate the cost of future medical treatment.
Many slip and fall victims require assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers, or home modifications, to accommodate their disabilities. These costs are included in your damage calculation.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
If your injuries prevent you from working, you can recover compensation for lost wages and benefits. We use your employment records and expert testimony to calculate your total income loss.
For permanent injuries that affect your ability to earn money in the future, we work with vocational experts to determine your reduced earning capacity. This ensures you receive compensation for the long-term financial impact of your accident.
Pain, Suffering, and Quality of Life
Non-economic damages compensate you for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries. These damages are often the most significant component of slip-and-fall settlements.
We document how your injuries affect your daily activities, relationships, and ability to enjoy hobbies and recreation. This evidence helps us secure maximum compensation for your non-economic losses.
Dealing With Walmart’s Insurance Company
Walmart is self-insured, which means it handles claims through its own company, Claims Management, Inc. Its adjusters are trained to minimize payouts and may use various tactics to reduce the value of your claim.
Early Settlement Offers
CMI often contacts accident victims within days of their fall with a quick settlement offer. These offers are typically far below the actual value of your claim and are designed to close your case before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
Never accept an early settlement without consulting an experienced attorney. Once you sign a release, you cannot pursue additional compensation even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than initially thought.
Recorded Statements and Medical Releases
Walmart’s adjusters may ask you to provide a recorded statement about your accident or sign forms allowing them to access your medical records. These requests are designed to gather information that can be used against you.
We handle all communications with Walmart’s insurance company, so you cannot accidentally say something that hurts your case. Our attorneys know how to protect your interests while still cooperating with legitimate claim investigations.
California’s Comparative Fault Rules
California follows a pure comparative negligence system, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for your accident. Your percentage of fault will reduce your compensation, but you will not be completely barred from recovery.
For example, if you were looking at your phone when you slipped on a puddle, a jury could find you partially at fault for not watching where you were going. You would still recover 80% of your total damages from Walmart.
Our attorneys work to minimize any fault attributed to you by thoroughly investigating the circumstances of your accident. We often find that apparent victim fault is actually due to Walmart’s negligence in maintaining its property.
Time Limits for Filing Your Claim
California’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against Walmart. However, waiting too long can seriously damage your case, as evidence can disappear and witnesses may forget important details.
Surveillance footage may be overwritten after a short period, so immediate action is essential to preserve this critical evidence. Employee memories fade quickly, and hazardous conditions are often repaired soon after accidents occur.
We recommend contacting our office within days of your accident to ensure we can gather all available evidence. Early investigation often uncovers additional evidence that strengthens your case significantly.
Why Choose Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers
Our firm has been fighting for the rights of injured Lancaster residents for over 40 years. We have the experience, resources, and determination needed to take on corporate defendants like Walmart and their teams of lawyers.
Proven Track Record Against Large Corporations
We have successfully handled thousands of premises liability and personal injury cases against major retailers, grocery stores, and other businesses. Our attorneys understand the tactics these companies use and know how to counter their defense strategies.
Our past verdicts and settlements demonstrate our ability to secure substantial compensation for victims of slip and fall accidents. We are not intimidated by large corporations and their insurance companies.
No Upfront Costs or Fees
We handle all slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your case. This allows you to pursue justice without worrying about legal fees while you are dealing with medical bills and lost income.
We advance all case expenses, including expert witness fees, court costs, and investigation expenses. You will only be reimbursed for these costs if we successfully resolve your case.
Local Knowledge and Relationships
As a Lancaster-based firm, we understand the local court system and have established relationships with medical providers, expert witnesses, and other professionals who can strengthen your case. We also offer services in both English and Spanish to serve our diverse community.
Frequently Asked Questions About Walmart Slip and Fall Cases
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Walmart Slip and Fall Case?
Many cases resolve within several months, but complex matters involving severe injuries can take longer. The timeline depends on factors like the extent of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, and Walmart’s willingness to negotiate fairly.
Can I Sue Walmart if I Was Partially at Fault for My Fall?
Yes, California’s comparative negligence laws allow you to recover damages even if you were partially responsible for your accident. Your percentage of fault will reduce your compensation, but you can still pursue a claim against Walmart.
What if Walmart Claims the Hazard Was “Open and Obvious”?
Even if a hazard was visible, Walmart may still be liable if it created the dangerous condition or failed to provide adequate warnings. We investigate whether the hazard was truly obvious and whether Walmart met its duty to maintain safe premises.
Contact a Lancaster Walmart Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident at a Lancaster Walmart, do not face this challenge alone. The experienced attorneys at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
We offer free consultations to discuss your case and explain your legal options. Our team is available to answer your questions and can begin working on your case promptly.Call us today at (661) 945-6969 or visit our Lancaster office located at 1700 W. Ave. K, Suite 101. Remember, you pay nothing unless we win your case, so there is no risk in contacting us to learn about your rights.
