When a storm hits Orange County, water gets tracked into grocery stores, restaurants, office lobbies, apartment walkways, and parking structures. A wet floor or a slick entry mat can lead to a fall. If that happened to you during this stretch of rain, here is what to do next and how California law looks at these claims.
Tafreshi Law Group reviews every case. If you were in a crash on a wet road, see our guide to car accidents in the rain in Orange County. Esta guía también está en español. A review is not a promise that a property owner is responsible or that you will recover compensation. You can also read our guides on what to do if you slip and fall at a store and premises liability in slip and fall accidents. If you prefer Spanish, see our página en español, or call us — our office staff speaks Spanish and Farsi.
Does This Sound Like You?
Check any that apply. Checking one or more does not mean you automatically have a claim. It does mean we are willing to take a look.
If you checked one or more, call (949) 989-2511 or text (949) 776-8964. We review every case.
What should I do after a slip and fall on a wet floor?
Get medical care if you are hurt. If you can do so safely, photograph the wet floor, any missing warning sign, the lighting, your shoes, and the surrounding area before it is cleaned up. Report the fall to a manager and ask for an incident report. Get the names of witnesses. Keep the clothes and shoes you were wearing.
Is a store or property owner automatically responsible because it was raining?
No. Rain alone does not automatically create liability. Under California Civil Code section 1714, a person is generally responsible for injury caused by a lack of ordinary care. The question is often whether the owner or occupier used reasonable care — for example, mats, cleanup, or a warning — given the conditions they knew or should have known about.
We review every case. A review is not a promise that the property owner is responsible or that you will recover compensation.
What if I fell on a wet public sidewalk or at a government building?
If the fall happened on property maintained by a city, the County of Orange, or another public entity, you generally must present a government claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2. A personal injury lawsuit is generally due within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. It is better not to wait.
How long do I have to bring a wet-floor injury claim in California?
For a claim against a private store, apartment, or other private property, the general deadline to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of injury, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public entity may be involved, you generally must present a government claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2.
Where these falls often happen in the rain
We are not inventing numbers about how often this occurs. What we can say is practical: rain gets walked indoors, and entryways, produce aisles, restrooms, and parking structures are common places people lose their footing. If you fell in Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, or a nearby city, text or call us and we will take a look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the store cleaned up the water before I could take a photo?
Do what you can with what you still have: the time, the location, any witnesses, your shoes and clothing, medical records, and any incident report. Other evidence, such as video, may still exist for a limited time. We can review what you have. A review is not a promise about the outcome.
Do I have a claim if I was wearing regular shoes in the rain?
Footwear can be one fact among others. It does not automatically bar a claim, and it does not automatically prove one. California follows comparative fault, so any recovery, if there is one, could be reduced by your share of the fault. The rest of the facts still matter.
Should I give a recorded statement to the store’s insurance company?
You can take time before you give a recorded statement. A consultation with us is free, and we can talk through what you have been asked to provide. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not mean we will represent you.
What does it cost to have you review my slip-and-fall case?
A consultation with us is free. Call (949) 989-2511 or text (949) 776-8964. We review every case. Reviewing your case does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not mean we will represent you.
Hurt on a wet floor in Orange County? We’ll take a look.
Call or text Tafreshi Law Group. Our office staff speaks Spanish and Farsi. We review every case.
- Fountain Valley office: 18837 Brookhurst St, Ste 207, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
- Lake Forest office: 22600 Lambert St, Ste 1501, Lake Forest, CA 92630
- Riverside office: 4121 Brockton Ave, Ste 101, Riverside, CA 92501 · (951) 583-1900
This article is general information about California law, not legal advice. Reading it, contacting us, or having us review your case does not create an attorney-client relationship. A review is not a promise that we will represent you or that you will recover compensation.
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[…] can also read this guide in Spanish, our page on slip-and-falls on wet floors during Orange County rain, and our guide to rain crashes in Riverside County and the Inland Empire. If another firm already […]