Mesa Slip and Fall Lawyer
Slip and Fall Lawyer Serving Mesa, Arizona After a Fall on Unsafe Property
A slip and fall lawyer in Mesa can look at who controlled the place where you fell, what that owner knew or should have known, and what your injuries are likely to cost. Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years (A.R.S. 12-542(1)), but a fall on city property can require a notice of claim within 180 days. Valley Accident Law is a Scottsdale firm, and we start by phone, so a slip and fall attorney in Mesa can hear your story without you traveling.
- Filing deadline
- Generally 2 years from the fall
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Fall on city property
- Notice of claim within 180 days
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
- Shared blame
- Pure comparative fault, no percentage bar
- A.R.S. 12-2505
Slip and Fall Lawyer in Mesa: Where Falls Turn Into Claims
Mesa has a downtown that people actually walk. City Hall and Mesa City Plaza sit on Main Street, the Mesa Arts Center is nearby, and Valley Metro light rail runs in the Main Street median with stations at Sycamore, Alma School, Country Club, Center Street, Mesa Drive, Stapley and Gilbert Road. People step off trains onto platforms, cross to restaurants and shops, and walk through parking lots and garages at night. Any of those spaces can have a wet floor, a loose tile, a broken curb, a torn mat or a dark stair.
Beyond downtown, Mesa is spread across 138 square miles of apartment complexes, strip centers, big-box stores and parks. Superstition Springs Center on Southern Avenue has been open since 1990 and has more than a million square feet of floor and parking to maintain. Sloan Park seats about 15,000 for Cubs spring training. A fall in any of these places raises the same question: who was responsible for making that spot safe, and what did that person or company actually do about it?
That is what a premises liability claim asks. We look at the owner, the tenant, the property manager and any contractor, the condition that hurt you, how long it had been there and whether someone had been told. If your fall happened because of an unsafe walkway after a spill or a repair, the facts that matter are often gone within days, which is why we ask people to call early.
Arizona
Mesa Places Where Falls and Property Claims Come Up
We do not suggest that any place below is unsafe. These are named places in Mesa where a fall can happen and where the question of who is responsible has to be worked out.
Main Street and the light rail platforms
A public transit corridor. A fall on a platform, a sidewalk or a public crossing may involve a public entity, which brings the 180-day notice rule.
Superstition Springs Center, 6555 E Southern Ave
A large indoor mall with its own parking areas. Anchor stores, tenants and the mall owner can each control different parts of the property.
Sloan Park, 2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway
A 15,000-seat ballpark and the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs. Event crowds mean stairs, ramps, concourses and wet areas get heavy use.
Eastmark Great Park, 5100 S Eastmark Pkwy
A city park with a lake, ball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds and a splash pad. A fall in a Mesa park often brings in the city as the owner.
Mesa City Clerk, 20 E. Main Street, Suite 150
Where a claim against the City of Mesa is filed, in person, by mail to PO Box 1466, or by email.
Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Baywood Medical Center
The two hospitals most people hurt in a Mesa fall are taken to. The first emergency record becomes part of the claim.
A Fall on Private Property Versus a Fall on City Property
Who owns the ground you fell on changes both the deadline and the paperwork. This is the first thing we sort out.
Store, mall, apartment or other private property
- Generally two years to file under A.R.S. 12-542(1).
- The claim is made to the owner or its insurer, and often to a tenant or contractor as well.
- Photos of the exact spot, the shoes you wore and any warning signs matter.
- The business may have cameras, but video can be overwritten quickly.
City sidewalk, street, park or public building
- A notice of claim must go to the Mesa City Clerk within 180 days after the claim accrues, with the facts and a specific sum certain (A.R.S. 12-821.01).
- The city's claim form asks for a specific settlement amount, all injuries and all healthcare providers.
- A lawsuit generally must follow within one year after accrual (A.R.S. 12-821).
- Filing is not a promise of payment, and a false claim is a criminal offense, so accuracy matters.
What to Save After a Fall in Mesa
If you are hurt, get care first. When it is safe and someone can help you, these things matter later.
- Photos of the spot where you fell, the surrounding floor or ground, and any sign or the lack of one. Take them from a few angles and distances.
- The name of the store, complex or manager, and a copy of any incident report you are asked to sign. Read it before you sign.
- Names and numbers of anyone who saw the fall or the condition that caused it.
- The shoes you wore, kept unwashed and unrepaired, and the clothing if it was stained.
- Your medical records from the first visit and every one after.
- Any message, text or email about the hazard that was sent before you fell, by you or by anyone else.
Fault, Percentages and the Owner's Insurer
Premises cases are often argued on one question: did you share the blame? The owner's insurer may say the spill was obvious, that you were on your phone or that your shoes were wrong. Arizona uses pure comparative fault, so you can still recover when you share some of the blame, and your compensation is reduced by your percentage (A.R.S. 12-2505). There is no 50 percent bar. Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault. A lawyer's job here is to keep that number down by tying the hazard to what the owner knew or should have known.
A premises liability law firm serving Mesa should also look past the first bill. A broken hip or a torn shoulder can mean surgery, therapy and time off, and a fall that looks minor on the day can have no or seemingly minor symptoms for the first hours. See a doctor, follow the plan, and do not agree to a recorded statement with the other side's insurer before you have spoken with us. Our guide to talking to insurance adjusters explains why.
Falls can also be fatal, particularly for older people. If a family has lost someone after a fall, the wrongful death deadline is generally two years from the date of death (A.R.S. 12-542(2)), and our Mesa wrongful death lawyer page explains who may bring that claim.
Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault.
How a Mesa Slip and Fall Claim Usually Moves
No claim follows a fixed script. This is the general path, and we adjust it to what happened to you.
- 1
We learn who controlled the spot.
Owner, manager, tenant, contractor, city. If the answer is a public entity, we start counting days immediately.
- 2
We protect evidence.
A prompt written request that video, maintenance logs and incident reports be kept can be the difference between proof and a shrug.
- 3
We gather your records.
Medical records, bills, work records and the photos you took.
- 4
We value the claim when the picture is clear.
That usually means waiting until your doctors can say how your recovery is going.
- 5
We negotiate, and if needed we file.
A lawsuit goes to Maricopa County Superior Court, which hears injury cases from every Mesa address. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
More Pages From Our Mesa Section
A fall can overlap with other kinds of claims. These pages cover those, and the last three cover the same topic in neighboring cities.
Related pages
Questions
Questions about Mesa slip and fall cases
Do I need a premises liability lawyer in Mesa if the store says the fall was my fault?
Not necessarily, but a store's first reaction is not the last word. Arizona uses pure comparative fault, so sharing some blame does not end your claim. A call lets us look at the facts and explain your legal rights.
What if I fell on a Mesa sidewalk, in a park or on a light rail platform?
That can involve a public entity. A notice of claim against the City of Mesa must be filed with the City Clerk within 180 days after the claim accrues, and it must state a specific sum, so call us early rather than late.
Where is a lawsuit over a fall in Mesa filed?
Usually in Maricopa County Superior Court. The county's Southeast Regional Court Center is at 222 E. Javelina Ave in Mesa, and a civil case can be filed at any Superior Court location in the county. Small claims go up to $5,000 and justice court up to $10,000, and Mesa's justice court precincts also meet at the Javelina address.
Which Mesa hospitals treat injuries from a fall?
Banner Desert Medical Center on South Dobson Road is a state-designated Level I trauma center, and Banner Baywood and HonorHealth Four Peaks are Level III. Many people also go to urgent care first. Whatever you do, keep every record.
How do I get the incident report from a Mesa store or mall?
Ask the manager for a copy of any report you are asked to sign, and write down the manager's name. If Mesa police were called, the department's reports can be bought online for $5.00 with the report number. Do not sign anything you do not understand.
Is a fall accident lawyer in Mesa free to talk to?
Yes. The case review is free. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
Free case review
Fell in Mesa? Talk With Us
If you were hurt in a fall in Mesa, request a free case review at Contact or call (602) 584-8054. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights. Our experienced and friendly attorney will listen, explain your legal rights, and tell you what a slip and fall law firm serving Mesa can and cannot do for you. See also our Arizona slip and fall lawyer guide and the page on the Arizona statute of limitations.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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