The person or party that is responsible in a trip and fall or slip and fall case in California is typically the property owner or the person or party who was negligent. The property owner can often be held liable because they are aware of an unsafe or unmaintained condition on their property that poses a hazard to someone. Under that theory, the property owner would be liable.
Sometimes the property owner isn’t aware that there is a hazard on their property. In that circumstance, a negligent person may come onto the property and create a hazardous situation—for example, by leaving equipment out that could be a trip hazard or by spilling oil or other slippery substances that could create a slip hazard. In that case, you would hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries.
