A fall that wasn't your fault shouldn't cost you everything. California law holds negligent property owners responsible for injuries on their property. We handle the investigation, the insurance company, and the legal claim — so you can focus on healing.
A slip and fall can be one of those injuries people are embarrassed to talk about. You wonder if you were just clumsy. You wonder who is liable. Then you get the hospital bill, and your hip is not healing the way the ER doctor said it would. Then you are missing work, and the insurance adjuster is calling you at home with a small check and a release form they want you to sign today.
California premises liability law exists for exactly this situation. Under Civil Code §1714, every property owner — every store, restaurant, apartment complex, parking structure, hotel, office building, or entertainment facility — owes a duty of ordinary care to everyone who enters their property. When they fail to fix a known hazard, fail to warn of a dangerous condition, or fail to inspect and maintain their property safely, and someone gets hurt because of it, they are legally liable.
Slip and fall injuries are among the most serious in personal injury law. A fall in a grocery store aisle, on a wet restaurant floor, on a broken Burbank sidewalk, or in a poorly lit stairwell can cause hip fractures, spinal injuries, torn ligaments, rotator cuff tears, and traumatic brain injuries that take months — or years — to heal. For older adults, a single fall can statistically be one of the most dangerous events of their lifetime.
Burbank has a dense concentration of high-traffic commercial properties where these cases are most common: IKEA and the big-box retailers of the Burbank Empire Center, Burbank Town Center, the major grocery chains along Magnolia Boulevard and Hollywood Way, restaurants and coffee shops throughout Downtown Burbank and the Magnolia Park corridor, the entertainment studio lots on Olive Avenue and West Olive Avenue, hotels near Hollywood Burbank Airport, and the parking structures serving every major commercial block. Every one of these properties is legally required to keep their spaces safe. When they don’t, we hold them accountable.
Generally, you have two years from the date of your fall to file a claim (CCP §335.1). If a City of Burbank sidewalk, Burbank Beeline bus stop, government building, or any public entity property was involved, that window can drop to six months under California’s Government Tort Claims Act. Don’t let those deadlines pass before talking to an attorney.
01
Every property owner must use ordinary care in the use or management of their property. This is not optional, and it cannot be waived by a posted sign, a clause on a receipt, or a notice on a door. It applies to commercial businesses, landlords, government entities, and private property owners alike — everywhere in Burbank and Los Angeles County.
02
03
For transitory conditions — a fresh spill, recently dropped produce, a just-mopped floor — California requires proof that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and had enough time to fix or warn of it. Under Ortega v. Kmart Corp., a plaintiff can establish constructive notice through evidence of how long the condition existed, the property’s inspection and cleaning schedule, employee knowledge, and surveillance footage showing the condition was present before your fall.
For permanent or long-standing conditions — a broken step, torn carpet, cracked pavement, deteriorating parking lot surface — notice is generally presumed, because the owner has a duty to discover hazards through reasonable inspection.
04
Falls on City of Burbank sidewalks, Burbank Beeline bus stops and transit facilities, Burbank parks, government buildings, and other public property are governed by Gov. Code §835 — not Civil Code §1714. These cases require a government tort claim filed within six months of the fall. Missing this deadline permanently bars the claim. It is the most commonly missed deadline in Burbank slip and fall law, and it cannot be corrected after the fact.
You can recover even if you were partly at fault for the fall — your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. Insurers routinely overstate a victim’s fault to reduce what they pay. Having an attorney prevents this.
2
years
from date of the fall
CCP §335.1
6
months
to file a government tort claim
* These are general deadlines. Always confirm your specific circumstances with an experienced attorney.
The location of your fall determines which legal theory applies, what evidence exists, and who can be named as a defendant. We handle cases across every type of property in Burbank and Los Angeles County.
Transitory spills — produce moisture, spilled liquids, leaking refrigerator cases, recently mopped floors without adequate warning signs — are the leading cause of store falls in California. Under Ortega v. Kmart, constructive notice can be established through sweep logs, inspection schedules, employee testimony, and surveillance footage showing how long the condition existed before your fall. Burbank's major grocery chains — Ralphs, Vons, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Sprouts along Magnolia Boulevard and Hollywood Way — generate a significant share of these cases.
IKEA Burbank, Costco on Victory Place, Target, Walmart, Lowe's, and Home Depot at the Burbank Empire Center and Empire Plaza. Burbank Town Center. Fallen merchandise, unsecured displays, uneven transition strips between flooring materials, and inadequate lighting in stockroom-adjacent areas are common hazards. Property management companies and tenant businesses can both be liable depending on which party controlled the condition that caused your fall.
Grease and spilled drinks on hard tile floors, wet entries during Burbank's rainy season, and uneven outdoor patio surfaces create significant fall risk throughout Downtown Burbank's dining corridor on San Fernando Boulevard, the Magnolia Park restaurant strip, the Riverside Drive and Hollywood Way commercial areas. California's restaurant density in these corridors generates frequent premises liability claims.
Warner Bros., Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network all operate facilities in Burbank. Falls on studio lot walkways, visitor areas, production facilities, and the commercial properties of the Burbank Media District on West Olive Avenue and Pass Avenue involve corporate property owners with their own liability insurance and legal teams. These cases are not unusual — they are handled the same way as any commercial premises liability matter.
Hollywood Way approaching and surrounding the Burbank Airport (BUR) is one of the highest-traffic pedestrian corridors in the city. Hilton Burbank, Marriott, Holiday Inn, and other airport-adjacent hotels all carry commercial premises liability. Pool deck surfaces, wet lobby floors, slippery exterior walkways, and inadequately lit hotel parking lots are among the most common hotel fall hazards.
Oil slicks, uneven pavement, deteriorating speed bumps, poor lighting, and inadequate drainage are common hazards in the parking structures serving Burbank Town Center, the Empire Center, the Media District, and Downtown Burbank's commercial blocks. The responsible party may be the property owner, a management company, or a private parking operator — we identify all of them.
Wet lobby floors during rainy season, slippery elevator thresholds, and poorly maintained common areas in the multi-tenant office buildings of the Burbank Media District and the commercial blocks along Alameda Avenue, Olive Avenue, and Magnolia Boulevard. Both the building owner and the tenant occupying the premises can bear liability.
Cracked, raised, or sunken concrete panels; deteriorating curb cuts; and uneven pavement are pervasive on Burbank's aging sidewalks — particularly in older residential neighborhoods and the commercial blocks of Downtown Burbank. Falls on City of Burbank sidewalks require a government tort claim filed within six months — not two years. A missed six-month deadline permanently bars the claim, and this is the deadline that catches the most Burbank slip and fall victims off guard.
Falls in Burbank's apartment buildings — deteriorating common area flooring, inadequate lighting in stairwells, broken handrails in laundry rooms and pool areas — are some of the most common premises liability claims in the city's dense residential corridors. Falls at private homes are covered by the homeowner's or renter's insurance. Many people do not realize that a fall at a friend's house triggers an insurance claim, not a lawsuit against the person personally.
We know how insurance companies respond to slip and fall claims in Burbank. They question whether the condition was really dangerous. They suggest you were not watching where you were going. They offer a fraction of what the case is worth and rely on you not knowing the difference. We are three miles away in Glendale, and we do not let that happen.
You focus on your recovery. We handle everything else.
You speak with George at every stage — not a paralegal, not a case manager. He works directly with every client from the first call through resolution.
Free, no-obligation evaluation usually within hours. We give you our honest assessment of the case, what it is likely worth, and what steps to take — even if you decide not to retain us.
If we do not recover for you, you owe us nothing. Zero out-of-pocket cost to start. Our goals are completely aligned with yours.
California law recognizes both economic and non-economic damages in premises liability cases. We build claims that account for every category — including future costs that insurance companies routinely try to minimize or exclude.
Burbank slip and fall cases are won or lost based on evidence collected in the first week. Here is what matters and why it cannot wait:
| Court House Lawyers | Typical PI Firm | |
|---|---|---|
|
Case Review |
Same day, often within hours |
2–3 business days |
|
Attorney Access |
You speak directly with George on your case |
Routed through a case manager or paralegal |
|
Evidence Preservation |
Same-day preservation letters for surveillance footage, sweep logs, and incident reports |
Often delayed — critical footage at IKEA, Burbank Town Center, and hotel properties is overwritten within days |
|
Government Claims |
We file the 6-month government tort claim without exception when a City of Burbank sidewalk, Beeline bus facility, or public entity is involved |
Many firms miss this short deadline entirely — it permanently bars the claim |
|
Ortega v. Kmart |
We build constructive notice through sweep logs, inspection schedules, employee testimony, and surveillance footage timelines |
Most firms do not develop the notice argument beyond a basic demand letter |
|
Liability Investigation |
We identify every party: property owner, tenant, management company, maintenance contractor |
Many firms name only the most obvious defendant |
|
Insurance Strategy |
We treat the property insurer as the opposing party from day one. Because they are. |
Many firms accept early lowball offers to close files |
|
Trial Readiness |
Every case prepared for trial; insurers know it |
Settlement-only firms get lower offers |
|
Fees |
No win, no fees. Period. |
Can say the same, but watch for hidden costs at settlement |
George Mkrtchyan
Managing Attorney
George Mkrtchyan is the Managing Attorney of Court House Lawyers, a Glendale personal injury firm three miles from Burbank on Glenoaks Boulevard. Over the past decade, George has handled premises liability cases involving negligent property owners, retailers, landlords, and property management companies across Glendale, Burbank, and Los Angeles County — including cases where insurers initially denied the condition existed, disputed whether it caused the injury, or made early offers that bore no relationship to the actual value of the claim.
He is known for thorough case preparation, a willingness to take cases to trial when insurers underpay, and a client-first communication standard that means every client speaks directly with him — not a paralegal, not a case manager.
“Insurance companies bank on fear and fatigue. They count on you accepting a fast, low offer because you’re tired and hurting. Our job is to make sure you don’t have to fight that fight alone.“
— George Mkrtchyan, Managing Attorney
Every slip and fall case is different. These results from our practice show what focused, thorough representation delivers.
Personal Injury · Car Accident
Client was initially assigned 85% fault in a left-turn collision. After George and case manager Grant Abadzhyan took over, the fault assignment was reversed to zero and the client recovered full compensation.
Personal Injury · Car Accident
Three people were injured in the same accident, each with separate representation. George Mkrtchyan and Grant Abadzhyan secured the largest individual recovery of the three — the result of thorough early documentation and a faster demand strategy.
Personal Injury · Rideshare
Client injured in an Uber accident initially received nothing from the insurer. Court House Lawyers secured a $35,000 settlement within 30 days of filing a lawsuit.
Personal Injury · UIM Arbitration
Out-of-state underinsured motorist policy. The insurer refused to pay fairly. Court House Lawyers demanded arbitration and secured the full policy limits for the client.
Personal Injury · Government Entity
A wheelchair-bound client was thrown forward when a Metro conductor slammed on the brakes. Metro denied the claim outright. Court House Lawyers filed, obtained the conductor’s own footage — including a statement caught on Metro’s camera — and settled for $35,000.
Personal Injury · Car Accident
Client was offered $500 after a school bus accident. Court House Lawyers filed suit and recovered $50,000 — 100x the original offer.
Past results are specific to the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes. Every premises liability matter is evaluated on its own merits.
Tell us where you fell, what the condition was, what injuries you have suffered, and what treatment you have received. We will give you our honest assessment of whether you have a claim and what it may be worth — even if you decide not to hire us.
George handles your case. Not a junior associate. Not a case manager. The attorney you speak with on day one is the attorney who takes the case to resolution.
The most valuable evidence in a Burbank slip and fall case disappears in the first week. Cameras at IKEA, Burbank Town Center, Empire Center, hotel properties, and studio facilities overwrite on short cycles. We send preservation letters the same day you retain us.
We investigate the property owner, the tenant operator, the property management company, and any maintenance contractor involved in the condition. In Burbank's mixed commercial landscape — where studio facilities, big-box retailers, and apartment complexes often share management layers — identifying every responsible party matters. Every one is named.
We treat the property liability insurer as the opposing party from day one. Because they are. Initial offers are documented, challenged, and pushed back against with full medical records, evidence of notice, and a clear willingness to file in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
If a City of Burbank sidewalk, Beeline bus facility, public park, or any government-managed property was involved, we file the required government tort claim within the six-month window. Missing this deadline is permanent and unrecoverable.
If you do not have a doctor or cannot afford specialist care, we connect you with experienced providers in Burbank, Glendale, and the surrounding area who treat injury victims on a lien basis — no upfront cost.
Property liability insurers in Burbank settle higher when they know the case is prepared for trial. Most cases never get there — but at significantly better numbers because of the preparation.
No upfront costs of any kind. No hourly billing. If we don't recover for you, you owe us nothing.
We talk through what happened: the location, the hazard, your injuries, and what treatment you have received. You walk away knowing our honest assessment and what the case is likely worth.
We send same-day preservation requests for surveillance footage, sweep logs, maintenance records, and incident reports. We identify every party — owner, tenant, management company, contractor — who had control over the condition that caused your fall. In Burbank, that frequently means navigating between property owners and national retail or studio tenants with separate insurance policies.
We build the evidence of notice: how long the condition existed, whether it had been reported before, what the property's own inspection schedule required, and whether any prior incidents involving the same hazard are on record. Under Ortega v. Kmart, this is where most Burbank slip and fall cases are actually won — not at trial, but in the notice evidence built during investigation.
We document your injuries, medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering comprehensively. We present a complete demand to the property liability insurer. If they start low — and they will — we push back with documentation, the notice evidence, and a clear willingness to file in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
If the insurer refuses to pay what your case is worth, we file. Every case is prepared from day one as if it will go to trial — and that preparation is exactly why most Burbank slip and fall cases settle for significantly more before they ever get there.
* These are general deadlines. Always confirm your specific circumstances with an experienced attorney.
You need to establish that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you. For transitory conditions — a fresh spill, recently mopped floor, spilled produce at a Burbank grocery store — this means showing how long the condition existed and whether the property’s own inspection schedule should have caught it. Under Ortega v. Kmart Corp., sweep logs, surveillance footage, and employee testimony are the primary tools for establishing constructive notice. For permanent conditions — a cracked Burbank sidewalk, a broken step, deteriorating parking lot pavement — notice is generally presumed because the owner is required to inspect and maintain their property.
A warning sign does not automatically eliminate liability. If the sign was too small, positioned incorrectly, blocked from view, or placed alongside a hazard that should have been fixed rather than just warned about, liability can still be established. The question is whether the owner took reasonable steps to make the property safe — not just whether they put a cone somewhere in the area.
Yes. California’s pure comparative fault system allows you to recover even if you were partially responsible for your fall. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault — not eliminated. Insurers routinely argue that Burbank slip and fall victims were distracted, wearing inappropriate footwear, or not paying attention — to inflate assigned fault and reduce the payout. An attorney challenges those characterizations with the actual evidence of the hazardous condition.
Significantly. Falls on City of Burbank sidewalks, Beeline bus facilities, or any government-managed property in Burbank trigger the Government Claims Act. You must file a formal claim against the City within six months of the fall. After the City denies or ignores the claim, you have a limited window to file a lawsuit. Missing the six-month government claim deadline permanently bars the claim — there is no exception and no way to recover the right after the fact. If your fall was on public property in Burbank, call us immediately.
It depends entirely on the severity of the injury, the quality of the medical documentation, the strength of the liability and notice evidence, and the available insurance coverage. Minor soft-tissue injuries with ongoing treatment typically resolve in the $15,000–$50,000 range. Fractures requiring surgery — hip, knee, shoulder — can settle from $100,000 to $400,000. Spinal surgeries and serious head trauma range from $250,000 into seven figures. The only honest answer for what your specific case is worth requires reviewing your actual medical records and the full liability facts. We do that in the free case review.
Harder than most people expect — which is why most claims are settled before lawsuit rather than tried. The critical challenge in almost every California slip and fall case is establishing notice: proving the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard. That evidence — surveillance footage, sweep logs, incident history, inspection schedules — disappears quickly and must be preserved through legal action before it is overwritten or denied. Cases built on that evidence settle far better than cases where the evidence was never gathered.
Cases that settle without litigation typically resolve within six to twelve months. Cases that require filing a lawsuit commonly take twelve to twenty-four months through discovery, mediation, and resolution. The timeline depends on injury severity, how quickly medical treatment concludes, and whether the insurer engages in good-faith negotiation. We tell every client what to expect at each stage.
Nothing upfront and nothing unless we win. Our fee comes from the recovery at the end of the case. If we do not recover for you, you owe nothing. Call our Glendale office — three miles from Burbank — and we will tell you what the case is worth before you make any decisions.
Tell the store manager, property owner, building staff, or security officer before you leave. At a studio lot or large commercial property, report to facilities management or security. Ask for a written incident report and get a copy. If they refuse to provide one, document the refusal — the name of the person you spoke with, the time, and what they said.
Take photos of the condition that caused your fall — the wet floor, the crack, the torn mat, the broken step — from multiple angles before it is repaired or cleaned. At an IKEA, Burbank Town Center retail space, or studio facility, staff may move quickly to address the hazard once you have fallen. Do this before you leave the property if you are physically able.
Go to the emergency room or urgent care the same day even if pain is not immediately severe. Adrenaline and shock mask injury severity in the hours after a fall. Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank is nearby — go that day and tell the treating provider exactly what happened and where. A same-day medical assessment is the most important single piece of evidence in a premises liability case.
Keep the shoes you were wearing. Do not discard them. Defense attorneys in Burbank slip and fall cases use footwear analysis to argue that tread condition, heel height, or sole wear contributed to the fall. Your attorney needs to preserve and examine this evidence.
Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the fall or who saw the condition before you fell. Bystander accounts establish how long the hazard existed and whether it was visible before your fall.
An adjuster will call you, sometimes within hours. They will seem cooperative and helpful. Do not give a recorded statement. Do not discuss fault or how you are feeling. Tell them you have retained an attorney and they will be in contact.
Do not sign any release, settlement, or authorization that the property manager, owner, or their insurer presents without your attorney reviewing it first.
Call (818) 293-8293 Free, same-day review from our Glendale office. We can tell you exactly where you stand and what needs to be preserved before another day passes.
10
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
Trusted Burbank slip and fall attorney holding negligent property owners, retailers, studios, landlords, and public entities accountable for unsafe conditions across Los Angeles County.
Property owners have a legal duty to keep their spaces safe. When they don’t, you should not be the one paying for it. From our Glendale office three miles away, we represent slip and fall victims across Burbank and throughout Los Angeles County — including Glendale, Pasadena, North Hollywood, Studio City, Toluca Lake, and the entire San Fernando Valley.
