Slip and Fall Lawyer Serving Napa

Table of Contents

A Napa store says it never knew about the spill I slipped on. Does that end my claim?

That alone does not end it. California’s civil jury instructions also ask whether the owner should have known of the condition (CACI No. 1011). That depends on whether the condition was of such a nature and existed long enough for the owner to discover it and, using reasonable care, repair it, protect against it or adequately warn of it. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp represents people hurt in falls in Napa.

Consultations with the Law Offices of J. Chrisp are free. The firm works on a contingency fee, and there is no fee unless we win. Its phone line, 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477), is answered 24/7, and the firm has Spanish-speaking staff.

Store inspections and how long a hazard was there

When a fall happens in a store, CACI No. 1011 can include a paragraph on inspections. It says the owner must make reasonable inspections of the property to discover unsafe conditions. If an inspection was not made within a reasonable time before the accident, that may show the condition existed long enough that a store owner using reasonable care would have discovered it.

That paragraph is based on Ortega v. Kmart (2001) 26 Cal.4th 1200. In that case, the court said a store owner exercises ordinary care by making reasonable inspections of the portions of the premises open to customers.

Slip and fall results

Many serious personal injury slip/trip and fall cases have been successfully concluded by the firm since 2010, resulting in millions of dollars for its clients. Two of its results involving dangerous property are shown on its slip and fall page:

$5,000,000 in a case involving a dangerous pool that caused a child’s brain injury
$300,000 in a case involving a dangerous apartment staircase that led to a knee replacement

Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Claims against the City of Napa or Napa County

Government Code section 911.2 sets a six-month limit for presenting an injury claim to a public entity, counted from the date the cause of action accrues. Missing that limit is not always the end. The claimant may apply in writing for leave to present a late claim, within a reasonable time that does not exceed one year after accrual. The application gives the reason for the delay, with the proposed claim attached (section 911.4).

The City of Napa asks that its claim form be filled out in full and signed. The signed form can be mailed or dropped off at the City Clerk’s office, City Hall, 955 School Street, Napa, CA 94559. According to the City, the Clerk turns away any claim that lacks a proper signature. The County of Napa has its own Claim Against the County form.

Where and when a Napa fall lawsuit is filed

Subject to exceptions in other laws, Code of Civil Procedure section 395 makes two superior courts proper for an injury case. One sits in the county where the injury happened. The other sits in a county where at least one defendant lives when the case is filed. A fall in Napa can therefore be tried in the Superior Court of California, County of Napa.

Against a private party, a lawsuit for an injury caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another generally must be filed within two years (section 335.1), counted from when the cause of action accrues (section 312). With limited exceptions, no suit for damages may be brought against a public entity until a written claim has been presented and the entity’s board has acted on it or the claim is deemed rejected (Government Code section 945.4).

Offices and service area

The firm does not have an office in Napa. Its service area covers Napa County, including Napa and Napa Valley. It also covers Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its main office is in Lower Lake at 9667 Highway 29 (CA 95457). Its other offices are at 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, and 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109.

Frequently asked questions

Does the inspection paragraph apply to places other than stores?

It may. The paragraph is written for a store or another commercial enterprise, and the court decides whether it applies to other types of property (CACI No. 1011, Directions for Use).

Which agency gets the claim if the fall was not on City of Napa property?

It may belong with another agency. The City of Napa’s claims page states that the City and the County of Napa are different agencies. It adds that claims involving county roads or facilities, the Sheriff, or Caltrans roads and state highways go to the appropriate agency instead.

How long does a city or county have to act on an injury claim?

The public entity’s board must act within 45 days after the claim is presented, unless the claimant and the board extend that time by written agreement. If the board does not act in time, the claim is deemed rejected on the last day of the period (Government Code section 912.4).

What should I write down after a fall in a Napa store?

Write down the date and time, the exact spot, what was on the floor and whether a warning sign was up. Ask staff when the area was last checked, and keep the names of the employees you spoke with.

If you were hurt in a fall at a store, restaurant or other property in Napa, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.

About the Law Offices of J. Chrisp

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.