A slippery restroom floor caused by cleaning chemicals in California can form the basis of a personal injury claim under premises liability law if someone slips and gets injured, particularly when there is no warning sign or failure to block off the area during or after cleaning.
⚖️ Legal Standard: California Premises Liability (Civil Code § 1714)
Under California law, a business or property owner has a legal duty to:
- Keep the premises in a reasonably safe condition,
- Warn visitors of hazardous conditions that may not be obvious (like slippery floors),
- Use reasonable care in cleaning and maintenance activities.
If cleaning chemicals make a restroom floor dangerously slippery and the property owner or cleaner fails to warn or restrict access, that may be considered negligence.
✅ Key Elements the Injured Person Must Prove
- Duty – The business or property owner owed a duty to keep the premises safe.
- Breach – They used slippery cleaning chemicals and failed to place warning signs, cones, or close the restroom temporarily.
- Notice – They knew or should have known the floor would be slippery during or after cleaning.
- Causation – The hazardous floor condition caused the fall.
- Damages – The fall resulted in medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or other quantifiable harm.
🚫 Signs of Negligence
- No “Wet Floor” signs or visible warnings during or after cleaning.
- Restroom left open to customers while still wet.
- Use of cleaning agents known to leave a slick residue without adequate drying time.
- Failure to follow standard safety or janitorial protocols.
💵 Recoverable Damages
- Medical expenses (emergency care, ongoing treatment, rehab)
- Lost wages or reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Possible future care or mobility assistance
⚖️ Comparative Fault (California Rule)
If the injured person was partially responsible (e.g., walking too quickly or distracted), California’s pure comparative negligence rule reduces damages based on their percentage of fault, but they can still recover.
🧾 Helpful Evidence
- Photos of the restroom floor and absence of signage
- Surveillance video or nearby witness accounts
- Incident report (especially in a store, mall, or restaurant)
- Cleaning schedule or janitor logs
- Medical records
- Previous complaints or incidents in the same location
⏳ Statute of Limitations
- You have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in California (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1).
Law Offices of James R. Dickinson – 909-848-8448
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