Top Slip-and-Fall Hazards in San Diego Commercial Properties

By Eugene Bruno on June 3, 2025

In San Diego, where tourism, retail, and hospitality thrive year-round, commercial property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises safe. But, too often, safety takes a back seat to profit.

Businesses may be liable when visitors, customers, or employees are exposed to serious slip-and-fall hazards that could have easily been prevented. At Eugene Bruno & Associates, we’ve helped numerous clients recover damages after being injured in preventable falls.

The Legal Duty of Commercial Property Owners

Under California law, commercial property owners and those who lease or operate businesses on those properties must regularly inspect and maintain their spaces. This includes identifying and fixing hazards, warning visitors of unsafe conditions, and complying with safety codes and standards. Failing to do so could result in legal liability for injuries caused by unsafe conditions.

This duty is not optional. Business owners must show that they:

• Conducted regular inspections
• Repaired known issues promptly
• Provided visible warnings for any temporary dangers
• Complied with relevant building and OSHA safety standards

If you suffer a fall in San Diego and the property owner didn’t uphold this responsibility, you may have grounds for a trip-and-fall case in San Diego, especially if the hazard was known and unaddressed.

Wet Floors

A major cause of wet floor injury cases is failure to clean up spills or not properly warning customers by displaying hazard signs. Whether in a grocery store, hotel lobby, or restaurant kitchen, slippery floors can result from:

• Spilled drinks or food
• Recently mopped surfaces with no warning signs
• Leaking refrigerators, freezers, or ice machines
• Condensation from HVAC systems

Businesses near beaches, pools, or marinas also deal with water tracked in from outside frequently. And they are responsible for managing such hazards.

Uneven Flooring and Damaged Walkways

Uneven surface falls are another leading hazard in commercial buildings, especially older properties that haven’t been updated to meet accessibility or safety standards.

Common examples include:

• Cracked tile or concrete flooring
• Uneven transitions between carpet and tile
• Raised sidewalk panels at building entrances
• Loose or bulging mats and rugs

Even subtle changes in elevation (as little as a half-inch) can be dangerous, especially if they’re not marked or are poorly lit. In commercial spaces, this includes high-traffic zones like hotel corridors, shopping centers, and loading docks.

Poor Lighting in Stairwells and Parking Garages

Inadequate lighting is another hidden danger that significantly increases the risk of slips, trips, and falls, especially in stairwells, underground garages, or rear exits of commercial buildings.

Poor lighting can:

• Obscure water or oil spills
• Hide uneven steps or broken tiles
• Make it difficult to identify obstacles or signage

Loose Handrails and Unsafe Stairwells

Commercial staircases must be equipped with secure handrails and comply with local building codes. Yet, many property owners either fail to maintain them or overlook them entirely. This is a recipe for disaster.

Handrail-related hazards include:

• Wobbly or unsecured rails
• Handrails installed too low or too high
• Stairs without rails on both sides
• Broken or cracked stair treads

In retail and office buildings, slip-and-fall cases on stairs are often traced back to missing or defective safety infrastructure. In legal terms, this could be a clear breach of the property owner’s duty of care.

Cluttered or Obstructed Walkways

In busy commercial environments, such as restaurants, convention centers, or big box stores, it’s not unusual to find boxes, cords, merchandise, or signage blocking pathways. But if these items create a tripping hazard, and no alternative route is provided, the business could be found negligent.

Examples include:

• Electrical cords stretched across hallways
• Merchandise left in aisles during restocking
• Poorly placed floor displays
• Boxes or cleaning carts blocking emergency exits

Even temporary hazards must be clearly marked and managed. And keep in mind that a caution sign might not be enough if the obstacle presents an unreasonable danger.

What To Do After a Slip-and-Fall Accident in San Diego

If you suffer a fall at a commercial property, take these steps right away to protect your health and your legal rights:

1. Seek medical attention immediately, even if you think your injuries are minor.
2. Report the incident to the business manager or property owner and ask for a written copy of the report.
3. Take photos or video of the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area.
4. Get contact information for any witnesses.
5. Do not give recorded statements or sign anything without consulting an attorney.
6. Contact a qualified San Diego premises liability lawyer to evaluate your case.

Reasons to Choose Eugene Bruno & Associates?

With over 85 years of combined experience and a 99.7% success rate, Eugene Bruno & Associates is one of San Diego’s top personal injury law firms. We’ve been recognized by Expertise.com as one of the Best Accident Lawyers in San Diego, and we’ve recovered tens of millions for our clients.

When businesses ignore safety, we hold them accountable. From wet floor injuries to uneven surface falls, we know how to build winning cases and negotiate with insurance companies that want to minimize your recovery.

Talk to an Experienced San Diego Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Today

If you’ve suffered a slip-and-fall injury, you may be eligible to collect compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A San Diego slip-and-fall attorney at Eugene Bruno & Associates will tell you if you have a viable case and fight for the outcome you deserve.

Call 1-888-BRUNO-88 (1-888-278-6688) to schedule your free consultation today.