Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers | July 3, 2025 | Personal Injury
Nestled within the heart of San Diego, the San Diego Zoo spans 100 acres of valuable urban landscape. While relatively compact, it hosts an impressive array of animal species and an expansive collection of plant life. With millions of visitors passing through its gates each year, accidents can and do happen. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe during your visit.
Inherent Risks
The San Diego Zoo is not just a collection of animal exhibits; it’s a dynamic space with winding pathways, diverse terrain, restaurants, gift shops, and bustling crowds. The zoo’s millions of visitors every year generate the inherent potential for accidents.
Common hazards include uneven pavement, wet surfaces, overcrowded pathways, and park vehicles. There is simply no way to serve this many people every year with zero accidents. Nevertheless, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the zoo owners are not responsible.
Owner: The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Although it’s easy to assume the San Diego Zoo is city-owned, it’s actually operated by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit organization, not the City of San Diego.
This distinction matters if you’re considering legal action. Had the zoo been owned by a government entity, like the city, your claim would be subject to additional procedural hurdles and limitations—such as caps on damages and restricted timelines for filing.
However, because it is run by a private nonprofit, these government immunities do not apply. You retain the same legal rights you would when pursuing a claim against any other private entity.
Common Injury Scenarios
The following types of incidents most often generate personal injury claims:
- Slip and fall accidents due to wet surfaces, uneven pavement, etc.
- Animal-related incidents, especially in petting/interactive zones.
- Falling objects, including unstable displays, railings, or signs.
- Vehicle or tram accidents on pathways.
- Food poisoning or allergic reactions from on-site food vendors.
In rare cases, you might become the victim of a criminal act by another guest.
What to Do If You Are Injured at the San Diego Zoo
If you’ve been injured during a visit to the San Diego Zoo, taking the right steps immediately afterward can protect your health and strengthen any potential legal claim.
Here’s what you should do:
- Seek medical attention right away, even if the injury seems minor. Your health comes first, and prompt care creates a record of your condition.
- Report the incident to zoo staff and request that an official incident report be filed. Ask for a copy, if possible.
- Document everything—take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any hazards that contributed to the accident.
- Collect contact information from witnesses who saw what happened. Their statements could be critical later.
- Avoid making detailed statements or accepting fault until you’ve spoken with a personal injury attorney.
- Consult a qualified attorney experienced in premises liability to understand your rights and next steps.
By following these steps, you can protect your well-being and ensure that you’re in the best position to pursue compensation if the injury was caused by negligence.
Lawsuit vs. Settlement
While the majority of personal injury cases are resolved through out-of-court settlements, that doesn’t mean filing a lawsuit is unnecessary. In fact, initiating a lawsuit can be a strategic move. It preserves your right to pursue compensation by meeting the statute of limitations deadline and grants you access to pretrial discovery—a crucial evidence-gathering phase that can strengthen your case and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Contact Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If your injury claim may involve significant compensation, having an experienced attorney on your side is essential to protect your rights. Fortunately, hiring a personal injury lawyer doesn’t mean facing steep hourly fees. Most personal injury attorneys—including the ones at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers—work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
For more information, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
We proudly serve San Diego County and its surrounding areas:
Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers – San Diego Office
835 5th Avenue #302, San Diego, CA 92101
(858) 551-2090
Available 24/7
Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers – La Jolla Office
4660 La Jolla Village Dr. San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 585-9031
Available 24/7
