Nobody ever wants to experience a slip-and-fall accident. Yet, it can happen all too easily when property owners or operators fail to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of their premises. While these cases typically fall under “premises liability,” Slip-and-Falls occur when an individual slips or trips on someone else’s property, such as a store, business, public street or sidewalk, private home, or any other location.
Slip-and_fall accidents are caused by many various hazards, including:
- Icy or snowy surfaces in parking lots and walkways
- Wet and slippery floors
- Uneven staircases
- Poor lighting
- Uneven sidewalks
- Messy common areas
When a person falls on someone else’s property and is injured due to negligence on behalf of that property owner or operator, they can suffer serious medical consequences such as broken bones, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries. The associated medical expenses and lost income from these injuries can dramatically impact one’s quality of life.
In many cases, a slip-and-fall occurs due to the negligence of property owners or another responsible party. For example, a grocery store owner may be held liable for a slip-and-fall accident if they failed to clean up a spill in a timely manner, or a landlord may be held responsible for injuries caused by failure to fix a broken stairway.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident due to the negligence of a property owner or operator, it is important for the injured person to seek medical attention immediately after the incident and gather as much information about the accident as possible (e.g., names of witnesses, location of incident). Doing so is essential for protecting your rights and interests. Photos and videos documenting the scene are also helpful for building evidence for pursuing compensation for one’s losses if necessary.
