Common Causes of Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents
Slip, trip, and fall accidents happen all the time and most of them are caused by unsafe floor conditions. But the reason why those floor conditions were unsafe is important to know because if they were unsafe due to someone else’s negligence, you could potentially be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained from a slip, trip or fall accident. Boland Romaine LLP personal injury lawyers give us the most common causes of slip, trip, and fall accidents and which ones could be grounds for a personal injury claim.
Wet Floors
There’s a reason why almost all businesses have those yellow caution signs that they put out when their floors are wet. It’s because someone (or many someones) slipped and fell on a wet floor and sued the establishment for damages. Whether the wet floor is due to weather or a recent mopping, it is a risk to anyone walking on it. If a business doesn’t put out a caution sign and knows the floor is wet, they are negligent.Liquid or Food Spills
Spills cause thousands of slips and falls every year and it can be more challenging to prove that a company has been negligent in these types of cases because they have to know that there is a spill and do nothing about it for them to be liable. For example, if a customer knocks off a glass jar full of liquid in a grocery store aisle, the grocery store is only liable if someone tells them about the spill and the grocery store doesn’t take action to clean it up.Uneven Flooring or Walkways
Businesses that have uneven flooring or walkways must warn patrons of the risk of tripping and falling by either posting a sign or highlighting the danger with high-contrast colors. For instance, some restaurants have elevated seating, so they are required to make sure the step up to the seats or down to the main floor is marked with a yellow strip of paint or tape. Employees also usually warn their customers to “watch your step” to make sure they are protected from trip and fall claims.Exposed Wiring or Tripping Hazards
Unlike uneven flooring or walkways, exposed wiring and other tripping hazards are usually temporary situations. Perhaps there is a need for an extension cord that runs across a walkway. Or maybe there is construction going on and some wires are exposed for a short time. It is the company’s responsibility to make sure that customers are aware of these risks by posting a sign or placing a barrier around the hazard. The only way a business would not be negligent in this circumstance is if they could prove they were unaware of the hazard until someone was injured. Even then, it would be difficult for them to fight, especially if your injury wasn’t the only one.Conclusion
You never know when you might be the victim of a slip, trip, or fall accident because no one plans to slip, trip, or fall, especially in public. If you’re injured, know your rights and protect yourself by hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you file a claim as soon as possibleDo You Need An Attorney?
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Posted - 04/20/2023
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