5 Surprising Dangers of Slip and Fall Accidents

We’ve all had a slip and fall at some point in our lives. Most of the time, these incidents are just embarrassing, not dangerous. We trip over a stick and we fall on our butts, maybe ending up with a scratch or a bruise. We laugh about how clumsy we are, and that’s the end of it.

Sometimes, a slip and fall can be a lot more serious. It can result in a broken wrist or even an injury to the spine, which can impact your mobility. Some injuries from a slip and fall can cause ongoing, chronic pain, and others can impede your ability to do work. You deserve to receive compensation for your medical care and losses when you suffer an injury from a slip and fall that was caused by another’s negligence. A personal injury attorney can help you understand if you have a case and what you might be able to collect for your injuries.

You can be injured during slips and falls in a number of surprising ways. Here are just five surprising dangers of slip and fall accidents:

Poor Lighting

You can’t maintain steady footing if you can’t see where you’re going. This may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many people will still walk across a sidewalk or foot path in darkness. They get overconfident because they assume the path will be flat and easy to traverse. However, without the benefit of proper lighting, they won’t see that there is a bulge in the sidewalk, or that there is a hole or some other impediment. Then they trip and fall, injuring themselves badly.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that there is plenty of lighting so that visitors can always see where they are going. That’s true for homeowners, as well as business owners.

Uneven Sidewalks or Pavement

Even in broad daylight, you may not notice that there is a giant pothole on the road or path you are on, or that a tree branch has caused the sidewalk to shift upwards. You may trip and fall, landing hard on the pavement and seriously injuring yourself. These are common circumstances for slip and fall accidents.

Again, it is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that all pavement is even and in good repair. That includes fixing holes and cracks, correcting uneven or bulged pavement, and other issues. Leaving any of these issues untended can lead to accidents, and that can make the property owner liable for damages.

Wet Floor

Wet floors can be slippery, even if the underlying surface is generally rougher, such as concrete or asphalt. But even rough surfaces that provide more traction can become slippery when they are wet. Often, floors are wet after mopping, even when it seems like little water was used. They can also be wet when liquids are spilled and are not cleaned up immediately. Even small amounts of water can cause someone to slip and fall and injure themselves.

We often hear about slips and falls from wet floors on business properties, which is why you will see “Wet Floor” signs alerting you to the danger. However, these incidents can also happen in private homes, and home owners can be held liable.

Flooring Issues

Flooring that has become uneven or worn can be just as much of a hazard as uneven pavement. Linoleum that has buckled, carpet that has rippled, or tile that has become loose can all cause slip and fall accidents. These are common issues in homes, though they can occur in businesses where the management is not paying close attention to maintenance. On either type of property, the liability would fall on the owner for any injuries that occur as a result of the poorly maintained flooring.

Adverse Weather

Rain and snow can cause surfaces to become very slippery, which can lead to accidents and injuries. Pavement, sidewalks, or paths that are wet or icy can contribute to slips and falls. Rain and snow can also get tracked inside, making the floors slippery and leading to accidents.

Even though property owners cannot control the weather, they are still expected to respond to the weather appropriately and take steps to keep their property safe. That means putting down mats or installing handrails to counteract the effects of water, as well as putting out salt to clear ice, shoveling away snow, or hiring a plow.

Any time a property owner fails to maintain their property or deal with other hazards, they can be held liable for accidents that occur as a result of those problems. These are some of the things that can cause slips and falls, but they are not the only causes. Property owners need to be vigilant in maintaining their properties and making them safe for anyone who is present.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The personal injury attorneys at My AZ Lawyers may be able to help. We’ll review the circumstances of your accident and let you know whether you are entitled to damages. If you do have a case, we will negotiate or litigate on your behalf to help you get the best settlement possible.

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My AZ Lawyers

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