Slip-and-fall accidents are often the result of a property owner failing to remove unexpected obstacles from walkways or prevent conditions that cause people to lose their traction with the floor and fall.
Summary
- Slip-and-fall accidents, where individuals slip on another’s property and suffer injuries, can lead to severe injuries.
- Causes of slip-and-fall accidents include wet floors, loose carpeting, missing stair steps, poor lighting, and obstacles in walkways.
- Property owners can be held liable for damages resulting from slip-and-fall accidents if their negligence contributes to the incident.
- Victims of slip-and-fall accidents may pursue compensation for economic damages like medical bills and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
- Hiring a Minnesota slip-and-fall accident lawyer can help victims navigate the claims process, collect evidence of negligence, document damages, and negotiate with insurance companies.
A slip-and-fall accident is a type of personal injury accident that involves a person slipping on another person’s property and getting injured. The hard floor can provide little cushion for a person as they slip and fall. Unfortunately, this can result in severe injuries like broken bones, hip fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Some causes of a slip-and-fall accident include wet floors, loose carpeting, missing stair steps, and poor lighting. If their negligent behavior results in an accident, a property owner can be held liable for slip-and-fall damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Negligence could look like not leaving out a wet floor sign, failing to fix a broken step, or recklessly leaving obstacles in walkways. Our team of expert slip-and-fall attorneys here at Sand Law can help you prove that the property owner’s negligence led to your injuries so you can recover fair compensation.
There’s no need to negotiate your personal injury claim alone against the insurance company. Let Sand Law take the lead and secure a settlement on your behalf. Schedule a free consultation with us by calling (651) 362-4173 or contacting us online.
Slip and Fall Accidents Caused by Wet Floors
One of the most common causes of slip-and-fall accidents is a person slipping on a wet floor. These are common because a wet floor may not be obvious to someone as they walk around. Wet floors can be a hazard at a school, workplace, hospital, or restaurant. Store slip-and-fall accidents are also common.
Water is transparent with no discernible color that someone could see, so they could unknowingly walk over a huge water spill. This could lead to a slip-and-fall accident, resulting in severe injuries like back and neck injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Wet floor slip-and-fall accidents normally occur when a property has smooth, waxed tile floors. Water and other liquids can soak into a carpet but remain atop a smooth surface like a linoleum floor. A property’s floor can become wet if there is a liquid spill, rain tracks into a property, or the floor is mopped.
Property owners must warn people about wet floors by leaving a wet floor sign. Failure to do so means a person walking around the property may not realize the floor is wet. If they are injured in a slip-and-fall accident, the property owner can be held liable for their damages.
What Obstacles Can Lead to Severe Fall Injuries?
Other obstacles in a walkway can cause a slip-and-fall accident, such as trash, cords, and potholes. Just like wet floors, these obstacles can be unpredictable and result in a person losing their balance. After losing their balance, they can fall onto a hard floor which can a body part and cause severe injury.
Property owners must ensure their floors are clear of debris, cords, and other debris. Failure to do so can leave them liable in a slip-and-fall accident claim.
The following are some of the obstacles that can cause a slip-and-fall accident:
- Parking lot potholes
- Trash or debris on the floor
- Cords running across the floor
- Desks or drawers opened into a walkway
- Merchandise that fell off store shelves
- Chairs or other furniture
Slip and Fall Accidents Resulting from Improperly Maintained Walking Surfaces
Slip-and-fall accidents can also result from walking surfaces that are not properly maintained or constructed. Maintenance is especially important to avoiding winter slip-and-fall accidents. As for construction issues, uneven and unstable walking surfaces are safety threats. They can cause someone to lose their balance and fall to the ground, possibly suffering a severe injury.
As a person drags their feet across the floor as they walk, a loose floorboard, mat, or rug can come out of position and cause a person to fall to the ground. Another problem with a walking surface that can cause a slip-and-fall accident is a dangerous staircase. As a person walks up or down stairs, they may not notice that a step is missing. That can lead to them not stepping far enough to reach the next step and falling down the stairs.
Poor Lighting Can Cause a Slip and Fall Accident
A property can also be poorly lit and obscure possibly dangerous obstacles that can cause a slip-and-fall accident. A poorly lit property can prevent a person from seeing the whole picture of the area and can lead to them missing an obstacle that can cause them to slip.
The obstacle may not even be that dangerous but can become a hazard if the person can’t see it is there due to dark lighting. A property owner must take steps to prevent slip-and-falls, which include keeping their property lit properly. That way, everyone who visits can see in front of them.
Hiring a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer to Help You Pursue Compensation for Damages
Property owners can be held liable for slip-and-fall accident claims if their property has hazards they do not warn people about or take steps to correct. A slip-and-fall accident can cause economic damages a victim can pursue compensation for, such as medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning potential.
Severe injuries can also lead to non-economic damages. Victims may endure psychological effects that worsen their quality of life, such as loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. Hiring a slip-and-fall accident lawyer can help with the claims process, as they have experience handling these claims.
They will know what steps to take next. For example, they may start with damage calculation and collecting evidence of the slip-and-fall. After that, a personal injury lawyer will handle negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Their expertise in slip-and-fall accident claims can help anticipate an insurance company’s defenses and secure a settlement that reflects your losses.
Reach Out to Sand Law for Legal Help With Your Slip and Fall Accident Claim Today
At Sand Law, our slip-and-fall accident lawyers have considerable vast experience helping victims recover compensation for damages caused by the negligence of property owners. Businesses have a duty to prevent slip-and-falls. If they fail to maintain a safe environment and someone gets hurt, we will be there to hold them accountable.
Our slip-and-fall accident lawyers will utilize our experience to your advantage. We can help you craft a strategy to maximize your compensation, explain your rights, and answer your questions about slip-and-falls. Contact our award-winning team for a free consultation today at (651) 362-4173 or contact us online.