It happens to millions of people each year: casually going about your business until suddenly: SLAM. You’ve slipped and fallen down. Slip and fall accidents are quite common and seem to happen at the most unexpected times and places. An accident like this can cause nothing but a minor bruise, or be more serious and cause a serious injury resulting in a lawsuit.
Many times, tripping over something and falling down is our own fault. Maybe we were looking at our phone or wearing shoes that aren’t ideal for the environment we’re in. Other times, however, a slip and fall accident is due to the negligence of another party. This is especially true if you are in a public space or on the property of a business.
We’ve handled a huge amount of slip and fall cases, and for that reason, we know some of the most common causes.
Wet or Waxed Floors
We’ve all seen wet floor signs before. Businesses and public spaces prop up these yellow boards wherever there’s a wet floor, whether it’s due to a leak or mopping. There should also be plenty of signage when floors are being waxed because that creates conditions sometimes even more slippery than water. But sometimes, businesses fail to properly warn patrons about these slippery conditions, resulting in a slip and fall accident.
Uneven Walking Areas
Uneven walking areas can be found anywhere, but are usually common in older structures, outdoor spaces that haven’t been updated in a while, or spots undergoing construction. We have to do our due diligence to watch where we’re walking, but businesses and other structures need to give plenty of warning and signage as well.
Icy Conditions
Icy conditions on sidewalks, stairs, and in parking lots can be quite dangerous for anyone walking by. If you are aware that the weather is less-than-ideal for a stroll outside, make sure you keep an eye out for dangerous conditions. It’s so easy to slip on ice, especially black ice! Public places and private businesses should have warning signs and put down plenty of salt to lessen the ice.
Lack of Handrail on Staircase
Up, down, no matter — stairs can trip up the best of us. And while this is a common experience for many, staircases should always have a handrail or banister to grab onto just in case. This way, even if someone does trip while ascending or descending the stairs, they’re able to catch themselves in time to avoid and slip and fall accident.
Poor Lighting
One of the major causes of a slip and fall accident supersedes almost any other: poor lighting. You can be incredibly conscious of every single cause of slip and fall accidents, wear the proper shoes, and always have an eye out for potential hazards, but if a property owner has not sufficiently lit the space, it makes it hard to avoid these risk factors. This is an incredibly careless decision on the property owner’s part, as they should know to make any public space visible for potential visitors.
We all trip and fall eventually, whether it’s a little kid falling off their bicycle or an older person being seriously injured due to the negligence of another party. That’s why it’s important to know the common causes of slip and fall accidents and do our best to avoid them. If you’ve been injured due to a slip and fall accident and feel the other party should be held accountable, reach out to us!