General Slip and Fall Legal Information

An overview of Slip and Fall, or Premises Liability Accidents, including a definition of Slip or Trip and Fall Accidents, information on the different causes and types of Slip and Fall Accidents, and a guide to Slip and Fall Accident Prevention.

Slip and Fall Accidents Defined · Damages in Slip and Fall Cases · Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries · Types of Slip and Fall Accidents · Slip and Fall Accident Prevention

Slip and Fall Accidents Defined

The term "slip and fall accident" generally refers to situations in which an individual slips and falls or trips and falls due to a hazardous condition on someone else's property and is injured as a result of the fall. These cases fall under the branch of law known as premises liability. Premises liability laws cover situations when a person is injured on property that is owned or maintained by someone else and the owner/possessor of the property is held liable for the injury. Slip and fall accidents can happen inside or outside in a wide range of places, including public and private properties. These cases often involve dangerous conditions and may result in serious personal injuries.

Damages in Slip and Fall Cases

The facts of a slip and fall case, the location of the accident, the severity of the injury, the amount of insurance coverage, the wealth of the defendant, the assets and insurance of anyone else that is at least partially responsible, and the skill of the lawyer influence the amount of damages that can be recovered for a slip and fall injury. The the sympathy of the jury also plays a role in determining the amount and types of damages awarded. If your slip and fall accident was due to negligence on the part of a property owner, operator, or manager, you may be entitled for recover compensation for:

Medical expenses (hospital, surgical, and ambulance bills, etc.) Rehabilitation expenses Lost income due to your injury Reduction in your earning capacity due to your injury Physical and mental pain and suffering

Punitive damages are rare in slip and fall cases. However, in some cases a skilled slip and fall attorney can recover punitive damages if he or she is able to prove that the defendant's conduct amounted to a reckless disregard for safety.

Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries

A variety situations, many involving owner negligence, can lead to slip and fall injuries. Below is a list of some common causes of slip and fall accidents.

Indoor Slip and Falls:

Damaged flooring Ripped carpets Wet floors Failure to clean up after spills Failure to use warning signs for wet floors and other hazards Unlevel floors Slick flooring materials Inadequate lighting Gap between elevator and floor

Outdoor Slip and Falls:

Snow and ice Potholes Debris on sidewalks Broken or uneven sidewalks Uneven flagstone patios Patios with missing mortar Poor lighting

Stair Slip and Falls:

Single or multiple steps without handrails Improperly designated or labeled steps Awkwardly placed steps Steps that are hard to see because they are carpeted the same as surrounding floors Unmarked small steps Uneven stairs Insufficient stairway illumination Damaged railings

Ramp Slip and Falls:

Wheelchair ramps without handrails Improperly designed wheelchair ramps

If your slip and fall accident was caused by any of these conditions or a similar condition, the property owner may be at fault for the accident.

Types of Slip and Fall Accidents

There are four specific types of slip and fall accidents:

Slip and fall accidents - Often caused by excessively slippery or wet floors or ice on a sidewalk Trip and fall accidents - Often caused by uneven walkways or damaged stairs Step and fall accidents - Often caused by unexpected gap or hole in the walking surface Stump and fall accidents - Often caused by an impediment in the walking surface, such as a tacky point on the surface or a defect that impedes the foot's movement

The slip and fall is the most common type of accident, but each of these can cause serious injury and may be grounds for a slip and fall lawsuit.

Slip and Fall Accident Prevention

Many slip and fall accidents are preventable, and regular frequent inspections of walking areas and stairways should be conducted in order to identify environmental and equipment hazards which could cause slips, trips and falls. Making a well informed choice about the type of flooring used within various areas of a facility is one of the most important factors in preventing slip-and-fall accidents. A flooring material should be smooth and provide adequate traction. Properly maintaining and cleaning flooring surfaces can also help to avoid a slip and fall injury. Quickly identifying and repairing any damage to the floor caused by wear is an additional preventative measure.

Outside walkways should be well-maintained, clear of debris, sufficiently illuminated, and provide proper drainage so that puddles and ice do not form on them. In parking lots, it is a good idea to regularly check that the surface is smooth and free of holes, speed bumps are located out of the direct walkway of pedestrians and are painted with a bright color, safe walkways for pedestrians are well marked, and illumination is adequate.

All content on Accidents.com is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as legal or medical advice. Please seek advice from a professional on any related topics.

Tags: Fall Down Accidents · Legal Help · Slip and Fall Accidents