Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents: Holding Liable Parties Accountable
Nearly everyone has tripped, stumbled, or suffered a minor fall at some point. People tend to think of slips and falls as no big deal, but these types of accidents are one of the leading causes of injury in the United States.
When someone falls they often blame themselves, frequently pointing out their own clumsiness. However, most slip and fall accidents are caused by conditions that are completely preventable. Here, lawyer Ihab Ibrahim goes over some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents, and explains how premises liability law can help his Jersey City, NJ, clients hold responsible parties accountable for slip and fall injury damages.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can occur at restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and other buildings that don’t properly clean wet floors, have cracks in the sidewalk or flooring, or other hazardous conditions that can increase the risk of the accident. In these cases, the property or business owner is liable for the accident, not you. As our attorney says: “You cant invite people into their business without caring for their well being."
In most cases, slips and falls are caused by hazardous walking surfaces, nearly all of which are preventable. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Wet or slick floors
- Floors that are cluttered with debris
- Uneven floor surfaces
- Damaged surfaces (i.e. loose floorboards, torn carpet, cracked sidewalks, potholes, etc.)
- Uneven or poorly constructed stairways
Slips and Falls and Premises Liability
People often fail to report a slip or fall, because they aren’t always sure who should be responsible for the accident. Premises liability law holds property owners responsible for injuries (and resulting damages) that occur on their property.
Premises liability law states that property owners must make a reasonable effort to maintain a safe environment for invited visitors, which includes conducting routine inspections and performing required maintenance. Even if a property owner is unaware of a hazard, they can be held responsible if it causes an accident, as long as it can be shown that they should have reasonably known about the unsafe conditions.
What to Do after a Slip or Fall Accident
If someone is injured on another person’s property, they are not automatically due financial compensation. Injury victims are responsible for showing that an injury occurred, that the injury was caused by unsafe conditions, and that the property owner knew (or should have known) about the hazard and neglected to address it. To strengthen a premises liability claim, we recommend that Jersey City injury victims take these steps following a slip or fall:
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible
- If possible, take photos of the fall site, including any hazards or irregularities that caused the fall
- Collect contact information for any accident witnesses
- Take notes regarding the details of the fall (when and where it happened, what time it happened, what led up to the fall, etc.)
- Report the accident to property owners (refrain from giving too many details and avoid taking or placing blame)
- Contact a personal injury attorney
Damages for Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries, including broken bones, head, neck, or back injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. In addition to the physical damages of a slip and fall accident, there are financial losses to consider. Depending on the details of a slip and fall accident, our Jersey City clients may be due financial compensation for damages such as:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Lost wages or loss of wage earning potential
- Pain and suffering
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident and you are unsure of your legal options, Ihab Ibrahim would be happy to provide a free consultation. To discuss your situation in further detail and determine if a property owner did not take your safety and well-being into account, send us a message online, or call (855) 529-0030 at your earliest convenience.
