Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents typically fall into one of two categories: flat surface falls and elevated surface falls. A flat surface fall occurs when you slip or trip on a flat surface, such as a grocery store aisle or a sidewalk. An elevated surface fall occurs when you slip and fall to a surface of a different height, such as a staircase.

These two types of slip and fall accidents can describe any number of circumstances that cause you to fall.

Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:

• Wet or slippery surface
• Uneven or deteriorating flooring
• Broken or non-existent safety railings  
• Working on an elevated surface 
• Unstable ladders 
• Debris or obstacles blocking your path
• Poor weather conditions such as ice or rain 
• Insufficient lighting 
• Failure to use warning signs in potentially dangerous areas 

Although this is not a comprehensive list, these are some of the most common ways slip and fall accidents occur. These potentially dangerous circumstances are often the result of improper maintenance, failure to make repairs, or poor property management. When negligence causes you to slip and fall, you should not have to pay for the cost of your injuries.

Common Places Where Slip and Fall Accidents Occur

Any time a property manager does not perform adequate maintenance, there is a risk of slipping and falling. This can occur anywhere, including private homes, places of business, and public areas. However, some locations are more inherently dangerous than others because of the type of activities that occur there or the people who frequent that location.

For example, approximately 1 in 4 Americans over the age of 65 falls every year. Therefore, locations that cater to people over the age of 65 must be especially careful to avoid negligent or careless building management.

Average customer age is not the only risk. Certain work environments come with an increased risk of slip and fall accidents because of the nature of the work.

Some of the places where slip and fall accidents are most likely to occur include:

• Restaurants
• Grocery stores
• Retail stores 
• Nursing homes 
• Construction sites
• Parking lots 
• Sidewalk and driveways 
• Swimming pools 
• Escalators and elevators 
• Factories and warehouses 
• Gyms and training centers

Liquid spills, elevated or cracked surfaces, and clutter blocking pedestrian areas are frequent occurrences in these locations and commonly cause slip and fall accidents. When property managers fail to repair problems or establish proper cleaning and organizing standards, these normally safe places can become hazardous.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Slip and Fall Claim?

Slip and fall accidents typically come under premises liability law. This law helps protect people who are injured on another person’s property by holding the property owner or manager legally responsible for the accident.

However, not every slip and fall accident is eligible for legal action. To file a slip and a fall lawsuit, you must demonstrate that the owner or manager played a role in your accident.

To make your slip and fall claim, you and your attorney will have to prove that you fell as the result of an unreasonably dangerous condition. A condition may be considered unreasonably dangerous if there were no warning signs to help you avoid potential danger or if there is a hazard a reasonable person wouldn’t anticipate on the property.

You will also have to prove that the property owner’s actions or failure to act demonstrate negligence or carelessness, ultimately causing your fall. This portion of a slip and fall case can be tricky because you must have proof of liability.

To hold a property owner liable for your fall, your attorney will likely have to establish one of the following:

• The owner or manager caused the dangerous condition to occur.
• The owner or manager knew of the dangerous condition and failed to fix the problem or provide adequate warning.
• The owner or manager should have known about the problem and taken action as a part of providing reasonable care for their property.

You need a strong legal argument to support your claim and to win a slip and fall lawsuit. The experienced attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law know the best way to build an effective argument against the person who hurt you. We’ll gather and present convincing evidence that proves your case.