What are the Most Common Slip and Fall Hazards?
Slips and falls can happen anywhere, anytime, but certain situations can make them more likely. Slips and falls occur more often when floors are wet, trip hazards are on walkways, and lighting is inadequate.
Owners owe a duty of care to visitors and must keep their properties in a safe condition. Most slips and falls are preventable if the property owner performs basic maintenance. In other parts of the country, ice and snow are among the most common slip and fall hazards. That is obviously not a concern in Southern California.
Keep in mind that the victim may also bear some responsibility. For instance, slips and falls may occur because a person is looking at their phone, not where they are going. Even if the victim is partly at fault, they may still receive some compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
A Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer at Ellis Injury Law will investigate your case and hold those responsible for your injuries liable. Our attorneys have recovered more than $350 for clients in verdicts and settlements.
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Wet floors
Wet floors, especially in commercial establishments, are among the most common causes of slip and falls. Supermarkets and other businesses should ensure cleaning staff put up “Wet Floor” signs or cordon off the area to keep passers-by away from the hazard.
If the floor became slippery and wet because of spillage, whether or not the owner or management is liable depends on whether they could have rectified the situation in a reasonable time. If the person in front of a shopper drops a bottle of salad dressing and the shopper immediately slips and falls, the supermarket may not prove negligent. The staff could not know about and clean up the spillage within that brief timeframe.
Debris in walkways
Walkways, whether outside or inside, should remain free of debris and other trip hazards. Along with clutter, frequent indoor trip hazards include electric cords and cable snaking across the floor.
In an office setting, it is the manager’s job to make sure all the electric and electronic components of a modern workplace are secured correctly and not in the walkway.
Uneven flooring
Floors become uneven for all sorts of reasons. Tiles may go missing, floor mats bunch up, floorboards loosen or torn carpets are not replaced. Outdoors, pavement may develop potholes.
Broken stairs
Broken stairs can cause a trip and a long fall to the bottom. Along with the repair of any broken stairs or handrails, the property owner should make sure any carpeting or treads on the stairs are in good condition.
If a staircase is constructed badly, that can also contribute to slip and fall accidents.
Poor lighting
Slip & fall attorneys know that poor lighting causes many slip and fall injuries. With adequate lighting, a person may have been aware of a wet floor or item left on a pathway. Instead, because they were unable to see properly, they fell and seriously hurt themselves.
Slips and falls in certain areas, such as hallways, may happen only because of insufficient lighting.
Contact a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer
If you or someone you know suffered a serious slip and fall accident because of hazards on a property that an owner should have rectified, you need the services of an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer at Ellis Injury Law.
Because evidence from a slip and fall accident disappears so quickly, it is critical to contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you were unable to photograph the hazard at the time of the incident, the property owner may have ameliorated whatever caused the slip and fall. Sometimes, it is just a matter of moving junk out of the way. Our investigators may obtain any surveillance camera footage to help prove your claim.
We offer free consultations, so call or text us today and schedule an appointment. You may also complete our online form. We will review your claim and determine whether there are grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. We work on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless you receive compensation.