Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are very common and can happen just about anywhere.  Common place for accidents to occur include supermarkets, restaurant, office buildings, parking lots, and sidewalks.  Slipping and falling while out in public can be not only embarrassing but also very painful.  Because serious injuries often occur after a slip and fall accident it is important that the victim and their family talk to an experienced personal injury attorney about their legal rights.

In general, cases involving slip and fail accident are proceed under the belief that the property owner acted in a negligent manner.  In order to establish negligence, it must be shown that the owner (defendant) had a duty to provide a reasonable degree of safety on their property and that they failed to uphold that duty.  Then, the action, or lack of action on behalf of the owner must have caused the victim’s injury.  Keep in mind that the duty of the owner changes depending on the victim’s legal status as an entrant on the land.  The following are come common causes of slip and fall accidents in which the property owner did not live up to their duty.

Indoor Conditions

Indoor slip and fall accidents occur most often because the floor of a particular establishment is slippery for one reason or another.  The owner of such a business may be considered negligent for slippery floors, but not necessarily.  Having floors that are slippery in nature, such as granite or marble, is not enough to show an owner is negligent.  The following are come examples of conduct for which an owner may be considered negligent and held responsible for a slip and fall accident:

• Failing to provide adequate warnings about a floor that has become slippery from cleaning, waxing, or polishing; this may require signs warning people about a wet floor or closing off the area that is wet
• Cleaning the floor in a negligent manner such as during a very busy time, using an excessive amount of soap and water, or leaving the floor wet for a very long period of time
• Failing to clean up spilled liquids or food; or not posting proper warnings about spills given a reasonable amount of time after learning about such an occurrence
• Failing to keep flooring and carpeting in a reasonably safe condition
• Failing to fix conditions on stairwells that may lead to a slip and fall accident

A property owner is not liable for slip and fall accidents if: they were unaware of the problem, the condition that created the accident was obvious, or if they acted reasonable to fix a dangerous situation that could lead to a slip and fall accident.

Outdoor Conditions

Outdoors slip and fall accidents can happen on steps, sidewalks, and in parking lots.  Sometimes it is not immediately obvious who is responsible for the conditions that led to a slip and fall accident.  Nevertheless, an owner of an outdoor space must exercise reasonable care to keep the area in safe condition for pedestrians and cars.  Some of the common cause of outdoor slip and fall accidents include:

• Inadequate lighting leading to ripping over parking blocks or cracks in the sidewalk
• Slip and falls on damaged steps, uneven surfaces, and holes.

Keep in mind that if a pothole or crack is open and obvious, the owner of the property cannot be held liable for a slip and fall injury.  It is best to consult a California personal injury attorney if you are unsure about your legal rights.

Conclusions

While slip and fall accidents are extremely common they can also be very serious.  If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident in a public space, indoor or outdoor, you should seek the necessary medical treatment.  If you have been injured on another person’s property you may be entitled to collect monetary damages to help pay your medical bills and ease your pain and suffering.  Contact a San Diego personal injury attorney for your free consultation today. The Law Office of Howard Alan Kitay serves all of San Diego County and there are no fees until you collect your settlement.

• Overview
• Frequently asked questions
• Common causes of slip and fall accidents
• Liability of retail stores and other businesses
• Duties to entrants owned by landowners and occupiers
• Slip and fall accidents involving snow or ice