Slips & Falls

 

"Slip and fall" is a term for personal injury cases which arise when injury is caused

when a person slips and falls as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition on

someone else's property. Inside a building, dangerous conditions such as torn carpeting,

abrupt change in flooring, poor lighting, narrow stairs, or a wet floor can cause you to slip

and hurt yourself. Outside a building, you may slip and fall because of rain, ice, snow or a

hidden hazard, such as a gap or hard to see pothole in the ground. Slip and fall accidents

can occur on commercial, residential or public property. Regardless of where they happen,

all property or building owners have a certain level of responsibility to make sure an

environment is safe. 

 

Slip and fall accidents are the most common types of "premises liability" cases, which

center on the question of a property owner's duty to care for the property. Injury by fire

or other accidents resulting from defects in the conditions of buildings also fall under

this category. 

 

Slip and fall cases are governed under negligence law. Tow win a premises liability claim, an injured victim has to prove either that the defendant created the hazard that led to the accident or that the defendant knew or should have known about the danger and had it removed or repaired. This can often be difficult to prove, since proving when a given hazard first appeared can be challenging. 

 

Structural defects

Structural damages to a building, often due to age or wear and tear, can be a significant cause of injury. Uneven steps, parking lot potholes, cracked sidewalks, broken tiles, or torn carpeting can create dangerous situations for visitors to a building. As noted earlier, to prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the problem and failed to repair it.   

 

Occasionally, negligence can be proven by violation of a statute. Building owners must ensure that the building's structures is in compliance with applicable building codes. For example, handrails and other similar structures typically must be installed at a certain general height. If you fall on a stairway that lacked appropriate handrails, and the lack thereof caused your injuries, you may have a valid claim against the building owner for violating building codes. 

 

Weather-related accidents 

Weather-related slip and fall accidents are difficult cases for injured plaintiffs. Landowners are generally expected to take reasonable steps to reduce hazards created by adverse weather. This can include, but is not limited to, shoveling snow, salting or sanding icy or slippery spots, and installing anti-slip devices on outdoor steps. As with other cases, if the landowner has no reasonable opportunity to correct the problem, as where a flash flood has created a hazard, the landowner will not be held liable for injuries caused by the hazard. 

 

Comparative negligence 

In slip and fall cases, as with all other negligence claims, modified comparative negligence applies. As a guest on someone else's property, you are expected to exercise reasonable judgment and caution. 

 

If you  or a loved one has been injured in a slip or fall accident call The Neighborhood Law Group now at 1-855-4-NLGLAW or click here to submit a simple case form. Don't delay! You may have a valid claim and entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.