One of the single most common reasons for personal injury lawsuits are slip and fall accidents, also known as trip and fall accidents. These accidents are exactly what they sound like: someone trips or slips due to some hazard, and hurts themselves in the subsequent fall. While not all falls are preventable, many are the result of negligence on the part of property owners who did not take adequate care of their premises. Here are some of the most common causes for slip and fall accidents:
- Spilled food or drink
- One of the most common reasons for slip and fall accidents is from spilled food or drink. This is most commonly an issue in grocery stores, where a spill that is not cleaned up quickly can become a serious slipping hazard. It can also be a problem in restaurants and kitchens, where these spills can potentially lead to accidents.
- Damaged carpeting or flooring
- Carpets and floors tend to get naturally damaged over time, causing them to become unstable. This can lead to people slipping on loose carpeting or tripping on wobbly floorboards, resulting in a fall. In more extreme cases, flooring can become so damaged that it cannot sustain the weight of a person, causing it to collapse entirely and potentially injure whoever was standing on it at the time.
- Loose handrails or guardrails
- Handrails on stairs and guardrails on balconies are essential for keeping people from falling from great heights. However, like anything else, handrails and guardrails need to be maintained, and they can become loose or damaged over time. This can cause them to become unable to handle pressure placed on them, causing them to collapse, which can lead to a fall.
- Icy, rainy, or snowy ground
- Rain, snow, and ice are perpetual hazards, but can be especially dangerous in the winter, where tracked-in snow and slush can easily lead to slip and fall accidents. In New York City, in particular, property owners should be careful to make sure their sidewalks are clear of ice and snow, since they can be held liable for accidents that occur on the sidewalks outside their property as well.
- Debris or litter on the floor
- Slip and fall accidents also regularly occur as a result of debris or litter being left on the floor. This is often the result of construction or maintenance, which can leave the ground littered with debris that can become a tripping hazard if not handled quickly. Places that have poor sanitation may also become littered, which is both unsanitary and unsafe for passersby.
- Inadequate lighting
- People often underestimate how important it is to be able to see where you’re going to avoid falling. Many slip and fall accidents happen precisely because the property owners did not install adequate lighting, or else failed to maintain that lighting. In addition to the risk of slip and fall accidents, poorly lit areas are also more appealing for criminals, who may assault people in areas where they think they may not be seen.
- Hidden obstructions
- Some people like to take pains to hide things like table legs or wires from view, considering them unsightly. While this may make their homes more visibly appealing, hiding these hazards without taking steps to mitigate them just means people are more likely to trip and fall. This can lead to potentially serious injuries, which may become a cause for a slip and fall lawsuit.
The Suffolk County personal injury law firm of McGuire, Peláez and Bennett is conveniently located in Central Islip near the Central Islip Court facility on Long Island. We will work diligently in every way to help you make the best of difficult times. We will help you to process your insurance and no-fault claims without charge to ensure that your medical expenses and property damages are compensated. We will also work with your doctors to monitor your recovery progress to ensure that you are reimbursed for your pain, suffering and economic loss. Please give us a call at (631) 348-1702, or visit our contact page to learn more.
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