Common Locations For Slip And Falls And What To Do About It

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, at anytime. Falls aren’t exactly the type of accident you can anticipate – by definition, they are unpredictable. While no one leaves the house anticipating slip, trip, and fall hazards, being more aware of hazardous areas can help you determine how to proceed with your case, and if you should get a slip and fall lawyer involved.

Continue reading to discover the 10 most common locations for slip and fall accidents that you should be aware of, and what to do if you’ve been involved in an accident.

Defining Slip And Fall Cases

The category of slip and fall cases also includes trip and falls. Slips occur when there isn’t enough traction between your feet and the surface you’re walking on. Common causes of slips include spills, wet or oily floors, and loose or unanchored mats. Trips occur when your foot strikes an object, causing you to lose your balance. Trips can occur for a variety of reasons, including clutter in walkways, uncovered cables, uneven walking surfaces, and poor lighting.

By law, a slip and fall accident is any accident in which a victim injures themselves in a fall that was due to some negligence of another party, typically the owner of the property or employee responsible for its upkeep. In order to prove that a party was negligent, a victim must prove at least one of three things: 

1. The premises owner or an employee caused the dangerous surface that was the cause of injury.
2. The premises owner or an employee knew of the danger, but chose to do nothing about it.
3. The premises owner or an employee should have known of the danger, because a “reasonable person” would have been aware of the hazard and would have remedied the problem. 

Common Locations For A Slip And Fall 

Slip and fall hazards can present themselves in a variety of locations. It’s important to always be aware of your surroundings, and to understand that these following locations may present more risk for accidents.

1. Supermarket and Big Box Stores: Poor maintenance, tripping hazards, slippery floors, and faulty shopping carts can all turn a routine trip to the grocery store into a painful accident. 
2. Restaurants and Bars: Both restaurant and bar guests as well as employees are at risk of a slip and fall accident due to food and drink spills, wet floors, poor lighting, and slippery bathrooms.
3. Gyms and Training Facilities: Broken or improperly stored equipment, uneven flooring, wet floors, or tripping hazards can create dangerous conditions for gym goers. Additionally, slick floors in locker rooms, bathrooms, and shower areas can pose a risk.
4. Sidewalks and Driveways: Luckily for Floridians, icy or snowy driveways aren’t much of a worry when it comes to slip and fall hazards. However, broken or cracked sidewalks or driveways, potholes, and especially wet pavement during storm season can cause injury.
5. Amusement Parks: In crowded areas such as amusement parks, common causes of accidents include slippery floors, unsafe rides, spilled food and drink, and other trip hazards.
6. Retail Stores: Poor lighting, clutter, dropped clothing or accessories, and spilled beverages can create serious risks for customers and employees alike.
7. Escalators or Elevators: Malfunctioning escalators or elevators can cause a trip and fall accident. In this case, property owners, maintenance companies, and even escalator and elevator manufacturers can be found liable for resulting injuries. 
8. Work: No matter the industry, falls are the leading cause of injury among workers. Construction, manufacturing, retail trade, transportation and warehousing industries all suffered more than 22,000 falls each in 2016, and in the education and health services field, falls amounted to more than 43,600. Spills, clutter, exposed cables, and worn carpeting are all frequent culprits of slip and falls at work.
9. Swimming Pools: In the Florida heat, the pool seems like the best place to cool down. However, puddles and foot prints made by those entering and exiting the pool create a slick surface that can be, and has been, hazardous.
10. Residential Homes: No one wants to fall at a friend, colleague, or family member’s residence. However, there is a risk of such an accident occurring inside of the home. 

What To Do After A Slip Or Trip And Fall

If you’ve suffered injuries caused by a slip and fall or trip and fall on another’s property, it is possible that the premises owner, manager, or maintenance company is liable for your injuries. However, in order to prove that they are liable – and receive compensation for your injuries – you must first prove that the individual was negligent. This involves proving that this individual  knew or should have known about the dangerous condition that caused your accident, and that this person failed to amend the condition or warn you prior to the fall.

When your fall happens at work, a residential home, or another location where you feel a connection to the individuals involved, it can be difficult to judge how to proceed forward. And in the case of larger companies, such as amusement parks and supermarkets, you may be intimidated to enforce legal action. Waggener Law ensures you won’t need to do this alone.

An attorney will gather convincing evidence that proves the at-fault party was liable for your injuries, including surveillance video, accident reports, property maintenance records, photographs, and more. An experienced slip and fall lawyer will present strong arguments to advocate for your full and fair compensation and fight on your behalf. To continue learning how you can recoup damages including past and future medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more, contact Waggener Law today.