Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Most Often Occur?

Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents can occur in a variety of situations and often arise due to unsafe conditions, such as an uneven or slippery walkway. Whenever a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall results in serious injuries and could have been avoided with proper attention to safety on the part of the property owner, the injured party may be eligible to file a claim to pursue compensation for their damages including medical bills, lost wages, and more. While a slip-and-fall might not sound particularly serious, it’s important to note that injuries resulting from a slip-and-fall can range from severe and even permanent orthopedic injuries to traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Some of the most common locations where slip and fall accidents occur include:

• Sidewalks and driveways
• Stairs, escalators, and elevators
• Pools and gyms
• Parking lots
• Restrooms
• Decks
• Gas stations
• Work sites
• Theaters and entertainment venues
• Amusement parks
• Hotels and apartment complexes
• Nursing homes
• Old buildings
• Commercial properties
• Residential properties

Property owners are legally obligated to provide reasonably safe conditions for visitors to the premises.

Property owners could include private homeowners, commercial business owners, and more. Whoever is legally responsible for the safe upkeep of a property is generally considered liable for any resulting damages; in premises liability cases involving a slip and fall, this could include multiple parties depending on the situation. For example, a slip and fall that occurred due to a missing or broken railing at an apartment complex may open up the property management company, property managers, and even maintenance providers to liability. If the injury occurred to an employee at work, the employer or landlord for the property may be liable depending on the situation.

Whenever someone is injured in a slip-and-fall, it’s important to document the location.

Part of proving when, where, and how an accident occurred requires documenting the scene of the injury. For example, if someone suffered an injury after tripping over a crack in the sidewalk, it’s important to take a picture of the crack, as well as including an item for scale, such as a quarter or dollar bill. Any other contributing factors including weather conditions and lighting should also be documented, as these can also play a part in slip-and-fall accidents and will need to be assessed in the course of the case. If the slip-and-fall victim is too injured to document the scene on their own, a friend, loved one, or even a slip-and-fall attorney can do so on their behalf. 

After any premises liability injury, it’s important to act quickly.

It’s important to be timely in both seeking medical care and documenting the scene. Waiting to seek medical care can have a negative impact on your case further down the road, and it’s not uncommon for a property manager to correct the dangerous condition shortly after an injury occurred. While property repairs are not necessarily bad and can protect others from the same injury, it can make it difficult to prove that the condition existed to begin with. Slip-and-fall accidents can be tricky, as it requires figuring out who is legally responsible for the location of the accident, as well as proving the validity of the damages that occurred. This is why it is highly recommended to reach out to an experienced slip-and-fall attorney to discuss your options; like most personal injury attorneys, these lawyers typically offer free consultations and work on contingency, which means clients don’t pay unless and until they win.

To learn more about slip and fall or trip and fall accidents, or to learn more about your options for recovery following one of these events, reach out to an experienced slip-and-fall attorney in your area.