Eight Types of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents occur on properties because of poor maintenance or insufficient warning of dangers. If you are a victim of one, you can file a slip-and-fall claim by proving the owner’s negligence and liability.
Here are eight of the most common types of slip and fall accidents.
Eight Typical Slip and Fall Accidents
1. Broken Sidewalks
Pedestrians seldom look down while walking. So there’s a high chance of slipping and falling because of a broken or unstable sidewalk. Property owners must maintain sidewalks near their property.
So an experienced Glendale personal injury attorney can prove your case if a broken or damaged sidewalk led to your slip-and-fall. Pictures of the spot are the best proof you have against the property owner while making claims.
2. Environmental Conditions
Poor environmental conditions can also trigger slip and fall accidents indoors. Examples are insufficient lighting, liquid spills, litter or cords on the floor, and open drawers or cabinets.
Even bad weather conditions like snow, rain, flooding, ice and falling tree limbs make walkways dangerous to trigger slip-and-fall accidents. It’s pretty common to see slip-and-fall accidents due to snow and ice on sideways and parking lots in winter.
3. Loose Handrails
With many people relying on handrails while using the stairs, falls due to loss or faulty railings are an excellent reason to claim compensation.
It is because the property owner must maintain their property. In addition to a proper handrail, they also need to ensure:
- The material around the handrail is secure
- There is sufficient lighting in the vicinity of the stairs.
4. Negligence at Medical Facilities
Many slips and fall accidents occur in medical facilities as inmates trying to stand independently find it challenging to balance. As most patients are elderly, these accidents can result in broken bones, complicating the nursing home stay.
As it’s known that the patients are unstable, it’s the facility’s and the treating doctors’ responsibility to provide additional support and prevent possible falls.
5. Potholes
Weather, oil, salt buildup, and expanding and contracting water are the usual causes of road potholes. It indicates poor road maintenance and can make cars lose control and injure other drivers.
Potholes can also cause injury to pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. This is why cities and counties must take the proper measures to prevent possible slip-and-fall accidents on public property.
6. Wet Floors
Wet floors due to leaking equipment, inefficient cleaning up, and accidental spills are common causes of slip-and-fall accidents. The property owner must keep their premises dry and post warning signs after freshly mopping floors.
7. Dangerous Stairways
The height of the stairs makes it even more dangerous if someone falls on them. The common reasons for a stairway fall are:
- Loose tiles
- Rotting wood
- Slippery steps
- Missing or damaged steps
- Poor lighting
- Damaged concrete.
The property owner or manager has to ensure their property stairways are safe and free of danger. The need is even higher if the stairwell is:
- Near high-traffic areas,
- Near spots where water or slippery substances accumulate
- Outdoor and subject to poor weather conditions.
8. Loose Rugs and Carpets
People 65 years and older can fall because of loose, torn, or uneven rugs and carpets in business or public locations. That’s why property owners and managers must repair all carpeting defects immediately.
Consult Your Personal Injury Attorney in Glendale
You have the right to claim your deserved compensation for slip and fall accidents. However, you need to focus on your recovery and may not be able to attend court.
This is where your personal injury lawyer can help by representing you in court and getting you your compensation.