Where Do Slip And Fall Accidents Most Commonly Occur?

Slip and fall accidents are difficult to predict as they can take place just about anywhere, on any surface, although there are some areas where these types of accidents are more likely to occur, like grocery stores and parking lots.

Where a slip and fall accident happens has considerable influence on how a plaintiff goes about making a slip and fall claim, so if you got into a world of hurt on someone else’s property, it is crucial to contact experienced slip and fall attorneys who can counsel you.

Common Places Where Slip and Fall Accidents Occur

Here are the places where slip and fall accidents commonly occur:

Stairs

Stairs can be hazardous due to their design. A person may not be able to properly navigate steps if they are excessively steep or too narrow. In addition, broken railings might make it difficult for a person to walk up and down the stairs with stability.

Sidewalks

There may be uneven walking surfaces on the sidewalks. Slip and fall accidents can be caused by defective sidewalks, fissures, sloped concrete, and slippery surfaces. A property owner must maintain their sidewalk in good condition.

Swimming Pools

It is easy to slip and fall near a swimming pool due to water everywhere. Water may cause surfaces near the pool to become slippery. Individuals can fall near or while entering or exiting a swimming pool.

Decks

Deck finishes can pose a slipping and falling hazard. Also, deteriorating or uneven floorboards can lead to slip and fall accidents that injure individuals.

Elevators And Escalators

An elevator door might close too quickly, causing a passenger to tumble. During the ride, sudden jolts might throw a person off balance. A person can also become entangled in an escalator. These mishaps have the potential to injure their victims.

Restaurants And Bars

Accidents are very common in restaurants and bars. There may be many individuals in a restaurant or bar at once. The presence of individuals in a congested area constitutes a threat. In addition, seats and tables must be navigated in a restaurant or bar. Overcrowding, poor design, and dropped belongings on the floor can all lead to accidents.

Shopping Malls

A shopping mall excursion can become tragic if a person slips and falls. In retail malls, slippery floors, spills, product displays, and pop-up retailers in walkways can all lead to accidents.

Sports Facilities

In many sports facilities, fans must climb steps to reach their seats. Additionally, supporters may attempt to climb over chairs to reach their destination. Due to them not paying attention, spectators may not constantly watch where they are walking. Injuries may occur as a result.

Medical Facilities

A slip and fall accident can occur in medical facilities and doctor’s offices. Patients entering a facility may not be in good health. They may be making their first use of crutches, a scooter, or a walker. Therefore, falls in healthcare settings can result in severe injuries.

Worksites

People are susceptible to slip and fall accidents at their workplaces. Everyone who works with machinery, construction materials, or chemicals stands the risk of slipping and falling. Debris, poor safety procedures, and hasty activities can all increase the possibility of a fall.

Unfinished Basement

Unfinished basements pose a greater risk of falling. There may be items stored in the basement that are trip hazards. Additionally, dust and dirt can also pose a threat to occupants.

Who Is Liable In A Slip And Fall Case?

When slipping or tripping and falling on a damp floor, damaged stairs, or an uneven ground, tens of thousands of people each year are wounded, some quite severely. Sometimes the property owner is liable for the accident, and other times they are not.

If you have been harmed in this way, consider that it is a normal part of life for things to fall or drop onto a floor or the ground, and for smooth surfaces to become uneven.
In addition, some items placed in the ground, such as drainage grates, serve a purpose.
As a result, a property owner (or occupant) cannot always be held accountable for removing or cleaning every slippery location on the floor right away. Furthermore, property owners are not necessarily liable when someone slips or trips on ground that a reasonable person would expect to find or avoid. Everyone is responsible for keeping an eye on their surroundings.

However, property owners must maintain their properties with care. While there is no precise way to determine when someone else is legally responsible for something that causes you to slip or trip, cases depend on whether the property owner knew and took precautions to prevent you from slipping or tripping and whether you were negligent in failing to see or avoid the part that caused you to fall.

Common Situations That Lead To Slip And Falls

Below are the common situations that lead to slips and falls:

Wet And Uneven Walking Surfaces

Wet and uneven surfaces are the most common cause of slip and fall accidents around the world. Damp and uneven surfaces account for more than half of all slip and fall accidents documented in this country.

Weather

Weather conditions are a natural phenomenon that cannot be controlled. This makes it one of the major causes of slip and fall accidents worldwide.

During the winter, you can engage in a variety of activities, but you must practice caution. During this season, even building owners are required by law to shovel the sidewalks, plow the streets, and salt the pathways.

In the absence of preventative measures, they may be held liable. The majority of slip and fall compensation claims are the consequence of weather-related negligence.

Poor Training

The majority of slips and falls in the construction business are commonly caused by inadequate training. Employers and employees must receive sufficient training to prevent slips and falls on the job. Together with other organizations, the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health has developed a guideline that instructs individuals on how to avoid slip and fall accidents.

Training is a crucial component for this particular cause. Therefore, everyone who works on a building site must be fully instructed on how to walk and handle various tools and equipment. Otherwise, the employer will be held liable for all the victim’s damages (s).

Stray Cords And Electrical Wires

Electrical cords and wires are another common cause of a slip and fall accident.

These cords and wires entangle the shoes or cause the legs to slide, prompting pedestrians to slip and fall. Many people have encountered this while walking through the streets.

The responsible parties should own responsibility and address this problem. In such an accident, an expert personal injury attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation.

Poor Lighting

Poor lighting in buildings and on sidewalks is a typical cause of a slip and fall accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandates that all workplaces and other public properties be adequately lit. Especially for individuals who stroll at night, proper lighting will improve vision.

Employers must consider the illumination of pathways, sidewalks, and stairwells. Poor lighting makes it difficult to travel from one location to another in a safe manner. Employer or property owner shall be responsible for any damages incurred in the event of a slip and fall accident.

How Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

If you are involved in a slip and fall accident, our skilled personal injury attorneys can assist you. They will assist you in evaluating the value of your claim and recommending proper compensation measures. Also, we will help you prepare your case so that the responsible party covers medical bills. In summary, recuperating from a slip and fall accident is a difficult process that requires the services of a reputable personal injury attorney.

If someone else caused your slip and fall accident, they are responsible for compensating you. Reeves Law Group can assist you in filing a claim to recover the losses and damages incurred.

Reference sources or statistics:

• https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/deaths-by-demographics/top-10-preventable-injuries/
• https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/work-overview/top-work-related-injury-causes/
• https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/LeadingCauses.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/animated-leading-causes.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/retail/slips.html#:~:text=Spills%2C%20ice%2C%20snow%2C%20rain,fractures%2C%20scratches%2C%20and%20cuts.
• https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy16_sh-29672-sh6_SlipsTripsFallsHandoutforSafetyCommitteeMeetings.pdf
• https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/falls.html
• https://www.uwec.edu/news/loss-prevention-and-safety/preventing-slips-trips-and-falls-in-the-workplace-5142/
• https://www.osha.gov/etools/hospitals/hospital-wide-hazards/slips-trips-falls
• https://www.healthcarefacilitiestoday.com/posts/Avoiding-slip-and-fall-accidents-in-healthcare-facilities–6425#:~:text=Contaminants%20on%20the%20floor%20are,minimize%20the%20risk%20of%20slipping.