Slip, Trip and Fall Attorneys

Sign warning of slips, trips and falls
In Florida, property and business owners must uphold their legal duty to provide safe conditions. They are responsible to prevent slip, trip and fall injuries.

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property and suspect it is the result of a slip, trip or fall violation, read on. The legal staff of Ward & Barnes, P.A., are here to teach you all about the hazards, vulnerabilities, and circumstances associated with slip, trip and fall injuries. 

What Are Slips, Trips and Falls?

Slips, trips and falls are the results of a business’s negligence. A business is required to maintain clean, clear, and safe walking surfaces, tools, and equipment. Although the terms “slips,” “trips” and “falls” sound similar, they are quite different.

A Slip Occurs When You Lose Your Balance or Footing

A loss of balance or footing occurs when there is not enough friction between one’s feet and the ground or a platform. Conditions that lessen friction include wet, icy, snowy, greasy, or oily walking surfaces. Situational conditions that increase the likelihood of slips include running or hurrying, lack of warning signs, visual obstructions, and ill-fitting shoes on a non-dry ground or standing surface. 

A Trip Happens When Your Foot Catches On an Object or Gets Stuck in Something

Many items, natural and man-made, can be trip hazards. This is especially true when they are improperly maintained, Or when left strewed as clutter where someone may walk. Some examples of natural objects that are trip hazards include protruding rocks, tree roots, tree stumps, and holes. Examples of man-made trip hazards include sidewalk cracks, uneven sidewalks, bunched rugs, folded anti-slip mats, furniture clutter, and litter.

A Fall Is When Your Body Comes Down Suddenly Onto The Ground Or Any Other Surface Below You

In the case of personal injury claims, a fall is the result of a slip or trip. The severity of a fall depends on two factors. First how fast the injured person was moving. And second the amount of non-dry substance that caused the slip or the size of the protruding object that caused the trip. 

How Serious Are Slip, Trip and Fall Injuries?

You might be wondering about the severity of injuries caused by slips, trips and falls. Our personal injury attorneys—who have extensive experience representing countless slip, trip and fall individuals—can assure you these types of injuries are serious. 

Do not take slip, trip and fall accidents lightly. We urge you to take action immediately if you have been injured on a commercial or private premise. Even seemingly minor injuries like cuts, bumps, or bruises can have or develop a significant injury.

Slip, trips and falls are notoriously common and unintentional accidents among businesses and private residences. There is an abundance of injuries that result from slips, trips and falls. 

The most prevalent injuries we observe from slips, trips and falls are broken and dislocated bones and joints, concussions, and brain damage. The effects of these injuries can debilitate an individual for months, years, or even the rest of their life. Not to mention, the cost for one-time or recurring medical treatment for these injuries is far from affordable. 

For some, slips, trips and falls result in a coma or death. Severe and fatal instances of slips, trips and falls occur from substantial heights or tripping and falling onto or into dense, sharp, or poisonous objects.

Our legal staff is concerned and sensitive to your position as a victim of a slip, trip or fall injury. We will represent you to help you win the settlement you deserve based on the severity of your injury.

Where Do Slips, Trips and Falls Happen?

Slips, trips and falls can occur anywhere. Property owners can be held accountable for failures, violations, and negligence that result in slips, trips and falls. Slip, trip and fall liabilities can occur on any designated standing or walking surface that is inadequately maintained. Regardless if it happens on a private, public, or commercial lot. It is up to property owners to thoroughly assess, inspect and arrange their standing areas and walkways to prevent slips, trips and falls.

Slip, Trip and Fall Incidents on Commercial Properties

A commercial entity is responsible for all slip, trip and fall incidents that happen in and around its lot. Such spaces include the interior of the property, directly outside of the property near its entrance, along its sidewalks, and within its parking lots.

Slip, Trip and Fall Incidents on Public Properties

Public spaces are responsible for maintaining safe areas for everyone. Public spaces may be liable for slip, trip and fall incidents on public parking lots, sidewalks, playgrounds, buildings, etc. 

Slip, Trip and Fall Incidents On Private and Residential Properties

All private residence owners must perform routine care and maintenance on their property. This is to ensure safety for themselves and their neighbors. Landlords and neighbors may be held responsible for premise liabilities that occur within private parking lots or private amenity spaces. Landlords and neighbors may also be held responsible for slip, trip and fall incidents that occur from technicians performing services such as roof and tree maintenance. 

Call the Premises Liability Attorneys at Ward & Barnes

The attorneys of Ward & Barnes can help you build a strong personal injury case. Regardless of the location or situation in which your slip, trip or fall occurred. 

Who is Most at Risk for Slips, Trips and Falls

Everyone is at risk when it comes to slip, trip and fall injuries. Still, by far the most at-risk group for slips, trips and falls are workplace employees. Whether working on commercial or private property, workplace employees are the most affected group when it comes to slips, trips and falls. Employees that work in construction, manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing occupations are especially vulnerable to these injuries. 

The second most at-risk groups for slips, trips and falls are individuals with impaired, limited, or uncoordinated mobility. Notable individuals in this group are children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Individuals in this group are particularly susceptible due to the various conditions regarding their age and range of mobility. 
Slip, Trip and Fall

What to Do If You’re a Victim of Slips, Trips and Falls

You are entitled to fair and just compensation if your slip, trip or fall injury is the result of another’s negligence. We advise the following course of action for slip, trip and fall injuries of all ranges of severity.

Seek Medical Attention ASAP

After any accident, it is important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Contact a medical response team right away. While you await medical intervention, document your injury right after it happens. If possible, take a picture of the conditions that led to your injury. Be sure to include the date, time, and location of the fall.  As well you should include a description of the factors that caused your fall.

Get Connected with Witnesses

If you are unable to document the injury yourself, ask a nearby witness to help you. Try to get their contact information so you may reach them later for a testimony.

Notify the Landlord

It is also equally important to promptly notify the landlord or property owner to help document your potential claim. Notify the property owner of your injury and have them document a report of your incident. Keep in mind that failure to properly document your incident may allow the business or property owner enough time to conceal the evidence or correct the problem. This can make proving your case more difficult and thus reduce your chance of a successful case.

Get Medical Reports

Once you receive medical treatment, follow up with a visit to your doctor. Get a copy of your injury reports. 

Contact an Attorney

Contact a premise liability professional lawyer as soon as possible. Bring all of your circumstantial and medical documentation when it is time to build your case. 

Dangerous Premise Hazards That Cause Slip, Trip and Fall Injuries

The attorneys at Ward & Barnes routinely observe incidences where multiple premise injuries occur at once. Sometimes an individual’s slip, trip and fall injuries are compounded with injuries and liabilities from other premise negligence. Fortunately, the lawyers of Ward & Barnes, P.A., handle a wide range of premises liability cases, including:

Slips, Trips and Falls Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 1 million Americans suffer injuries as a result of a slip, trip or fall incident each year. These accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a medical condition that often requires lifelong medical care. In many cases, these accidents are the result of poor maintenance or negligence by a neighbor, landlord or property owner.

A commonly overlooked component of slip, trip and fall accidents are those caused by unsafe workplace tools such as broken or dirty ladders, loading docks, and moving mechanical equipment.

Negligent Security

Property owners have a responsibility to provide adequate security in order to protect visitors and tenants from criminal harm. When owners fail to provide security guards, surveillance cameras, proper lighting and other safety measures, they may be held responsible for crimes committed on the property.

Code Violations

Injuries can easily occur when stairways, entrances or other parts of a building are not built according to safety and industry standards. Whether the violation is due to failure to follow construction codes or caused by a lack of timely maintenance or repair, the responsible party is liable for injuries caused on their property.

Inadequate Lighting, Visual Obstructions and Clutter

Businesses and individuals who fail to properly light their facilities are at-risk for premise injuries. Visual obstructions, such as disorganized materials, cluttered rooms, and obstructive furniture, cords and wires are all subject to slip, trip and fall incidents. One of the most effective ways to combat slip, trip and fall incidents is to maintain clear, well-lit areas walking areas day and night.

Are Slips, Trips and Fall Injuries Preventable?

Slips, trips and falls are 100% preventable. The number one reason why slips, trips and falls happen is due to a lack of proper planning, maintenance and education. 

It is a business’s duty to properly assess potential slip, trip and fall hazards and plan accordingly to prevent them. Such planning and prevention could take the form of safety committees, regular onsite safety reviews, and incentivizing safety and hazard reporting. While mitigating an existing slip, trip, and fall hazard, property owners may be proactive by employing highly visible signs and barriers to warn, dissuade, and prevent bystanders’ access to dangerous conditions. 

How to Avoid Premise Liabilities

The best way to avoid any premise liability case is to constantly and regularly assess your property’s conditions. Use the above suggestions to take all possible action to prevent slips, trips and falls. 

If you identify a location or situation where an individual can become a victim to a slip, trip or fall hazard, take action immediately. Such action could include educating your employees and visitors about the proper use of property equipment, installing supportive devices on your property like handrails, ensuring all tools are in good condition and hiring regular maintenance technicians to ensure your property grounds and equipment are in excellent shape. 

Remember to adhere to safety limits listed on any construction and equipment guidelines. Always notify your employees and guests of existing or possible hazards with the use of signs, messages and alerts. Then take immediate action to remedy the hazard.

Have You Been Injured Due to Dangerous Property Conditions?

Premises liability encapsulates a property owner’s legal duty applies to commercial buildings, private homes, apartments, condos and other residential buildings. Public areas such as city parking lots, parks and government buildings are also covered by premises liability relating to slips, trips and falls as well as other injuries.

At Ward & Barnes, P.A., our attorneys have years of experience obtaining favorable results for people injured in slips, trips and falls as a result of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property. We help our clients assert their rights and uphold their interests in cases involving slips, trips or falls. If the negligence of a property owner has caused you to be injured, we are ready to help.

Take Action Today

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property as a result of maintenance negligence, contact the team at Ward & Barnes, P.A., for a free consultation. 

We will work tirelessly to build your case and win your rightful compensation so you can focus on what’s most important: taking care of your health so you can take care of yourself and others. 

 

Call the Premises Liability Attorneys at Ward & Barnes