Stay Alert for Tripping Hazards or Slippery Floors

 Posted on June 13, 2022 in Personal Injury

Whether tripping on a sidewalk or slipping on a wet floor, slip and fall accidents can cause sudden and severe injuries. These injuries can lead to medical bills, missed work, and additional trauma. The elderly or those with disabilities are more commonly injured in these types of falls, but anyone can suffer an injury at any time. Often, a tripping or slipping hazard is caused by the negligence of the property’s owner or tenant. Without proper property maintenance or sufficient warnings, these parties can be held liable for the unsafe conditions.

Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents

While a trip and fall accident can happen anywhere, some locations are more likely to have conditions that cause these accidents. Here are areas that have more frequent slip and fall accidents:

• Sidewalks – Both cracks and gaps in sidewalks make for an uneven surface and can cause people to trip and fall.

• Parking lots – Much like sidewalks, poorly maintained parking lots can have cracks and potholes. Poor lighting can also contribute to a fall.

• Stairs and stairwells – Stairs can become worn and rounded over time. The handrails you may depend on to keep your balance could also be broken or missing.

• Escalators and elevators – The motion of an escalator or elevator can always cause hazards, but if they are poorly maintained and have unexpected starts and stops, they can cause serious falls resulting in injuries.

• Commercial areas – Floors in spaces such as restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping malls can be wet from spills or scattered with debris if they are not regularly maintained.

Injuries and Compensation for Slip and Fall Accidents

Common injuries from slip and fall accidents include soft tissue and other internal injuries, head injuries, which can include traumatic brain injuries (TBI), back injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones - especially broken shoulders and hip fractures.

To receive compensation under California law, you must show that the owner, renter, or other responsible party failed to exercise reasonable care to keep the premises safe and did not provide warnings about the danger. Compensation for a slip and fall accident may include the cost of your medical treatment, lost income from missed time at work, reimbursement for any property damaged in the fall, and emotional distress.

Call a Santa Clara County Slip and Fall Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact the San Jose premises liability lawyers at Fuller Law Firm. We can review your case and seek compensation from any liable party. Call 408-234-7563 for a free consultation. 

Source:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1714.&lawCode=CIV