Each year, one million Americans visit emergency rooms across the country due to slip and fall injuries. The effects of these accidents can vary – causing everything from minor bruising to brain injury. Unfortunately, slip and falls are not as easy to avoid as some people may think – and the number of causes makes it difficult for even the most cautious person to steer clear from all potential dangers.

What are the Major Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?

1. Wet or uneven flooring. Slip and fall injuries can be caused by hazardous flooring. This can include loose floorboards, cluttered floors, torn carpeting, waxed or improperly mopped floors, poor construction, defective sidewalks, and potholes. These types of conditions make walking on these surfaces extremely dangerous and increase the likelihood of injury.
2. Weather conditions. Most slip and fall injuries that occur outside are due to weather, such as rain. Property owners and municipalities are required to predict this weather and take extra precautions to ensure those walking on outdoor surfaces are not injured in hazardous weather. This includes preventing flooding, adding proper lighting to narrow sidewalks, etc. Failure to do so could lead to a premise liability claim.
3. Improper employee training. Slip and fall injuries can often occur on the job. Work areas, such as construction sites or manufacturing plants, require employees to stand and walk for the majority of their shift. When walkways are not kept clear or employers fail to train employees on jobsite safety, injuries can occur.
4. Nursing home neglect. As individuals get older, their sense of balance declines significantly. Senior citizens are at high-risk for falls and when these falls occur, the senior is likely to suffer from more catastrophic injuries – such as hip fractures. If a nursing home’s administrator or in-house caregivers fail to monitor, assist and protect their patients, they could be held liable for injuries that occur on their property.
5. Improper footwear. Improper footwear that does not provide adequate traction can increase the likelihood of someone falling, including wearing high heels, sneakers or even work shoes with the wrong tread.
6. Fraud. While rare, there are a small handful of claims for slip and fall accidents that are not legitimate. This means that the victim stages their accident in order to collect compensation from the property owner or their insurer.

If you have suffered from a slip and fall accident, it is important that you contact an attorney right away. The property owner, employer or a third party could be liable for your injuries and associated damages. Contact the attorneys at Vasilaros Wagner today to schedule a no obligation consultation for your slip and fall accident by calling 386-777-7777.