Florida Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and at any time to anyone. It’s important to acknowledge that because most of us never imagine that we could get hurt in a slip-and-fall accident. As South Florida personal injury lawyers, we’ve seen this again and again in our law practice.
Everyone sees this as a type of accident that happens to other people until suddenly you’re the one dealing with thousands of dollars in medical bills. Why? Because someone else didn’t correct a problem that they should have, or take necessary precautions to keep you safe.Make sure to always insist on an incident report from a manager or property owner as soon as possible after a slip and fall accident.
This is imperative when I come to building a solid personal injury case in order to acquire the compensation and damages you deserve.The kinds of dangers that can lead to slip and fall accidents are all around us. Since they are often everyday things that can be easily missed, it’s important to know what you should watch out for slip and fall conditions. These conditions can be broken down into two categories: things to watch out for that reside indoors and things to avoid outdoors.
Indoor Dangers
Wet floors. We’ve all seen those Wet Floor signs that stores put up after mopping or in the event of a spill, but what if the floor is wet and there’s no sign? What if there’s no barrier to close off the area and keep people from walking on it? If the property owner knew about the danger or should have known about it, they may be liable if you are injured in an accident.
Uneven carpets. As carpets age, it’s not uncommon for them to become torn or worn, or even start to bulge in certain areas making them a tripping hazard. Edges can curl up, and sometimes items can get caught in the carpet and catch on footwear. Property owners need to watch out for these conditions and try to fix the issues as soon as possible to prevent people from tripping and falling.
Waxed or treated floors. Flooring can be especially dangerous after it has been waxed or treated incorrectly.
Common examples include:
- Using too much polish or wax
- Applying polish or wax unevenly
- Using a floor treatment on an area of the floor that slopes
- Only treating part of the floor, which can cause a change in walking conditions
Stairway problems. You can get seriously hurt falling down stairs. Oftentimes, people fall on stairs because of obstacles that the property owner should have known about and dealt with. One of the most obvious is keeping trash and other debris off the stairs. Property owners also have to make sure that handrails aren’t broken or missing, that the steps don’t become worn or rounded, and that stairs have a non-skid surface, especially if they are going to be polished or waxed.
Neglecting non-skid materials. There are specific situations where the law requires property owners to use floor treatments that have non-skid ingredients, such as on stairs. If they violate this requirement and you are subsequently injured, they may be at fault.
Dark or poorly lit areas. Property owners have a responsibility to make sure that every part of their property is well-lit and easily navigable. If a light goes out, they need to act quickly to get it replaced. Lights that burn out is one thing. Often there are areas of a property that are poorly lit, or should have a light installed to prevent injuries. If there are complaints about people having difficulty getting through part of the property because of a lack of light, it should be addressed.
Outdoor Slip and Fall Accidents Dangers
Neglected private walkways. If someone falls down on a public sidewalk, a property owner can’t be held responsible (however the local governmental entity can). But if the injury instead occurs on a driveway or private walkway, they may be liable. Falls may be caused by cracked or uneven paving or wet or slippery conditions caused by cleaning or weather.
Potholes and height differences. Parking lots and driveways can be dangerous for people because they tend to crack and develop potholes over time. Damaged parking lots and driveways need to be repaired in a timely fashion or owners may be held responsible for any injuries that occur as a result. It’s also important to make sure that differences in height and elevation occur gradually. These conditions need to be addressed so that pedestrians don’t slip or trip.
Inadequate lighting. Just like property owners can be held legally responsible if someone gets hurt because an area inside is too dark, the same is true for the exterior portions of their property. If there’s not enough light to see in a parking lot or on a walkway outside the property, you can slip, trip, and fall on a number of obstacles that otherwise wouldn’t have been an issue if it was possible to see.
Personal Injury Lawyers
Obviously, these aren’t the only things that cause slip and falls accidents for Floridians, but this list can help you build a basic awareness of kinds of things that you should watch out for the next time you get a room at a hotel, head to the mall or are on any public property. If you do suffer an injury because someone else neglected to take proper care of their property in South Florida, don’t end up paying for their mistake. There are different ways of proving fault in slip and fall accidents. Seek out an experienced personal injury lawyer at Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert and get the compensation that you need to pay off your medical bills and get your life back on track. Call us today for a free consultation! Call Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert at 305-931-6666 to discuss different theories of liability.
