A slip and fall accident is just as it sounds; an incident where someone slips, or trips, and falls, often hurting themselves in the process. On the sidewalk or other public area, someone who trips and falls (without provocation from someone else) may walk away with nothing more than their injuries and hurt pride.
When the accident occurs in or around a privately-owned business or facility, however, the fault often lies within the building’s owners and/or operators. If you’re an employee or patron who’s hurt in a slip and fall accident in Sacramento, then personal injury attorney, Larry S. Buckley, will fight for you to receive the compensation you need to fully and comfortably recover.
Wet Floor Hazard Spots
Most slip and fall accidents happen on wet tile floors that do not have any warning signs posted in the area, such as if a retail store clerk mops the floor, leaves a puddle, and walks away. Whenever you are in a retail store or commercial building, be mindful of what is on the ground ahead of you, especially when the floor is tiled.
Look out for wet floor hazards in and near:
- Restrooms, toilets, and sinks
- Kitchens, dining rooms, food courts, and other food service areas
- Grocery stores, especially in the produce and frozen foods sections
- Entryways and exits, especially if the doorway leads outside and it’s raining or snowing
- Janitorial carts and closets
- Anywhere you see a mop and/or mop bucket
Indoors, the property owner or the building’s occupants are responsible for providing adequate warnings of hazardous conditions, including wet floors. Besides being wary of wet areas, also look for signs and posted warnings that are meant to keep you from the area. Outdoors, you should also walk carefully in parking lots and on steps and sidewalks that are wet from rain or snow, or frozen with ice.
Signs to Watch Out For
Though wet floors are common, many business owners and building occupants understand the danger and provide adequate warning for the public to avoid them. Just because the floor is wet and you slip on it doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll receive compensation. Still, not everyone is as responsible as they should be, and wet floors are only some of the dangers that could result from poor building management. Typical conditions that a property owner may be accountable for can include;
- Uneven flooring (or pavement, if outside)
- Standing puddles of water
- Insufficient lighting
- Excessive wax on a floor that hasn’t been cordoned off
Quick Statistics About Slip & Fall Accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists slip and fall accidents among the most common causes of serious injuries in the country, especially among the elderly population. It is also a growing cause of accidental death, with more than 15,000 slip and fall fatalities in the country each year. Based on their findings, which are collected and updated each year, the CDC estimates about 25% of people will suffer a serious slip and fall injury – broken bones and head injuries, namely – at least once in their lifetimes. With all things considered, more than 8 million people in the country will slip and fall each year, with around 8% of those falls being serious enough to require emergency medical care and hospitalization.
Know Your Rights
Negligence is more common of a practice than it should be, and it creates conditions that lead to serious injury in many cases. Though property and business owners can’t always avoid or prevent hazardous situations on their property, they have a legal and moral obligation to provide sufficient and conspicuous warnings to those who may be hurt. If you’re injured in a slip and fall accident and believe that you are not at fault, then speak with our premises liability attorney to help you gather the facts and prove that you deserve to be compensated.
Consult Your Attorneys Today
To learn more about protecting yourself from the negligence of others, contact our law office to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.