People slip or trip and fall every day, and many times, they wind up with just a few bumps and scrapes. However, sometimes slip-and-fall accidents lead to serious injury, especially if from a height or onto a very hard surface.
Slip-and-fall accidents occur frequently, causing approximately 8.9 million visits to the emergency room each year, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Furthermore, slip-and-fall accidents cause approximately 25,000 deaths per year, making them the second-leading cause of unintentional death, the NSC reports.
Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Some common causes of trip- or slip-and-fall accidents include:
- objects lying around in walkways (boxes, shoes, equipment);
- wet floors;
- poor lighting;
- potholes and manholes;
- electrical cords in high-traffic areas;
- broken or missing handrails on staircases;
- rugs and loose carpet;
- open cabinets and drawers;
- debris on exterior walkways;
- icy walkways and parking lots; and
- cracked pavement and uneven surfaces.
Often, simple preventive measures can prevent serious accidents. For instance, performing regular property checks for hazards, making sure spills are cleaned up immediately, and replacing rugs with non-skid mats can prevent numerous slip-and-fall accidents.
Slips and Falls: Common Places of Occurrence
A slip and fall can occur anywhere at any time. Some of the most common places where these incidents occur are:
- in the home or in someone else’s home;
- sidewalks and curbs;
- parking lots and garages;
- grocery stores and other shopping areas;
- gyms and pools;
- public bathrooms;
- office buildings;
- elevators and escalators;
- schools and playgrounds;
- construction sites;
- places of employment; and
- apartment buildings.
This is only a partial list; if your or your loved one’s accident occurred on any public or private premises, you may have a form of legal recourse for pursuing financial compensation for your losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Slip and Fall Premises Liability Claims
Victims of serious slip-and-fall accidents may be able to file a claim for compensation for the damages they sustained, depending upon the details surrounding the accident.
Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their grounds reasonably safe and to warn those on the premises of any potential hazards. If they fail to uphold their duty, anyone injured as a result has the right to file a premises liability claim or lawsuit against them for restitution.
In order to file a claim, you’ll need to be able to show that the property owner or manager:
- owed you a duty of care;
- knew or should have known about the hazardous condition;
- failed to take action to protect you from harm; and
- caused you actual injury as a result of his or her negligence.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation with a Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered injury in a slip-and-fall accident in Pennsylvania, talk to a local attorney to determine your legal options. If you reside in Stroudsburg, Palmerton, Bethlehem or the surrounding areas, we invite you to contact our premises liability lawyers at ARM Lawyers.