Property owners and businesses have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors. When they fail to do so and someone is injured, they can be held liable. Slip and fall cases, also known as premises liability cases, require proving that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
Slip and fall cases encompass a wide range of hazardous conditions, including wet or slippery floors without warning signs, uneven sidewalks and parking lot defects, poorly lit stairwells and walkways, broken handrails, icy or snowy walkways that were not properly treated, loose carpeting or flooring, and falling merchandise in retail stores. These accidents can happen in grocery stores, shopping malls, restaurants, office buildings, apartment complexes, and private homes.
Slip and fall cases require proving several elements. You must show that the property owner owed you a duty of care, they breached that duty by failing to maintain safe conditions or warn of hazards, the dangerous condition caused your fall, and you suffered actual injuries and damages. Evidence is critical in these cases. If you are injured in a slip and fall, try to photograph the hazardous condition, report the incident to the property owner or manager, get contact information from witnesses, and seek immediate medical attention.
Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries including hip fractures, especially in older adults, traumatic brain injuries from hitting the head, back and spinal cord injuries, broken wrists and arms from bracing the fall, knee injuries and torn ligaments, and shoulder injuries. Many slip and fall victims, particularly seniors, face long recovery periods and may never fully regain their prior level of function.
Property owners must regularly inspect their premises for hazards, promptly repair dangerous conditions, provide adequate warning of known hazards, maintain proper lighting in all areas, keep walkways clear of debris and obstructions, and address weather-related hazards in a timely manner. When they fail to meet these obligations and someone is hurt, they should be held accountable.
Attorney Mike Zara handles slip and fall cases in all six states where he is licensed: