The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) reports that overone million people go to hospital emergency rooms with slip and fall injuries every year. These unexpected accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries, including sprains, strains, broken bones, brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. But how do these accidents occur? Here are some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents:
Wet Floors
Many slip and fall victims lose their footing as a result of wet floors. For example, a customer at a restaurant may slip if there is a spill on the floor that has not been cleaned up. Recently mopped floors are also wet, which is why property owners should put up warning signs after the floors have been cleaned.
Weather conditions can also cause wet floors. Rain and ice can accumulate outdoors, creating a slippery surface that is dangerous to walk on. People who walk across puddles of rainwater or patches of ice may also drag some of this moisture indoors on the bottoms of their shoes. Therefore, wet weather conditions can create indoor and outdoor slip and fall hazards.
Uneven Surfaces
It’s not hard to keep your balance if you are walking on a smooth, even surface. But unexpected dips and bumps can catch you off-guard and cause you to lose your balance. For this reason, uneven surfaces are dangerous hazards that can cause serious slip and fall injuries.
Uneven surfaces are created by cracks in the sidewalk, chipped flooring, wrinkled carpets, potholes, and broken steps on a staircase. Uneven surfaces are often a result of poor maintenance, which means the property owner could be held liable for injuries caused by these issues.
Broken Handrails
Slip and falls can occur anywhere, including staircases. Many staircase slip and fall accidents are caused by broken handrails. Holding onto a handrail as you walk up and down the stairs can help you keep your balance. However, a broken handrail cannot provide the support you need to stay balanced. In fact, grabbing a broken handrail can throw you off balance and put you at a greater risk of falling. Sadly, these staircase slip and fall accidents can lead to serious, life-threatening injuries.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, it’s in your best interest to seek legal representation from attorney Martin Gasparian as soon as possible. Mr. Gasparian has helped countless slip and fall injury victims recover compensation from negligent property owners. Schedule a free consultation regarding your case by calling 559-203-3333 or submitting your information at MaisonLaw.com.
