Most of us have tripped, stumbled, or slipped while walking and fell. Most of the time, these accidents only cause injuries that are surface level. Although painful, we only suffer from minor cuts and bruising. These accidents can also happen because we were paying attention, carrying items, couldn’t see, or playing on our phone while walking through a parking lot. The examples mentioned above are not the topic of this article. Instead, this article discusses slip and fall accidents that cause severe injury to the fallen person. Furthermore, these accidents happen due to the property owner’s negligence, not the person who was walking in a public or privately owned property.
What responsibilities do the owners have?
Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment for their guests, residents, and workers. These types of cases are the most common premises liability suit filed in the United States. In general, the person who fell had a right or was welcome to be on the property. They then suffer from an accident because the property owner had a lapse in safety, low maintenance on their property, or a clear violation of safety standards. In worst-case scenarios, a slip and fall accident can have catastrophic injuries and even lead to death.
Examples of dangerous situations
Below are some of the everyday things that can lead to an accident.
- The property had faulty drainage, and ice or water was allowed to collect in an unsafe manner.
- The property is not maintained, and garbage, clutter, or items are in areas where people usually walk, causing them to trip.
- Poor utilities such as shaky stairs, unsafe or damaged handrails, and uneven flooring.
At the beginning of this page, we brought up a common slip and fall, perhaps something we have all experienced at one time or another. On the opposite side of that coin are life-altering situations where legal representation is necessary. Remember, about 1 in 5 slip and falls cases result in broken bones or head damage. Every year, billions of medical costs are accrued as a result of these accidents. Call The Ault Firm if you believe you are involved in a premises liability claim for a slip and fall accident. Our West Jordan attorneys can investigate your case and help you recover from financial damages.
