Slips and falls are not an uncommon occurrence; according to the National Floor Safety Institute, falls are the top cause of accidental injury in the U.S., accounting for more injuries than car accidents. Over two million people are injured every year from slipping or tripping on a ground-level surface.
But just how much of the responsibility should rest on the shoulders of the property owner? In some cases, the fault could just as easily point to a careless customer. In this post, we’ll discuss the factors that can help an attorney decide if an injured client may have a case for compensation.
How negligent was the company vs. how careless was the customer? It’s easy for someone to disregard signs pointing out a wet floor or to fail to notice a fallen object in the way. However, it’s just as plausible that a company’s actions contributed to a slip-and-fall accident. These possibilities can include:
- Failure to display caution signs for a wet floor or uneven surface.
- Inadequate or missing handrails on stairs or ramps.
- Cluttered or damaged walkways.
- Inadequate cleaning of spills or repairing of damaged surfaces.
- Failure to address snow, ice or potholes.
Attention and common sense can prevail in many ways to help a person avoid a slip-and-fall injury. However, when a business or employee fails to take the proper measures to protect customers on the property, the chance of an accident occurring may be greatly increased.
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