Property owners and managers owe visitors a duty of care to keep the property safe from hazards that may cause someone to trip or slip and fall. Slip and fall accidents can occur on any property in Reynoldsburg or throughout Ohio, at any time and for a number of reasons.
The following are:
- some common types of slip and fall accidents;
- the types of injuries that may occur; and
- the damages to which you may be entitled through a personal injury claim.
Common Types of Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip and fall or trip and fall accident may be caused by many factors, but the one thing that many of these accidents have in common is that the property owner was careless in keeping the property safe for guests. Walkways are a common place where a trip or slip and fall accident occur.
An individual can slip or trip on:
- cracked concrete;
- uneven pavement; and
- slippery conditions.
Property owners should place barriers around hazards or signs cautioning walkers that the area is slippery or hazardous. Failure to warn or restrict access to a dangerous walkway may result in accidental injuries and liability for an injury claim.
Ladders may also pose a risk if they are in disrepair or settled on an infirm surface. A user could fall and become injured by:
- slippery ladder rungs;
- weak materials; and
- improperly stabilized ladders.
This also applies to scaffolding, staircases and escalators which may all cause a fall from a height when the structure is unsafe. Spills and wet weather can create a slipping hazard on any type of surface.
Property owners should be pre-emptive in keeping their floors and walking areas clear of:
- snow;
- ice; and
- rain puddles.
Warning signs should be posted to alert visitors of any weather-related hazards, such as flooded parking lots. Potholes and other hazards that result in a sudden drop in a walking surface may also cause a person to trip and fall. Unsecured moving objects such as items falling off a grocery store shelf may also create a sudden hazard that causes a patron to trip and fall.
Common Injuries from a Slip and Fall Accident
Slip and fall accidents typically result in injuries to the soft tissues, bones, and head. Some possible injuries include:
- broken bones;
- sprains and strains;
- bruising;
- torn tendons or ligaments;
- spinal injuries;
- slipped or herniated discs; and
- concussions.
Your Right to Recovering Damages from a Slip and Fall Injury
If you are lawfully on the property of another person or party and are injured because of a hazard that should have been identified and remedied or about which the owner should have warned visitors, you may be entitled to damages through a personal injury claim.
You must establish that the property owner was negligent – knew of a hazard or should have known of it but failed to correct it – and that the slip or trip and fall is what led to your injuries or other damages like property damages (broken laptop that was dropped in the fall, for example).
When you suffer an accident and injury on another’s property, you probably have questions about your right to seek compensation. Attorney David Bressman is here to answer Reynoldsburg slip and fall victims’ questions – contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation: 877-538-1116.