Hazards That Cause Slip-and-Falls Inside and Outside

12th April 2024

To avoid sustaining serious injuries, keep an eye out for common hazards that cause slip-and-falls both indoors and outdoors.

Summary

• Slip-and-fall accidents can inflict severe injuries due to trip and slip hazards.
• These slip-and-fall hazards can exist due to property owner negligence and make them liable for damages.
• You can file a slip-and-fall accident claim to seek compensation for your slip-and-fall injury damages.

Slip-and-fall accidents have the potential to inflict life-changing injuries when property owners are negligent. Businesses like hotels, stores, and restaurants can be host to a wide range of trip or slip hazards that can cause fall accidents when property owners are negligent.

People who have suffered severe injuries after a slip-and-fall accident on someone’s property may be entitled to compensation. Premises liability ensures that property owners can be considered liable in a slip-and-fall accident claim when someone on their property is harmed due to trip-and-fall hazards that should have been addressed.

These trip and fall hazards are dangerously common and can vary considerably. If you or a loved one have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident because of dangerous slip-and-fall hazards then consider contacting Sand Law about your potential personal injury claim.

Our North Dakota slip-and-fall accident lawyers are experienced in matters of premises liability and have a long record of success in helping clients harmed this way. To contact Sand Law either call our office at (701)394-4744 or fill out a form on our contact page.

Slip-and-Fall Causes

Slip-and-fall hazards can occur almost anywhere inside or outside. A variety of businesses and other sites can create slip-and-fall hazards by failing to maintain the property or by ignoring signs of a clear danger. The following are the most common hazards that cause slip-and-falls.

Dangerous Flooring and Walking Surfaces

The ground we walk on can often be taken for granted as stable and free of hazards until we suddenly slip and fall. Many slip-and-fall hazards fall under the category of flooring and surface hazards that either cause trips due to changes in surface friction, uniformity, or stability. Some common examples of these hazards include:

• Uneven flooring
• Sudden Changes in floor elevation
• Spills
• Ice or frozen slush
• Loose bulges in rugs or mats
• Loose tiles or floorboards
• Potholes
• Cracked or otherwise damaged flooring

Obstructions and Tripping Risks

Common trip and fall hazards can also consist of obstacles on top of walking surfaces. The following are some of the most common examples of hazards that cause slip-and-falls.

• Debris and clutter
• Loose wiring
• Open drawers or small doors
• Poor lighting
• Lack of safety railings

Slip-and-Fall Injuries

When hazards that cause slip-and-falls are present somewhere like a store, place of employment, or even private residence, people can end up getting severely hurt.

In most cases, people fall and walk away with just a bruise or small cut that can heal relatively quickly without the need to seek medical attention. In some cases, people can fall down in a way where the impact can cause serious slip-and-fall injuries with lasting consequences.

When tripping or slipping and falling, people can land on their head or other vulnerable parts of the body, on hazardous objects and materials, or fall with intense force or a long distance leading to severe injury. Others may have conditions such as old age or brittle bones that make them especially vulnerable should they fall.

The following are some of the most common slip-and-fall injuries in lawsuits.

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Severe lacerations
• Sprains and strains

Premises Liability and Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Premises liability is a legal concept that dictates a property owner’s responsibility to ensure that conditions on their property are reasonably safe for those they invite or permit onto the premises. Negligence in this duty that leads to a slip-and-fall accident can be grounds to sue the property owner thanks to premises liability.

Slip-and-fall lawsuits rely on premises liability to seek fair compensation for people harmed on another’s property due to dangerous conditions that existed because of property owner negligence. Simply being harmed on someone’s property is not enough.

You need to have suffered a severe injury, the injury needs to have been caused by hazardous conditions on the property, and those conditions have to exist due to a failure on the property owner’s part to address the clearly dangerous or potentially dangerous condition within a reasonable time.

If your actions contributed to the slip-and-fall accident that caused your injuries, you may be partially liable for your damages under North Dakota’s comparative negligence system. Your personal injury attorney can assist you in determining the property owner’s share of the fault and recovering fair compensation.

Invitees, Licensees, and Trespassers

Premises liability applies to invitees and licensees but not trespassers on the property. Invitees have implied permission to be on a property for commercial reasons. Licensees have implied permission to enter a property for non-business purposes.

Invitees often consist of people like shoppers and other consumers while licensees are often on a property for social reasons like a party or as a guest. Trespassers do not have any permission to be on a property and are excluded from premises liability.

Reach Out to the North Dakota Personal Injury Lawyers of Sand Law About Your Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit

If you or a loved one were harmed in a slip-and-fall caused by hazardous conditions at a business, residence, or other property you believe is responsible then contact Sand Law about your potential slip-and-fall accident claim. The assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney can play a critical role in your pursuit of a fair settlement.

With the help of a slip-and-fall lawyer, you can rest easy knowing you will have the backing of a proven advocate for your rights and someone personally invested in the outcome of your claim. To contact Sand Law,  call us at (701)394-4744 or fill out a form on our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I file a slip-and-fall claim?

A slip-and-fall claim should be filed if you have suffered a severe injury due to a slip-and-fall caused by a hazard that should and could have been prevented by the property owner.

The injury needs to be severe enough to justify the time and effort put into a claim by you and your personal injury lawyer. The conditions that caused the slip-and-fall accident need to have been preventable by the property owner, too. You cannot sue because of a freak accident or sudden spill you slip on.

You should file a slip-and-fall claim within six years of the date you were injured. After this statute of limitations window of time, you lose your ability to sue.

What damages can I claim in my slip-and-fall case?

Slip-and-fall accident claims can get you compensation for the losses, otherwise known as compensatory damages, you accrue as a result of your slip-and-fall injuries. These damages can include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Lost earning potential
• Property damage

How much is a North Dakota slip-and-fall lawyer?

Personal injury lawyers work for a contingency fee that is taken out of the money they get for you in a settlement or court award. This contingent fee is usually 33% of the money obtained through your claim. However, this can vary depending on the case and lawyer.

If your North Dakota slip-and-fall accident lawyer fails to win your case then you owe them nothing. Their fee is based on a percentage of the money they recover for you.