The truth is you could slip and fall just about anywhere. Some of the most common locations for slip and fall accidents causing serious injury include:
- Retail stores, grocery stores, and restaurants. Stores and restaurants work hard to keep their locations clean—and that can lead to slippery conditions after they have, for example, mopped the floor. You could also slip and fall before a cleanup crew arrives to mop up something that has fallen off a shelf or table on to the floor.
- Escalators and elevators. Uneven surfaces, wet surfaces (from recent cleaning or other people’s footwear), or a lack of handrails can lead to slip and fall accidents.
- Hotels, homes, and apartment complexes. There can be any number of slip and fall risks in residential settings ranging from wetness on floor surfaces to loose rugs or uneven floors. We should note that if you rent, your landlord may be liable in some instances for slip and fall accidents that occur in your own living space.
- Sports facilities and theaters. Sporting events and movie theaters often have spills and other refuse left on their floors which can lead to falls. As with many of the places noted above, cleaning efforts can also lead to slippery conditions.
- Medical facilities, including doctors’ offices and hospitals. Any place devoted to health care is going to be regularly and repeatedly cleaned, which may lead to slick surfaces.
- Parks and other public settings. Arizona law does allow someone who has fallen in a public space to seek damages, though the rules for doing so are strict.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you slip and fall, the very first thing you should do is get the medical attention you may require. Regardless of who was at fault for your fall, you do not want to put your health on the backburner.
After your immediate medical needs have been taken care of, report your injury to the property owner or caretaker. For example, if you fell in the grocery store, you would need to inform the store manager. If you are asked to fill out an incident report, request a copy for your records.
The next step is to speak with an attorney with expertise in slip and fall litigation. Your lawyer will be able to investigate the accident in order to determine whether you have a legitimate negligence claim.
In order for a person or organization to be held liable for your accident, you will need to demonstrate that the defendant had a duty to protect you from the situation that led to the accident—and that they breached that duty. Next, you must show that any injury you sustained was a result of the breach of duty. And, of course, you must prove that you did, in fact, suffer an injury. (This is another reason why getting immediate medical attention is a good idea.)
What You Might Recover in Your Case
If you are hurt in a slip and fall accident due to a breach of safety on someone else’s property, the owner of that property may be responsible for covering your medical expenses. In addition, they may be held responsible for covering lost wages, costs associated with long-term care, and losses related to your lost employability if you’ve suffered a disabling injury that will prevent you from returning to work. In order to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, you will need the help of an experienced attorney.
Contact Our Flagstaff Slip and Fall Attorneys Today
If you have fallen and sustained an injury on someone else’s property, you need to be sure you have a dedicated advocate on your side. Slip and fall accidents can result in serious head injuries, broken bones, and more. We will help you get the compensation to which you are entitled. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, contacting Griffen & Stevens can help you start the process of getting on your feet again.
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