5 Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are far more dangerous than their name implies. When you think about slipping, you probably think more about the embarrassment involved than you do about actually being injured in the process. The impact of slipping and falling, however, can be extremely dangerous and can lead to serious, debilitating injuries. If someone else’s negligence caused you to be injured in a slip and fall accident, it’s time to consult with an experienced Redding personal injury attorney.
Here are some of the most common causes of serious, injury-causing slip and fall accidents.
Uneven Walking Surfaces
When you head out to a store, restaurant, or other business, the last thing you’re likely to be thinking about is your safety. You have the reasonable expectation that the businesses you frequent are kept in a reasonably safe condition and are safe for you to enter. The fact is, however, that when businesses don’t adequately maintain their parking lots, sidewalks, and indoor walkways, it can lead to serious tripping and slipping hazards, including:
- Sidewalks and parking lots made slippery by wet, icy weather and/or debris
- Sidewalks and parking lots with deteriorating, cracked, slippery, uneven, buckling, or otherwise dangerous walking surfaces
- Interior walkways that are uneven or have frayed, slippery, cracked, or otherwise dangerous floor coverings
When walkways (whether outside or inside) are poorly maintained, dangerous slip and fall accidents are far more likely to occur.
Dangerous Stairwells
When stairwells are poorly designed, poorly lit, poorly constructed, or poorly maintained, they can lead to especially dangerous slip and fall accidents. When using stairs, you are elevated off of the ground, which makes the impact of any slip and fall accident that much more serious. Further, your fall is interrupted by connecting with the stairs below you, which increases the danger involved.
Bad Weather
We all know that bad weather can lead to poor walking conditions, but businesses, homeowners, and municipalities are responsible for taking reasonable precautions to keep sidewalks and other walkways clear of the slippery effects of bad weather. This includes shoveling snow and ice, keeping walkways clear of debris, and using deicing agents. While no one can control the weather, precautions can and should be taken to help mitigate its dangerous effects on public walkways.
Inadequate Safety Training on the Job
Serious slip and fall accidents often happen on the job. This is especially true in dangerous occupations like construction work. Slip and fall accidents on construction sights are often the result of inadequate safety training for employees. Because construction workers often perform their work above the ground on scaffolding, ladders, and heavy equipment, slip and fall accidents are that much more dangerous. Construction companies that fail to provide their employees with sufficient safety training leave their employees far more vulnerable to dangerous slip and fall accidents.
Nursing Home Accidents
The residents of nursing homes are often frail and unsteady, and they represent our most vulnerable citizens. As such, nursing homes are responsible for maintaining safe living environments for their residents and for providing adequate care. The fact is, however, that slip and fall accidents are among the most common and dangerous nursing home accidents. Further, when a nursing home resident has even a relatively minor slip and fall accident, the resulting injury is more likely to be serious than if the same fall happened to a person who did not need long-term care.
Injuries Common to Slip and Falls
Every slip and fall accident is unique, but there are certain kinds of injuries that occur more often than others. Some of these include:
- Broken Bones – Broken bones are extremely painful injuries that are often slow to heal. When a broken bone heals improperly, it can lead to chronic pain, disfigurement, and even permanent disability.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are extremely serious injuries that are most often caused by a significant blow or impact to the head. The results of TBIs are not only often severe but are also highly unpredictable. TBIs are associated with significant physical, financial, and emotional damages.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries can occur anywhere on the spinal cord and can lead to chronic pain and a diminished range of motion. A severe spinal cord injury can leave the victim permanently paralyzed below the site of the injury.
Contact an Experienced Redding, California, Personal Injury Attorney Today
Slip and fall accidents are dangerous accidents. If someone else’s negligence leaves you injured in a slip and fall accident, the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Maire & Deedon in Redding, California, are here to help and are committed to aggressively advocating for the compensation to which you are entitled. Our formidable legal team is here to help, so please contact or call us at 530-246-6050 today.