Slips and falls can cause serious injuries, including broken bones, soft tissue injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Many slip and fall accidents are avoidable and could have been prevented if the property owner had acted more carefully. Aronberg, Kouser, Snyder & Lindemann, P.A. share some of the most common causes of slips and falls.
Wet Floors
Floors can get wet from melted ice, snow, or rain. Residential property owners are responsible for clearing snow after a snowfall and cleaning up sidewalks near their homes, per Cherry Hill’s local ordinance. Commercial property owners must be vigilant in removing snow, too, and are also responsible for maintaining trees on their property, which can create trip hazards after a storm.
Floors can also get wet when it’s raining. People enter the building, tracking in rain and wet leaves. Poorly maintained buildings can leak and cause water buildups that visitors are unaware of.
Slippery Floors
Floors can also be slippery due to unnatural conditions, such as:
- Recently polished floors
- Crushed food
- Spills
Loose Mats
Some mats do not grip well with the surface underneath, creating a tripping hazard for customers and property visitors. Some flooring materials need to be secured to the surface, and when they are not, they can cause slip hazards.
Uneven Surfaces
Cracked sidewalks, potholes, uneven paving, broken slabs, and unlevel flooring can create tripping hazards. These hazards present when property owners fail to regularly inspect and repair surfaces in high-traffic areas or place warning signs near them.
Obstructed Walkways
Visitors can trip when things block the aisleways they are traversing. They can trip over loose materials or goods that are out of place.
Exposed Cable Wires
Exposed lighting, internet, and cable wires can create a dangerous tripping hazard for unsuspecting visitors.
Insufficient Lighting
Poor lighting can contribute to slip and fall accidents because visitors cannot avoid hazards if they cannot see them. Visitors may slip and fall down stairwells, in hallways, outside, parking lots, and other locations due to inadequate lighting.
Inadequate Safety Measures
Some slip and fall accidents happen because of inadequate safety measures, such as loose or missing handrails, broken steps, lack of proper signage, or other issues. Property owners may violate building codes or workplace safety protocols, contributing to serious accidents.
Poor Housekeeping
Another cause of slip-and-fall accidents is poor housekeeping. A residential or commercial property owner may fail to upkeep the property, allowing trash or debris to accumulate or other dangerous conditions to arise that pose a slip or trip hazard.
Contact an Experienced Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
New Jersey property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties to prevent injuries to visitors. When they fail to uphold this responsibility and you are injured as a result, you may have the right to file a premises liability claim and seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages. An experienced Cherry Hill slip and fall lawyer can help you demand it.
Contact Aronberg, Kouser, Snyder & Lindemann, P.A. for a free case review.
