Slip and fall accidents can take place anywhere an individual is walking, including inside stores and outside on sidewalks or in parking lots. Injured individuals can face serious and permanent life changing injuries ranging from broken bones and shoulder dislocations to spinal cord paralysis and traumatic brain injuries. These injuries frequently result in significant medical expenses for the family and loss of wages due to the injured person’s inability to work.
Slippery Surfaces
Some of the most common slip and fall injuries occur when an individual walks over a slippery surface. Spills at stores, hotels, nursing homes, or restaurants that have not been cleaned up properly fall into this category. Slippery substances left on a floor can create unavoidable safety hazards.
Unremoved snow and ice are major causes of slip and fall injuries. Melting snow that refreezes presents one of the most dangerous conditions for individuals walking on sidewalks or in parking lots. When a responsible party fails to timely and adequately remove snow or ice from their premises, they face potential liability for any slip and fall injuries.
Obstructions
Another type of slip and fall accident involves tripping and falling over an obstruction in the walkway. Poorly maintained stairs, store displays, boxes in store aisles, exposed plugs or extension cords, and debris are common obstructions that can result in slip and fall injuries.
Poor Lighting
When an individual is unable to clearly see the path ahead of them due to faulty lighting conditions, a slip and fall accident is more likely to occur. Inadequate lighting is often an issue in parking lots or on construction sites.
Obtaining Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries
Individuals injured in slip and fall accidents can obtain compensation for their injuries from parties whose negligence contributed to the accident. To hold a party liable for a slip and fall injury, the injured individual must prove that their injuries resulted from the negligence of another party. Courts will consider whether it was foreseeable that a party’s action or inaction resulted in the accident or whether the party knew of the hazard and did not fix the condition.
Potentially liable parties commonly involved in slip and fall accidents include public entities owning public sidewalks and parks, property owners, business owners, maintenance companies, property management companies, and snow removal companies. Courts will also factor in any fault by the injured person under the rules of contributory negligence. Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer is the first step in determining whether compensation may be available for your slip and fall injury.
Towson Personal Injury Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC Assist Slip and Fall Injury Victims
If you were involved in a slip and fall accident, the dedicated Towson personal injury lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Call us today to schedule your free consultation at 443-589-0150 or submit an online inquiry form. With convenient locations in Towson and Hunt Valley, Maryland, we serve clients from the surrounding areas, including Baltimore, Baltimore County, Bel Air, Columbia, Westminster, Essex, Monkton, Sparks, Parkton, Pikesville, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
