Property owners and property managers have a legal responsibility to keep their property in a reasonably safe condition. They cannot prevent every single injury from occurring, but they need to ensure that there are no unreasonable hazards on the property. If there is a hazardous condition, such as a wet floor, they need to provide a warning to visitors so that they can avoid the dangerous area. 

Failure to rectify a hazard on the property or warn visitors about the hazard can be considered negligence. If a property owner’s failure to maintain a safe property causes somebody injury, the property owner may be liable for damages. 

The liable party in your slip and fall case may be a retail store, restaurant, or another business. It could also be the owner of the property on which the accident happened or the party leasing the property. A lawyer from our network can examine the situation and determine who is legally responsible.

Hazardous Situations That Can Lead to a Slip and Fall Accident

Something as seemingly innocuous as a spilled drink can cause a slip and fall accident in which somebody is seriously hurt. Countless issues can lead to a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. However, some of the most common hazards that cause fall accidents include:

• Slippery floors 
• Parking lot issues such as potholes or uneven pavement 
• Broken concrete on walkways and sidewalks 
• Loose electrical cords
• Bunched-up floor rugs
• Broken floor tile
• Dangerous staircases, such as staircases with missing or broken handrails
• Objects or clutter in aisles or hallways

Your slip and fall lawyer will look for evidence of the hazardous situation and demonstrate how it caused your injury. In many premises liability cases, the foreseeability of an accident is a huge part of the case. For example, suppose a store owner knows that other customers have already tripped on a loose electrical cord, and they still do nothing to fix the situation. In that case, they may be liable for any injuries caused by the loose cord.