Where Do Most Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?

An unexpected fall has the potential to cause serious or even catastrophic injuries. Knowing how to protect yourself can be critical to staying safe as you visit businesses and other people’s residences in Biloxi and elsewhere in Mississippi.

We believe that everyone should have access to information that helps keep them safe. If you spend any amount of time at properties other than your own, knowing which ones pose the greatest threat of a serious accident can be helpful. After reading this blog, we hope you’ll have a greater understanding of where most slip and fall accidents happen.

What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?

In civil law, the term “slip and fall” refers to a specific type of personal injury accident that occurs on someone else’s property. A slip and fall occurs when the surface of a floor is made slippery or slick by a substance that should not be there, such as pooled water, spilled liquids, ice, leftover cleaning solutions, or anything else that compromises the friction between a persons shoe or foot and the surface they are walking on.

In a slip and fall accident, a visitor, shopper, resident, or worker loses balance unexpectedly on a slippery walking surface and falls. These types of accidents may or may not involve any resulting injuries. When they do, however, injuries tend to be severe, as victims have little to no opportunity to brace themselves for the impact of the fall.

Where Most Slip and Fall Accidents Happen

A slip and fall accident can happen virtually anywhere and at any time. Certain places and locations are more likely to have conditions that lead to slips and falls, though. Corban Gunn, Attorney at law has the experience, knowledge, and legal know-how to handle premises liability claims for slip and fall accidents that occur in some of the most common places, including:

• Grocery stores
• Stores, malls, and other retail establishments
• Sidewalks
• Parking lots
• Restaurants
• Nursing homes
• Hospitals and doctor’s offices
• Hotels
• Elevators and escalators
• Stairs

If you were injured while visiting a business, restaurant, hospital, or other person’s home, it is important to speak with an attorney about your legal rights as soon as possible. There is a time limit on premises liability cases, and the clock began ticking the moment that you fell.

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

The causes of slip and fall accidents are wide and varied. What causes someone to slip, trip, and fall in one location might be completely different than in another. Determining what caused you to fall and suffer an injury is important, though, as doing so is a necessary component of a successful premises liability claim.

Some examples of dangerous situations that cause people to slip or trip include:

• Spills
• Melted snow or ice
• Rain tracked inside
• Cleaning chemicals
• Loose or bulging carpets
• Uneven flooring
• Stairs without handrails
• Exposed wiring or extension cords
• Icy walking surfaces
• Cluttered walkways
• Poor lighting
• Insufficient number of non-slip rugs or mats
• Improper footwear

Identifying all factors at play is crucial to the overall success of your injury claim. If possible, take pictures and videos of the accident scene and any conditions that appeared to have contributed to your fall. Speak with eyewitnesses and ask if they would be willing to provide a statement.

Bring any pictures, videos, and witness statements with you when you meet with Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law for your free consultation.

Who Is at Risk for a Slip and Fall?

Virtually anyone who is visiting a property with unsafe walking conditions can be hurt in a slip, trip, and fall accident. However, certain populations face a greater risk of falling than others. Adults over the age of 60 and individuals with vitamin D deficiencies, foot or ankle disorders, vestibular disorders, balance disorders, vision impairments, and those who are taking medications that impact balance face the highest risk of being involved in a fall.

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

Injuries most commonly associated with falls can range from minor to severe, impacting a person for only days or weeks at a time or for a lifetime. Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law is equipped to handle even the most complex of premises liability claims, including those involving some of the most common slip and fall injuries:

• Head injuries
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Chest injuries
• Knee and ankle injuries
• Elbow, wrist, and shoulder injuries
• Arm and leg injuries
• Broken and fractured bones
• Lacerations

Recovery time associated with these and other slip and fall injuries can be lengthy. You may need to be hospitalized, undergo surgery, meet with specialists, go through physical therapy, use assistive devices like crutches, and more.

Although slip and falls are often used for comedic relief in movies, TV shows, and other popular forms of entertainment, the serious nature of these types of accidents cannot be understated. Many people do not (and simply cannot) jump back on their feet after an unexpected fall.

Compensation for Slip and Fall Accidents

If you are unable to work during your recovery, your finances will suffer. Your hospital and medical bills will continue to arrive in your mailbox regardless of your ability to work.

You shouldn’t have to bear the burden of a slip and fall accident on your own.

Compensation for a slip and fall accident can support your physical, financial, and emotional recovery. Compensation typically falls into two categories: one for your financial losses (economic damages) and one for your non-financial losses (non-economic damages). In a premises liability claim, these may cover losses like:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Past, current, and future lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Permanent disability
• Mental anguish and emotional trauma
• Pain and suffering

The exact compensation to which you are entitled is dependent upon the unique factors of your claim, such as the extent and severity of your injuries, your financial losses, and your expected maximum medical improvement (MMI). In a small number of cases, punitive damages might also be called for.

Did a Slip and Fall Alter Your Life? Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law Is Here To Help

Were you injured on another person’s property? Do you believe that property owner negligence may have played a role in your accident? If you were injured, whether it was in one of the places where most slip and fall accidents happen or not, you may be owed compensation for your resulting injuries and damages.

For an opportunity to speak with a premises liability lawyer at no cost, contact Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law. Free consultations are available to Biloxi injury victims and their families.