COMMON SLIP-AND-FALL HAZARDS
Hospital statistics show that 20-30 percent of people involved in slip-and-fall accidents suffer moderate to severe injuries. Falls most commonly cause broken bones, but they can also cause catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
Property owners should take the time to remove slip, trip, and fall hazards.
Common types of falls and their locations include, but are not limited to:
- Slippery floors due to wetness from spills or tracked in rain, mud, snow, sleet, etc., or naturally slick surfaces like stone or glass and lack adequate monitoring or warnings;
- Cluttered hallways, aisles, sidewalks, and other walkways;
- Staircases and ramps, including stairways with broken concrete, broke or loose stair treads, ripped carpeting, or lose or damaged handrails;
- Uneven surfaces, such as torn or bunched carpet, uneven bricks or paving stones, loose tiles, potholes, etc.;
- Unstable surfaces, such as floors with loose or broken tiles, chipped wood floorboards, area rugs, etc.;
- Poorly lit areas;
- Ladders and scaffolding which are old, defective, or without safety locking mechanisms.
Among the places these hazards are likely to be found are:
- Retails stores, such as grocery stores, department stores, convenience stores, boutiques, strip shopping centers, malls, etc.;
- Sidewalks and parking lots;
- Restaurants;
- Theaters;
- Stadiums and arenas;
- Parks, including amusement parks;
- Nursing homes and retirement homes;
- Business offices;
- Construction sites;
- Private homes.
So be careful and watch your surroundings. If you have suffered one of these slip-and-fall accidents, call us at (305)661-7000 for a consultation and strategy session.
