Slip and fall accidents are quite common as most of us have fallen at some point in our life. Often these falls may lead to minor injuries but can also lead to some serious and life altering and even life-threatening injuries.
Usually most falls are blamed on a person’s own carelessness, or not paying attention, but a fall may also be a result of some serious issues or defects property for which someone else is responsible.
If a person falls and is injured on property that is not their own, then the owner of the property may or may not be held liable for the fall.
If you have been injured from a fall on someone else’s property, then this article will help you know whether you have a valid slip and fall claim or not.
Was there an unsafe condition on the property?
A property owner can be held liable for a fall only if the unsafe condition on his or her property is the main reason behind the fall. You must also note that simply slipping or stumbling on someone else’s property may not be enough reason to hold the owner liable. There needs to be a pre-existing unsafe condition on the property in order to effectively hold the owner responsible.
The following are some common examples of unsafe conditions:
- Debris
- Potholes
- Wet or slippery floor
- Badly damaged sidewalk
- Accumulation of snow and ice
The property owner must have caused the unsafe condition or allowed it to persist. Property owners are not required by law to make their property perfectly safe, but they must make it “reasonably safe.”
Was the property owner aware of the issue?
The property owner can be held responsible for an injury caused by an unsafe condition only if he was aware of the issue.
The law also allows property owners a reasonable amount of time to discover unsafe conditions. So, if an unsafe condition develops such as a person spilling some liquid accidently on the floor and another person slips and falls immediately, then the property owner will not be held responsible for injuries as he didn’t have enough time to notice or remove the dangerous condition.
Did the owner post a warning?
A property owner must post a warning sign once they have knowledge of the safety issue if he or she can’t immediately remedy the problem.
Your Responsibility
Property owners are not responsible for any injuries caused by slip and fall accidents if the unsafe condition was clearly evident and obvious.
So, your slip and fall claim may turn out to be invalid if you fail to exercise caution.
Conclusion
It’s a good idea to consult with an experienced Slip and Fall attorney before filing your claim as he will be able to advise you how to proceed further after studying all the facts.
SP Justice is composed of competent and highly-experienced St. Petersburg Slip and Fall Attorneys and have helped hundreds of victims of slip and fall accidents in the past. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation.