Slips and falls are one of the most common serious injuries that occur in public places. In 2022, slips and falls caused more than 8.5 million people to visit ERs across the country. Slips and falls are also the second most common cause of unintentional deaths. When a slip and fall is caused by the negligence of a business owner, you may be able to file a claim to receive compensation for your damages and medical expenses. Learn more about the common causes of slips and falls from our Waterbury area lawyers in Connecticut below.
Wet Floors
Slick surfaces in high-traffic areas (like entryways and hallways) are a common cause of slip and fall accidents. Patrons can track in water from rain, sleet, or melting snow, increasing the chances of accidents if proper precautions aren’t taken. Business owners and employees are responsible for cleaning up spills and repairing leaks that cause slick surfaces in a reasonable timeframe. Employees should also notify patrons of the floor conditions with wet floor signs, cones, or other ways to indicate the hazard. While there’s no official Connecticut law that requires business owners to place wet floor signs around hazards, this is a common business practice and part of many commercial companies’ standard operating procedures.
Damaged Surfaces
Business owners have a duty to maintain their property and keep it free of hazards that may cause injuries. Failing to maintain property causes many hazards that can cause slip and fall injuries. Damaged surfaces include indoor and outdoor hazards like cracked pavement, buckling floors, potholes, road debris, and chipped curbs. Many slips and falls caused by damaged surfaces occur in parking lots. That’s why it’s important for business owners to regularly inspect their property and ensure it is safe for all visitors, employees, and vendors.
Broken or Missing Handrails
Visitors with mobility or balance issues face an increased risk of falls and injuries, particularly on stairs or uneven ground. Commercial properties must install handrails on both sides of ramps and stairs to comply with ADA guidelines. Businesses that fail to provide necessary handrails could be held liable for resulting injuries.
Improper Storage Techniques
Ineffective storage techniques may be hazardous to business patrons. Business storage should be kept out of high-traffic areas (including bathroom hallways) to prevent damage or falling debris due to cluttered walkways. Improper storage can cause accidents as well as impede traffic flow in case of an emergency, causing further injuries.
Low Lighting
Sufficient visibility is crucial when navigating commercial properties. If you are injured due to inadequate, unaddressed, or deliberately dim lighting, you might have grounds to file a premises liability claim with our Waterbury, CT area lawyers. Poor lighting often occurs in transition areas, such as parking lots, stairways, and hallways, during transition times, such as at dawn or dusk.
When is a Business Owner Responsible for Slip and Fall Accidents?
To prove that the business owner was negligent in maintaining their business and caused your injuries, you’ll need to prove that the business had a duty to care for you (for example, you visited the business during normal business hours). Business owners are responsible for providing specific levels of care based on whether you are an invitee, licensee, or trespasser. Business owners must exhibit the highest level of care to invitees, who are typically customers, clients, and patrons of the business. Licensees, on the other hand, are typically social guests who may gather outside a business but aren’t direct patrons of the store. Business owners have the least duty of care to trespassers, who are using the business property outside of its intended purpose and during non-operational hours.
Filing a Claim After a Slip and Fall Accident
You can’t sue a business owner every time you trip and fall. For a premises liability claim for a slip and fall accident to be valid, several factors must have contributed to the accident. First, you’ll need to show that the business had a duty to care for you (depending on whether you were an invitee, licensee, or trespasser) and that they neglected to provide proper care. Next, you must show that the business’s negligent actions were the primary cause of your injury and that these injuries caused you significant harm. You and your Waterbury, CT area lawyers must demonstrate that the business’s actions were the major factor in causing your injuries. In addition, you’ll need to prove that the business knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to prevent accidents from occurring. Finally, remember you have two years from the accident date to file your claim.
Moore, O’Brien & Foti: Waterbury, CT Area Lawyers
You have two years after the accident date to file your claim after a slip and fall accident. Our Waterbury, CT lawyers at Moore, O’Brien & Foti will help investigate the circumstances of your case and help you receive the compensation you’re entitled to for your expenses and injuries related to the incident. If you’ve been injured due to a slip and fall at a business that was caused by negligence in New Haven County, call our office today at 203-586-0022 for a free consultation to discuss your case.