When a Slip & Fall Isn’t Just an Accident: Hidden Property Hazards That Can Lead to Serious Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere—a grocery store, restaurant, apartment complex, hotel, parking lot, or office building. While some falls are simply accidents, others may happen because a property owner failed to identify or correct a dangerous condition.
At Kelleher Law, we help injured individuals understand their rights after a slip and fall accident and determine whether negligence may have contributed to their injuries.
The Hazard Isn’t Always Obvious
When people think about slip and fall accidents, they often picture a wet floor. However, dangerous property conditions can take many forms, and some may be difficult to notice until it is too late.
Potential hazards may include:
- Uneven or cracked sidewalks
- Loose flooring, rugs, or carpeting
- Poorly maintained stairs or handrails
- Inadequate lighting in stairwells or parking areas
- Spilled liquids or recently mopped floors
- Cluttered or obstructed walkways
- Potholes or damaged pavement
- Unexpected changes in floor height
- Leaking refrigerators, pipes, or air-conditioning systems
Property owners and businesses generally have a responsibility to maintain reasonably safe premises for visitors. When a dangerous condition is known-or reasonably should have been discovered-and nothing is done to address it, an injured person may have grounds to pursue a premises liability claim.
Why Slip & Fall Injuries Can Be More Serious Than They Seem
A fall that happens in seconds can result in injuries that affect someone for weeks, months, or even longer. Depending on how a person lands and the surface involved, injuries may include broken bones, back and neck injuries, head injuries, torn ligaments, shoulder injuries, and other forms of trauma.
Some injuries may also become more noticeable in the hours or days following the accident. Seeking appropriate medical attention can be important for both your health and documenting injuries associated with the fall.
Evidence Can Disappear Quickly
One of the biggest challenges in a slip and fall case is preserving evidence of the dangerous condition.
A spill may be cleaned. A broken step may be repaired. Surveillance footage may eventually be overwritten. Employees and witnesses may forget important details.
When possible, photographs or video of the area, witness information, incident reports, medical records, and other documentation can help establish what happened and why.
Who May Be Responsible?
Determining responsibility for a slip and fall accident isn’t always straightforward. Depending on the circumstances, potential responsible parties could include a property owner, business operator, landlord, property management company, maintenance contractor, or another party responsible for maintaining the premises.
An attorney can investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and determine whether a property owner or other party failed to take reasonable steps to address a dangerous condition.
Injured in a Slip & Fall? Kelleher Law Is Here to Help
If you were injured in a slip and fall because of an unsafe property condition, you may have questions about medical expenses, lost income, insurance companies, and your legal options.
Kelleher Law can review the circumstances of your accident, help determine whether negligence played a role, and explain the options available to you.
Serving Victims in Florida and Georgia
At Kelleher Law, we proudly represent victims in Naples, Fort Myers, and throughout Southwest Florida, as well as Roswell and the greater Atlanta area in Georgia.
