Who is Liable in a Slip and Fall Case?

Slips and falls are no joke. These accidents can result in hospital visits, serious injuries, and even death. In 2022, more than 8.5 million people were treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by falls.

There are many cases in which slips and falls are caused by a person’s own clumsiness. However, there are plenty of situations in which a third party’s negligence applies.

In slip and fall cases, property owners and companies may be held liable for a victim’s injuries. These are considered premises liability claims. This means that the owner or occupier of the property where you fell will likely be liable for your damages. However, you will need to have evidence to support your claim that they acted negligently. This evidence includes:

• Your presence on the property was foreseeable.
• The property owner (or another liable party) knew about a hazard but was negligent in failing to deal with it.
• Their negligence caused your fall and the resulting injuries.

Possible Liable Parties 

In general, the party who had the ability to prevent your injury will be the one who is liable in a premises liability case. It is important to hire a lawyer to handle your case, as these claims can be tricky. A lawyer can review the facts of your case and narrow down the list of possible liable parties.

 One or more parties could be liable for a slip and fall accident. Some possible liable parties include:

• Property owner. Commercial property owners (such as shopping malls and grocery stores) are often liable if they fail to maintain safe conditions. Residential property owners (such as landlords or homeowners) may be responsible if the fall happened due to hazards like icy sidewalks or broken steps.
• Business operators or tenants. If a business leases space, the tenant, not the property owner, may be responsible for maintaining the interior and potentially liable for injuries occurring there.
• Property management companies. These companies are often hired to handle upkeep. If they fail to maintain safe conditions, like not fixing lighting or cleaning up spills, they could be held liable.
• Maintenance or cleaning contractors. If an outside company was hired to clean or repair an area (like mopping a floor without placing wet floor signs), that contractor may bear liability.
• Government entities. If the slip and fall occurred on public property, like a sidewalk, park, or government building, then a city, county, or state agency might be responsible. However, special rules and shorter deadlines apply in these situations.

Contact Us Today

Slips and falls are often dangerous. Because they can lead to catastrophic injuries, you need to ensure you get legal help to help you recover compensation.

Did negligence apply in your slip and fall case? If so, contact a Mt. Juliet slip & fall lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC can help. We can help you identify all potential avenues to compensation and accurately calculate the settlement you deserve. Fill out the online form or call (615) 622-6060 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/slips-trips-and-falls/slips-trips-and-falls-home?srsltid=AfmBOorge03SezYXEhHpKEJIdP7IEC5AY3k4e7hRal0I9tatDj5GXc7J