Slip and Fall: Causes and Injuries

A slip and fall accident occurs when an unsuspecting person suddenly slips, usually because of something slippery on the floor, falls down, and possibly injures himself. Certain damages are associated with this kind of accidents, including hospital bills, medication and rehabilitation costs, and lost wages for losing time at work.
Someone has to be accountable for the damages, right? According to the website of this Milwaukee personal injury attorney, those who have been hurt because of slip and fall accidents may have legal options.
This is because of the body of law known as premises liability, wherein property owners can be held liable for the accidents and injuries that have happened in their premises, especially if these are the result of their negligence or recklessness.

Causes

For a slip and fall case to be strong, it usually has to pass certain factors, such as the following:

• The property owner has caused the dangerous condition in the area
• The property owner has failed to see or fix the condition, even though a reasonable amount of time has already passed
• The unfixed condition has caused an accident and has harmed a person in the area

The most important aspect is negligence or recklessness on the side of the property owner. But it doesn’t mean that those in the property can do whatever they want. They should also be careful of slip and fall hazards themselves, such as the following:

• Defective facilities, especially those that jolt, like escalators and elevators
• Low-traction carpets and rugs
• Slipping hazards in stairs, like debris and trash
• Tripping hazards, such as loose wires and uneven surfaces like potholes
• Water-based products on the floor, such as ice, snow, and water buildup, air conditioner leaks, unattended spilled drinks, and floor wax

Injuries

The most common injured body parts are the heads and arms. The head is a vulnerable body part because it tends to hit the floor or hit a hard object on the way down. The arm is vulnerable because of the tendency of many to extend it during falls to avoid damage on other body parts.
Other vulnerable body parts include the neck, shoulder, back, hip, leg, and ankle. On the worst cases, the slip and fall accident involve enough force to even break these parts.