When you hear the term “slip and fall,” it is easy to assume that it is a minor incident. Someone fell, and then they got up. However, slip and fall injuries can be serious – even fatal. According to a report from the National Floor Safety Institute, falls are the leading reason for hospital emergency room visits in the nation, accounting for about 8 million visits a year. They also result in five percent of job-related fatalities for women in the U.S. and about 11 percent for men. Additionally, 85 percent of all worker’s compensation claims are attributed to employees slipping and falling on slick floors.
Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo, in his 2018 State of the City address, noted that the city approved over 1,000 building permits for home renovations and additions and issued 210 commercial construction permits in 2017. With construction comes debris, which provides fertile ground for slip and fall incidents.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Revere, you may be faced with physical pain, missed work, and financial strain. An experienced personal injury attorney at Michael Kelly can help you to pursue the compensation you need in order to make a full recovery. Contact us today to learn more in a free consultation.
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Slip and Fall Accidents: Causes and Legal Ramifications
Slip and fall accidents can occur due to a number of situations, including:
- Wet or oily floors in commercial buildings
- Spilled food or liquids
- Broken steps or handrails
- Uneven surfaces
- Holes in property that can cause one to trip and fall
- Inadequate lighting
- Broken sidewalks
- Icy sidewalks
- Freshly mopped floors.
Slip and falls represent one of the most common types of premises liability claim. Legally, a property owner has a responsibility to keep property safe and free of known hazards that could cause visitors to slip and fall. This responsibility exists with:
- Private property owners, including landlords
- Private business owners
- Public agencies tasked with overseeing community properties, including sidewalks and parks.
In some cases, a company contracted to maintain a property and keep it free of snow and ice may also be liable.
In order to prove liability in a slip and fall case, evidence must establish that the property owner or other responsible party knew of the slip and fall hazard, or should have known of it, and failed to fix the issue or properly post warnings or signage near the hazard so that visitors would know to avoid it.
