A slip and fall accident can occur anywhere. From the local grocery store at the corner to a stairway in your friend’s house. When it happens, the repercussions can be life-altering and far-reaching. You could break a bone or suffer injuries to the head, neck, spinal cord, or back. This is sad considering most slip and fall accidents are avoidable.
Slip and falls account for up to 15 percent of all accidental deaths every year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This is why slip and fall prevention is a critical skill that everyone should acquire.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, a Union City Personal Injury Attorney can help you get compensation for your losses.
What Causes Slip and Falls?
Technically, slip and fall accidents occur due to a loss of traction between the floor and your shoe. It could also be the result of tripping over an obstacle. Everyday situations that could lead to a slip and fall accident include:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Missing stairs, tiles, or pavement bricks
- Missing handrails
- Poor lighting
- Uneven flooring
- Loose carpeting, flooring, or mats
- Unthreaded shoes
- Snow, mud, sleet, ice, or rainwater
- Debris and clutter on the floor
Prevention Tips
Slip and fall prevention generally involves removing the mentioned risk factors. Home and store owners can increase safety on their premises by doing the following:
Cleaning Wet or Slippery Surfaces
Wet and slippery floors are a top cause of slip and fall in the country. A floor could be wet due to spilled foods, recent mopping, ice, mud, or water. As such, you can remedy wet and slippery floors by:
- Shoveling snow, ice, and sleet from your parking lot
- Cleaning any mud or rainwater tracked in by visitors promptly
- Using anti-skid paint or adhesive striping in accident-prone areas
- Cleaning food and drink spills immediately
- Using mats or area rugs on slippery floors
- Posting warning signs after mopping or waxing a floor
Maintaining Proper Lighting
Light allows you to find your footing and avoid any slipping hazards if they are present. This is why it is crucial to install proper lighting on staircases, walkways, and parking lots. If a walkway is poorly lit, you should keep the floor even and clutter-free. It is also vital that you repair broken lights promptly.
Clear All Obstacles from Walkways
Unsuspecting visitors can trip over obstacles on the floor. Common objects that can cause such accidents include heavy boxes, toys, pet beds, open drawers, and loose cables. When cleaning your house or store, clear all obstacles from walkways and isles. Tape any loose wiring to the walls or floorboards.
Footwear
- Always wear footwear with proper treading. This could help improve your traction on slippery floors.
Contact a Union City Personal Injury Attorney
The repercussions of a slip and fall accident can be beyond devastating. You might face physical pain, emotional distress, accumulating medical bills, and missed workdays. Fortunately, slip and fall prevention is possible.
At Anthony Carbone Law, we understand that some property owners can be negligent despite these prevention tips. This is why we offer legal representation to slip and fall victims.
Have you sustained an injury in a slip and fall through no fault of your own? Contact us today to talk to a knowledgeable Union City Personal Injury Attorney.
References
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/falls.html
https://www.consumernotice.org/personal-injury/slips-trips-and-falls/