Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common cause of injuries every year. Everybody has slipped and fallen, at one time or another. Most of the time the injury is nothing more than a bruised sense of pride and some embarrassment. However, slip and fall accidents can occasionally cause a variety of serious injuries. Slip and fall accidents actually account for more than 8 million emergency room visits each year according to the National Floor Safety Institute. Often times the property owner can held financially responsible if negligence on his/her part can be shown.

Restaurants are probably the most common location, outside of the home, for slip and fall accidents. There are a variety of reasons that contribute to the hazardous conditions found in restaurants. First, restaurants are filled with people carrying food and beverages. Spills are a constant danger and occurrence. Secondly, many restaurants are run on a very tight budget that does not allow for proper repairs and maintenance to occur. These factors, often times come together to form a hazardous conditions that make a slip and fall accident likely.

How Can a Slip and Fall Occur

Slip and fall accidents can occur in a variety of ways. Many involve negligent conditions created or ignored by the property owner, including:

1. Slippery floors;
2. Rips or tears in carpeting;
3. Objects left in walking paths;
4. Inadequate lighting;
5. Uneven flooring;
6. Steps which are not consistently spaced;
7. Potholes;
8. Broken or cracked concrete;
9. Liquids left on the floor;
10. Food products on the floor usually vegetable or fruit which degrade and become slippery; and
11. Poorly executed seams in flooring.

Property owners have a duty to provide their customers or guests with reasonably safe conditions when they are using the property. When they fail to do so and someone is injured the property owner should be held financially responsible for the damages.

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

Adults over the age of 65 are the most at risk group for slip and falls. About 15,000 adults over the age of 65 die as a result of a slip and fall each year. This number has steadily been rising as our population ages. Usually, however, the injuries suffered are not fatal, but they can be quite debilitating and life altering. Some of the more common injuries that are seen in slip and fall accidents include:

1. Bruises and lacerations;
2. Sprains and torn ligaments especially in the knee;
3. Fractured bones, especially hips in the elderly;
4. Back and spine injuries; and
5. Traumatic brain injuries.

Contact The Law Offices of Bobby Jones

Have you or a loved one been injured in a slip and fall accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney at Jones Law Group today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her personal contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident which you feel was avoidable, should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.

Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Pete, FL 33707

References:

[1] http://nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/