The Most Common Causes Of A Slip & Fall In Florida

Anyone living and working in North Port or Englewood knows that accidents can happen anywhere. Whether it’s at work, at home, or even other activities, such as shopping at a mall or visiting an amusement park. One of the most common types of injuries is the slip and fall, where some staggers, trips, or slips on a walking surface and then falls down.

One of the reasons this type of injury occurs so frequently is that there are numerous causes for it. Here are some of Florida's most common causes of slips and falls.

Sand Or Seawater

This is an especially common risk for beach properties, with people interacting with sand and the ocean before coming inside. Seawater as a liquid can be very slippery, depending on the surfaces it is deposited on. While sand is solid, it is particulate, meaning it can shift and roll around on the ground, depending on the type of surface it sits on.
Prominent deposits of sand or seawater need to be cleaned right away on surfaces that lose traction when these elements are added.

Poor Lighting

Another common cause of slips and falls is poor lighting. This is particularly true for stairwells requiring a constant height adjustment for the feet while ascending or descending. If a stairwell is dark, such as when there are no windows, and the lightbulb is broken, the risk of slipping and falling is much greater.

Poorly lit stairwells should always have their issue addressed quickly, especially if the solution is something as simple as changing a light bulb.

Wet Floors

Depending on the type of surface, such as tile or smooth concrete, liquids on a floor can create a very slippery surface that dramatically raises the chances of slipping and falling. The classic example is an auto repair garage if motor oil or other lubricating fluids spills on the ground. It is incredibly easy to slip on such a pool, fall, and sustain an injury.

It’s crucial for any home or business to clean fluids from floors quickly. This is especially true in a “high traffic” area, such as retail outlets. Grocery and convenience stores, where beverages and cooking oils are sold, should be careful of this.

Broken Or Uneven Pavement, Flooring, Or Stairs

People are creatures of habit, especially when it comes to walking. We typically put one foot in front of the other without carefully watching the placement or angle of each foot since that would slow down the walking process. However, in situations where the walking area isn’t flat and level, there is a high risk of a foot coming down improperly, causing a slip, trip, and fall.

Proactive Maintenance Prevents Legal Liability

It is important for property owners, whether business or residential, to ensure that when a hazard for a slip and fall situation occurs, it should be dealt with quickly. Leaving these unattended hazards means that if someone is injured due to the neglect of repairing the issue, the property owner is legally and financially responsible for that injury.

If you’ve been injured due to a slip and fall because a property owner was negligent, talk to a slip and fall lawyer about how you can get the compensation you’re owed.