Taking a fall can be just as traumatic as being in a car crash. Falls are a leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults, according to the CDC. Slip and falls happen to all of us from time to time, regardless of age, balance, or physical ability. Often, the slip and fall is just an unfortunate accident in which our feet somehow get in the way of one another. Other times, the fall could have been prevented, and should not be seen as an unavoidable “accident.” From a wet hallway leading to a hotel’s indoor pool, to an unlit stairwell of a restaurant, slip and falls are often not the fault of the victim, but the fault of the business owner. In many cases, the premises owner or renter should be held accountable, which is when an experienced lawyer becomes invaluable. The lawyers of Palmer | Lopez assist clients with securing financial compensation to cover their medical bills, pain and suffering damages, lost income, disability, and more.
What Causes Slip and Fall Conditions?
Tampa’s wet, humid climate can help create slippery conditions in restaurants, stores, front walkways, coffee shops, and other public, business, and private residences. Many of us have done it before—walked into a storefront from the rain and momentarily lost our footing in a puddle. After all, Tampa gets over 46 inches of rainfall annually. But not all slip and falls require the rain, or even a wet surface. Below are a number of factors that can lead to slip, trip, and fall conditions:
● Greasy linoleum of a restaurant floor;
● Wires, extension cords, construction material, or other obstacles in a walking area;
● Ripped or heavily chipped or dented flooring;
● Uneven stairs;
● Lack of a handrail for a ramp, step down, or stairs;
● No warning sign or tape for stairs, a step up, or a step down;
● Poor lighting;
● Wet leaves;
● Puddles or wet floor;
● Loose sand, mud, or dirt;
● Lack of grip tape or no-slip material on stairs or ramps;
● Stair length or height that are not in compliance with the law;
● Loose floorboards; and
● Much more.
Who is to Blame For Your Slip and Fall?
In order to hold the property owner or business owner accountable for the slip and fall, you must prove that they had either actual or constructive knowledge that the dangerous condition existed, and that they had time to remedy the problem and yet failed to take action. Actual knowledge would be seeing a puddle at a doorway, whereas constructive knowledge would be knowing that if it is raining outside, it is a reasonable assumption that a puddle would likely form at the doorway as people come in and out. In either case, a store manager, for example, should carry out their due diligence by placing a mat at the door or mopping up the puddle.
Reach Out to a Tampa Slip & Fall Lawyer For Assistance
In order to recover the financial damages that you have incurred as a result of the slip and fall, an attorney will be necessary. We encourage you to take action quickly before evidence disappears or the statute of limitations runs its course. Call the Tampa slip and fall lawyers at Palmer | Lopez today at 813-967-8505 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Tampa slip & fall lawyers.
