People should be able to go to the grocery store or visit an apartment complex without having to worry about dangerous conditions that exist on the premises. Unfortunately, many property owners fail to take their responsibilities seriously by breaching the duties owed to their invitees. As a result, many innocent shoppers and visitors end up suffering severe injuries when they slip or trip and fall while on the poorly maintained property.
Causes of slip-and-fall injuries
Many slip-and-fall accidents are caused by the following conditions:
- Broken steps
- Uneven carpeting
- Poor lighting
- Wet or slippery floors due to ice or fallen items
- Broken shelving or displays
- Icy sidewalks or parking lots
- Poorly maintained parking lots
Most premises liability suits allege that the property owner or business owner failed to properly inspect the property, failed to properly maintain the property, and/or failed to warn of dangerous or hazardous conditions on the property.
Proving a slip-and-fall claim
If you were injured in a slip-and-fall on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages you suffered due to your accident. In order to file a successful premises liability suit against the owner the premises, you must establish that:
- The owner of the property knew or should have known of the dangerous condition on the premises.
- The owner of the property failed to take reasonable steps to remedy or warn of the dangerous condition.
- The dangerous condition caused an invitee to suffer injuries or damages.
If you suffered injuries in a slip-and-fall accident, an attorney specializing in premises liability law can help you file a claim against the store and/or property owners.