According to information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 800,000 individuals are hospitalized each year as a result when they fall injury. Many of these injuries happen due to slip and fall incidents.
Slip and fall incidents can happen anywhere. As you go about your day in the beautiful state of Arizona, think about the places that you go. Now think about how many possible hazards are at each of these locations that could cause a slip and fall incident. Here, we want to discuss the most common causes of slip and fall incidents as well as whether or not individuals are able to recover compensation for their injuries and other losses.
Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Incidents in Arizona
Slip and fall incidents are usually preventable, but some of the most common causes include:
- Wet floors. Perhaps the most common cause of something fall incidents is wet floors. This can happen due to leaky ceilings or leaky appliances. One of the most common areas that slip and fall incidents occur is right inside of a doorway after recent rainfall.
- Loose floorboards. Anytime floorboards or any other walking surface are loose, this significantly increases the chance that a person will lose their stability handful.
- Bulging or loose carpets. We have all seen bunched up or loose carpeting that could potentially be a slip and fall or trip and fall hazard. This can happen with smaller carpets or floor mats as well as larger areas of carpeting.
- Food or drink spills. Food or drink spills are a common cause of slip and fall incidents at restaurants, grocery stores, and markets.
- Cracked pavement or potholes. Potholes and crack pavement are the most common cause of slip and fall incidents in the parking lots and on sidewalks.
- Uneven walking surfaces. Anytime the walking surface is uneven, for whatever reason, this will increase the likelihood that individuals trip or slip. This is particularly true because individuals do not anticipate any change in elevation with The Walking surface.
- Tripping hazards. There are various types of tripping hazards that can lead to individuals falling, including electrical cords running across walkways, boxes and pedestrian pathways, etc.
Securing Compensation After a Slip and Fall Accident
Not every slip and fall incident will result in a slip and fall lawsuit. In order for individuals to recover compensation after these incidents occur, it must be shown that the property owner where the slip and fall incident occurred was negligent.
In general, property owners owe a duty of care to any person who has a right to be on their premises. This duty includes inspecting any area of the pedestrian could be and fixing any known hazard or putting warning signs up around the hazard.
If a person is injured due to the negligence actions of a property owner, they may be able to recover various types of compensation, including coverage of their medical bills, compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and more.
We strongly encourage you to reach out to a skilled slip and fall accident lawyer in Arizona who can offered a free consultation and guide you towards the best steps moving forward with your claim.