Falling incidents can be unexpected and result in serious physical, financial and emotional harm for victims. Victims may wonder what protections are available to them if they have been harmed in a slip and fall accident. In general, when a victim has slipped or tripped on a property owner’s premises and the owner failed to take the proper precautions to correct the dangerous property condition or warn of the dangerous condition, they may be liable to the victim for the damages suffered as a result.
Property owners may be liable for harm that results from a wet floor other dangerous or hazardous property condition in circumstances when they fail to provide adequate warnings, such as wet floor signage, of the hazardous property condition; when they fail to property restrict or close off the area where the dangerous property condition exists with barriers; when they use an excessive amount of wax, polish or other product on the floors; when they apply an uneven amount of wax, polish or other product on the floor; when they create an uneven condition on the floor and in other circumstances as well.
Property owners may also be liable for poorly maintained carpeting, rugs or mats that create an unsafe condition for those on their property. In addition, property owners may be liable for harm that results because of hazardous or dangerous stairway conditions that the property owner was aware of, or should have been aware of, and failed to correct or provide warnings concerning. Victims of slip and fall accidents can suffer serious harm that can result in debilitating injuries.
When the victim of a slip and fall accident suffers medical expenses, an inability to work related to their injuries and the emotional harm associated with a serious injury and its aftermath, it is important for them to be familiar with the legal protections available to them. Legal remedies may allow them to recover compensation to help with the costs and losses they have suffered because of an unsafe property condition.
Source: Injury.findlaw.com, “Indoor Slip and Fall Accident Conditions,” Accessed May 9, 2017
What protections are available after a slip and fall accident?
By: Gayle Gerling Pettinga
Born and raised in Evansville, Gayle is a respected, experienced lawyer and a valued community leader. She graduated near the top of her class at Indiana University’s prestigious Maurer School of Law. She’s practiced law with one of the largest firms in Indianapolis as well as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. And that means she knows how big law firms and big companies think and how they operate – and she will put that knowledge to work for you.
Gayle has received numerous awards and honors including Martindale-Hubbell — Peer Review Rated: AV®, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorneys in Indiana for Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service, and YWCA Evansville 100 Years, 100 Women Honoree, 2011.
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