Top Five Causes of Slip-and-Fall or Trip-and-Fall Accidents

 Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents may occur any time at any place. It may happen to a person of any age. Injuries sustained in a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident may range from minor to catastrophic or even fatal. For example, a fall victim may suffer head injuries, spinal cord trauma or even multiple broken bones, depending on the nature and circumstances of the incident.

Top 5 Common Causes
As New York City personal injury lawyers who represent the rights of slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall victims and their families, we have found the following to be the top five reasons why these incidents occur:
1. Snow and ice: In New York City, it is the responsibility of property owners and/or property managers and/or the city of New York to clear out snow and ice in a timely manner so visitors and guests are safe. Accumulated snow may freeze and become hard ice that can result in serious injuries for slip-and-fall victims. After a snowfall or freezing rain, property owners and/or property managers should clear the ice and snow. When a landlord or property owner/manager allows long-standing slippery conditions to exist, he or she can be held liable for the resulting injuries and losses.
2. Improper flooring: This is another common cause of slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents. Individuals may trip on loose floorboards, worn-out carpeting, cracked sidewalks or walkways or a broken stair. Signs must be placed on floors that were recently mopped or waxed. These types of hazardous surfaces can cause serious injuries such as broken bones and concussions.
3. Inadequate lighting: When you are unable to see what you are walking on or walking into, there is a heightened risk of accidents. Property owners and building managers have a responsibility to ensure that their premises are well-lit at all times. Any broken lights or bulbs should be promptly replaced.
4. Cluttered walkways: When walkways are cluttered with debris, trip-and-fall accidents occur. For example, walkers may trip over boxes, cords or other small objects that are often hard to detect. Throw rugs can also be dangerous. These types of accidents often result in severe injuries.
5. Nursing home neglect: As people age, their sense of balance deteriorates as well. The elderly are at an increased risk of falling. When nursing home employees fail to properly care for residents, slip-and-fall accidents are much more likely to occur. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 5 percent of adults 65 and older live in nursing homes and yet, nursing home residents account for about 20 percent of deaths from falls in this age group. Each year, a typical nursing home with 100 beds reports 100 to 200 falls. However, a lot of these falls go unreported.
Compensation for Injured Victims
If you or a loved one suffered injuries because of a slip-and-fall accident or a trip-and-fall accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our law firm recovered $1,700,000 for a woman who slipped and fell and received no hospital or medical treatment for one month after the accident.
Please call our offices TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) to discuss your slip-and-fall case or trip-and-fall injury or accident case. WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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