Avoiding Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall injuries can be far more serious than people tend to think. It’s quite possible to die from falling from your own height. Head injuries, back injuries and other medical injuries can be expensive and devastating. This is why it’s so common to hear about people engaging the services of a personal injury attorney to represent them in these cases. You can do yourself a favor, however, and avoid falls from the start.
When you enter into a public place, tile floors are common sights. These floors can be very slick if the conditions are right. If you’re coming in from a cold exterior, watch out for moisture on the floor at the entryway. If the weather is wintry or rainy, this is even more advisable. People’s shoes and boots tend to distribute water on the floors near entryways and these are common areas for people to get hurt or killed due to bad falls.
Most businesses have some sort of a ramp that provides equal access to those in wheelchairs. While these are useful features for everyone, not all businesses maintain them as they should. When a ramp is icy or wet, it serves as more of a chute than an entry or exit. Be sure to use the railings on these ramps. If you use a wheelchair or other mobility assistance device, have someone assist you in bad conditions. It’s just being sensible and safe.
Watch out for employees tending to the floors. While there are requirements for businesses and public places to flag wet floors, they sometimes do not do so adequately. This sets you up for a bad fall. If you notice the floor in a store or public building is slick, try to get off of the wet area. If you have trouble keeping your balance, keep your feet close to the floor and expect to slide a bit as you move away.
A personal injury law firm may be able to help you with a lawsuit if you’ve been injured because someone was negligent in caring for their floors. They do have a responsibility to the people on their premises and, when those people are injured or worse, they can be held liable. There’s no guarantee that you’ll win one of these cases, but you could win substantial monetary compensation if a jury finds in your favor.