Types of Slip and Fall Accidents
Wet Floors
Wet floors are a hazard to any pedestrian. It doesn’t matter what location it’s in. Spills, leaks, or cleaning solutions should be cleaned up in a timely manner to avoid accidents over wet floors. If it cannot be cleaned up quickly, or there’s simply residue from mopping or cleaning, “wet floor” signs need to be put out to warn pedestrians.
Ice and Snow
If you are a business owner, you’re responsible for removing ice and snow from your property, in or around it. You can shovel the snow and/or apply salt or similar material to ice, but it needs to be done in a timely manner after the snow and ice arrive.
Cluttered Aisles
A cluttered space or fallen merchandise makes for an easy target for a slip-and-fall accident. It’s easy for people to trip on things that are in the way. Be sure not to stack merchandise too high in your stores or overcrowd the floor with displays. You don’t want to make it easy for things to get knocked over and get in the way. If things are knocked over and in the floor, make sure you or an attendant clean it up quickly to avoid any accidents.
Elevators and Escalators
When elevators and escalators are not maintained properly, they can malfunction and cause passengers to slip, trip, or get knocked down. If your property contains one of these people-movers, be sure it is properly maintained and cleaned so you can avoid any unnecessary accidents.
Bad Lighting
Something doesn’t have to be dysfunctional to cause an accident. Something as small as bad lighting can be the cause of an accident. If you don’t have adequate lighting on your property for pedestrians to see things that might be in their way or cause an accident, you might be liable for their accident if it occurs. Make sure you have enough lighting in your store or on your property, so customers and pedestrians can see where they’re going and if something might be in their way.
These are only a few of the types of slip-and-fall accidents that might occur. Overall, the main cause of accidents like this is negligence from the owners or managers. If you are an owner or manager, you should be aware of these things to avoid them happening. Maintain your store, property, and adjacent items to keep these accidents from happening and avoid a lawsuit. If you are a customer or pedestrian, know these kinds of accidents to properly identify them in a claim. Contact Reynolds & Reynolds in Frisco, Texas, for any slip-and-fall accident help. Our experts will help you in any way they can.