A slip and fall accident is the most common type of premises liability accident, occurring when a guest or resident falls on a slippery surface. A fall attributed to a break or inconsistency in flooring is generally referred to as a "trip and fall."

Signs of unreasonable maintenance that can lead to injury may include obstacles on walkways, slippery surfaces, broken concrete, tears in the carpet, loose rocks or gravel, wet areas, low lighting, broken stairs, loose handrails, unsafe porch or balcony areas, broken glass, etc. The presence of dangerous conditions such as these may indicate that a property owner did not inspect his property on a regular basis to ensure safety.

Homeowners, owners of rental properties, parking lot owners, business owners, and any owners or management personnel who control private properties may be held accountable for injuries resulting from unsafe premises..

After an injury on another’s property, you should examine your behavior to identify where liability may lie. The property owner’s insurance company will undoubtedly ask you questions in an attempt to identify if fault lies with you. We advise that you refrain from talking to the property owner’s attorney until you are fully aware of your rights. It is a good idea to consult an attorney because in many cases, injured parties may incorrectly blame themselves or think that they could have been more careful when, in fact, the property owner may be solely at fault.

After you decide to pursue a trip and fall or related claim, your attorney will investigate your incident in hopes of finding evidence that shows how long the dangerous condition existed. Interviewing others may yield important information and reveal a previous complaint or show that the owner in fact had knowledge of the potentially dangerous condition and did nothing to fix it.