Slippery floors are a common cause of falls on properties in Dunwoody. A slip and fall injury can lead to costly medical bills, lost wages, and more. If you have injuries from a slip and fall, you might deserve compensation.
Property owners and businesses must take measures to keep customers and visitors safe. That includes preventing slip and fall hazards on their properties. If a slippery floor caused your accident, talk to a Dunwoody slip and fall lawyer today.
Our trusted slip and fall lawyers know how to build strong cases. We’ve been helping injury victims win what they deserve for over 20 years.
To discuss your case during a free consultation, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
Common Causes of Slippery Floors
Floors can become slippery for many reasons. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are some causes of slippery floors that cause slip and falls:
- Liquids spill on walking areas
- Rain, snow, or ice that people have tracked inside
- Slippery and loose rugs or mats
- Poor lighting that prevents visitors from seeing slippery floors
- Cluttered walking surfaces where visitors can slip on merchandise
- Recently-mopped or -waxed floors
Cleaning is a regular part of maintaining safe premises. But employees should be careful when mopping or waxing walking spaces. They should put out a “Wet Floor” sign to warn customers. Without warning, the property owner or business could be liable for an accident.
After your accident, you’ll need to know what made the floor slippery. You’ll have trouble building a claim if you’re not sure what you slipped on. If you can, take pictures of the hazard after your fall.
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Questions to Ask About Your Accident
Premises liability (slip and fall) claims can be complicated. There are several points to prove, and the property owner will look for ways to fight your claim. Here are some factors to consider.
How Long the Hazard Was There
The presence of a hazard does not automatically prove the property owner is at fault. You will need to show that the slippery floor was a problem long enough for an owner or manager to know about it. You have a better chance of proving negligence if the floors were slippery for a while.
For example, it’s unlikely that someone could clean up a spill within seconds. But if a spill was present for several minutes or hours, you’ll have a stronger case. A manager or employee could have seen the spill but failed to clean it up or warn customers.
Talk to any eyewitnesses after your accident. Someone else might have seen the hazard long before you fell. This witness testimony can help support your claim.
If the Property Owner Provided Warnings
Sometimes, a property owner cannot prevent slippery floors completely. For example, the business might need to polish, mop, or wax the floors. Or, maybe customers constantly track in moisture from lousy weather.
If a property owner can’t immediately remove a hazard, they should provide warnings. That includes putting out signs cautioning customers to avoid the area. Anyone walking by should know that the floor is slippery and a hazard.
A warning sign doesn’t always protect an owner from liability. Even if there was a sign, you should still talk to a slip and fall lawyer. You might still be entitled to compensation.
If You Knew About the Slippery Floors
Victims have some responsibility, too. If you knew about the slippery floors but walked on them anyway, you could be partially at fault. Or, the property owner or their insurance company might try to say you knew about the slippery floors—when you didn’t.
Protect your legal rights by talking to a lawyer. Even if you were partially at fault, you can still recover damages in many cases. Don’t assume your options without speaking to a professional.
To go over your case with a Dunwoody slip and fall lawyer, contact John Foy & Associates today. We’ll get you started with a free consultation. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
Slip and Fall Injuries from Slippery Floors
Injuries from slippery floors can be severe. Each case is unique, but here are some common injuries we see:
- Wrist or elbow injuries
- Back injuries
- Ankle injuries
- Hip injuries
- Broken bones
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding and bruising
- Sprains and strains
- Head injuries
Slip and fall injuries can be deadly for some people. In other cases, injuries can lead to disabilities or emotional injuries that stick around. If you or a loved one were victims, you probably have a premises liability or wrongful death case.
Who’s Responsible for a Slip and Fall Accident
Property owners and businesses in Dunwoody have a “duty of care” to customers and visitors. They must keep their properties and approaches safe. That includes preventing slippery floor hazards.
If you fell because of a slippery floor, the owner or business might be responsible. But the burden is on you to bring a premises liability claim. Your claim must show that:
- The owner or company had a duty of care to you.
- The owner or company didn’t uphold their duty.
- The failed duty led to your slip and fall accident.
- You suffered injuries and damages from the accident.
Businesses will often deny responsibility after a slip and fall. They are trying to protect themselves from liability for your injuries. In other words, they don’t want to pay for your costs.
As you dig deeper into the details, you might find that the business was very much responsible. This is why it’s so helpful to hire a slip and fall lawyer to investigate.
Duty to Check for Hazards
Property owners and businesses must regularly check for dangers on their property. That includes slippery floors that could cause customers to fall. If the slippery floor was present long enough for an owner or employee to notice, the business could be liable.
Duty to Warn Customers
When a hazard is present, the owner must warn others about it. For example, employees should put out a warning sign for slippery floors. They might also block off the area to keep people from walking on it.
If an owner doesn’t warn you about a hazard, they could be responsible for your accident costs.
A Victim’s Own Duty of Care
Under Georgia Code § 51-11-7, you also have a duty of care to avoid harm to yourself. If you could have avoided the slippery floors through your own carefulness, you cannot recover damages.
Property owners will often use the above code to deny liability. So, do not assume you can’t recover without speaking to a lawyer. The other side might try to keep you from recovering the compensation that you deserve.
Talk to a Dunwoody Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Today
If you suffered injuries from a slippery floor, you have rights. Talk to John Foy & Associates today about your options.
We have 20-plus years of experience to bring to the table. Also, we don’t charge you a fee unless we win your case.
To get a free consultation today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
