Slip and Fall Accident

There’s a subtle difference between slips and falls. A slip happens on the same level, such as when you slip while walking on a slippery floor or stumble over a crack on a sidewalk. A fall normally refers to a change in elevation, such as when you fall off a ladder or tumble down a flight of stairs.

There are over a million injuries each year that result from slips and falls, including 17,000 fatalities. While sometimes minor and causing no more than a bruised ego, many slip and fall accidents result in broken limbs. The back is the most often injured part of the body in falls, but joint injuries to the wrist, elbow and shoulder, or the ankle, knee and hip, which are most frequently associated with slips, are also very common.

Slips and falls are commonly caused by liquids spilled on the surface you walk on that leave oily or slippery residue. They can also be caused by uneven surfaces or steps, or by defects in the surface materials. Holes, or broken steps or floorboards, can also cause an injury.

Another common cause is defective, dim, or inadequate lighting that reduces your chance to see the hazard, and many people trip over exposed wiring or on loose or worn carpets. Cracked or loose floor tiles create many accidents, as do obstacles in the pathway and cupboard doors or filing cabinets that have been left open.

While the causes are many, the results are often depressingly similar for any victim. In addition to the pain of an injury, there’s often time lost from work for treatment and recovery. Reaching a satisfactory settlement with the property owners and insurance companies can be an even greater challenge, and enlisting the services of a qualified and experienced attorney, such as those at Wilshire Law Firm PLC, can let you concentrate on getting better while we obtain the best possible settlement on your behalf.