Wet and slippery floors are a major cause of falls. These can have devastating consequences, especially for older people. If you suffered such an accident and believe it was due to someone else’s carelessness, talk to a slip-and-fall injury lawyer. Acting quickly will help protect your rights and improve your chances of winning compensation.
Who’s Responsible for Your Injury?
People can slip on wet floors anywhere, including stores, restaurants, hotels, and apartment building lobbies. These incidents often involve accidental spills or leaks. Floors may also become slippery because of bad weather conditions, such as when visitors track in mud and water on a wet day.
The responsibility for slip-and-fall accidents usually lies with whoever should have kept the property clean and safe. This could be the property owner, a manager, or a cleaning service. You could even file a claim with a person’s homeowner’s insurance if you slip and fall on a wet floor in their home.
Proving Fault in a Slip-and-Fall Case
Claims after slips and falls on wet floors follow the legal concept of premises liability, which states that a property owner must keep their premises safe. Therefore, to seek compensation for your injuries, you must prove property owner negligence.
Your slip-and-fall injury lawyer would have to show that:
- The responsible party neglected their duty to keep floors clean and dry
- The wet floor caused your slip-and-fall accident
- The accident caused you tangible damages (i.e., medical expenses and lost wages)
Slip-and-fall cases often depend on proving a lack of routine cleaning or maintenance. For example, let’s say a bottle fell and spilled in a store, and nobody bothered to clean the puddle for a while. You didn’t notice the puddle and fell. In this case, you could argue that reasonable care may have prevented your accident.
What To Do If You Slip and Fall on a Wet Floor
If you fall because of wet or slippery floors, take these steps to protect your rights:
1. Notify the Owner or Manager
Let the property owner, manager, or supervisor know of your accident. Do this both verbally and in writing, and save all communication. Stay polite and non-confrontational, even if the person you talk to denies responsibility or blames you for the accident.
2. Gather Evidence
Preserve any evidence at the scene before the floor dries up. Take pictures and videos of relevant details, such as spills and puddles, your wet clothes, or the lack of a safety mat at the entrance on a rainy day. If anyone saw you fall, ask for their names and contact information.
3. Go for a Medical Checkup
Slips and falls may seem trivial but could end in fractures, head injuries, or nerve damage. Ensure you see a doctor within 24 hours for an accurate diagnosis and timely treatment. Save all your medical records to prove a connection between the fall and your injuries.
4. Talk to a Lawyer
Consult a slip-and-fall accident lawyer as soon as you can. The lawyer will review your case, explain your options, and guide you through the next steps.
Call Warner & Fitzmartin, PLLC, for Legal Help With Your Slip-and-Fall Case
Are you facing hefty medical bills and a painful recovery after slipping on a wet floor? Contact us at Warner & Fitzmartin to talk to a slip-and-fall injury lawyer in Lake Worth, FL. We’ll let you know who’s likely responsible for compensating you and work hard to help you secure a settlement that covers your medical expenses, missed work days, and other losses.
Call (561) 803-0167 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.