Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional deaths around the world, behind only traffic accidents. Clearly, slip and fall accidents are not the minor events many people think they are. Even when an accident victim survives a fall, they will incur high medical expenses, lost income, and other losses. 

Property owners are expected to keep their premises in a good and safe condition to prevent injury and death. If you have been hurt on someone else’s property because the owner failed to meet their duty, you can file a claim against them to obtain financial compensation. Our New Hampshire premises liability/slip and fall lawyer can help you recover the full settlement you rightfully deserve.

The Types of Slip and Fall Accidents

There are two types of slip and fall accidents. The first is same-level slip and fall accidents and these are the most common types that form the basis of personal injury lawsuits. Trips on broken sidewalks, slips on wet floors, and falls on broken steps are just a few types of these accidents. While the injuries sustained in a same-level slip and fall are usually less severe, they can still be very serious. For example, a person may slip on an icy sidewalk and fall back, hitting their head on the pavement as they do.

Elevated falls happen at a height. Falling off a loading dock, off of a ladder, or off scaffolding at a building site are some types of these falls. Although less common, these accidents typically result in injuries that are much more serious. For example, a construction worker may fall from one level to another in an unfinished building. The injuries to the worker’s back and spine could be so severe they are paralyzed for the rest of their life.

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Any hazardous condition located on a premises can result in a serious slip and fall accident. Still, there are some dangerous conditions that are more common than others. These include:

  • Wet and uneven walking surfaces, including loose mats, loose floorboards, potholes in parking lots, and cluttered floors
  • Poor weather conditions causing icy sidewalks, snow-covered walkways, and slippery surfaces caused by heavy rain
  • Obstructions on floors, such as electrical wires and stray cords
  • Poor lighting

Regardless of the cause of a slip and fall, these accidents cause injuries that are very painful and extremely costly to treat. Almost one-third of all non-fatal yet preventable injuries in 2018 were caused by falls, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Some of the most common injuries incurred in slip and fall accidents are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and soft tissue injuries.

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere from the workplace to the sidewalk, to a person’s private residence. Most commonly, slip and fall accidents happen on commercial properties. These properties include:

  • Restaurants
  • Grocery stores
  • Amusement parks
  • Shopping centers
  • Elevators and escalators
  • Parking garages
  • Swimming pools
  • Nursing homes
  • Stadiums

Proving Liability in Slip and Fall Cases

It is very difficult to prove liability, or fault, in slip and fall cases. For a property owner to be legally responsible for your injuries and losses after an accident, you must show one of the following occurred:

  • The owner of the property, or someone employed by the property owner, caused the hazardous condition that resulted in a dangerous fall,
  • The owner of the property, or someone employed by the property owner, knew about the hazardous condition and did not try to correct it, or
  • The owner of a property, or someone employed by the property owner, should have known of the hazardous condition if a reasonable person would have known about the danger and corrected it in a proper manner.

The fact that so many slip and fall cases rely on the “reasonable person” guideline, it is very difficult to prove fault in slip and fall cases. A New Hampshire premises liability/slip and fall lawyer can build a strong case and make arguments about what a reasonable person should have known.

Other Types of Premises Liability Cases

Slip and falls are one way in which a person can become injured on another person’s property. Other types of premises liability cases include:

  • Defective conditions on a property
  • Inadequate maintenance of a premises
  • Dog bites
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Fires
  • Flood
  • Toxic chemicals

Our Premises Liability/Slip and Fall Lawyer in New Hampshire Can Help After Injury

If you have been hurt on someone else’s property in any manner, our New Hampshire premises liability/slip and fall lawyers at Sabbeth Law have the necessary experience to help you claim the full settlement you deserve. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to obtain sound legal advice.