Slip-and-fall accidents can happen almost anywhere. At Cromartie Law, we have seen them happen in apartment buildings, parking lots, retail establishments and hotels. The basic concept is that negligence of a property owner led to you falling and being injured. However, the fall doesn’t always have to be a result of slipping, which occurs when a walking surface is wet or otherwise slick. There are other related instances that are considered a slip-and-fall accident.
Kaivac outlines three other situations where this type of accident can occur. The first is a stump where your walking in interrupted by a bump in the carpeting, an uneven surface or a sticky floor. The second instance is a trip where you trip over something in the walkway. This could be an uneven floor, a product that has fallen into the aisle or a cord that is stretched across the walkway. The last situation would be a step where there is an unexpected change in the walkway, like a step or a decline.
In any of these situations, you could fall because your center of gravity is messed with. It is the center of gravity that helps you stay balanced and upright. When you slip, stump, trip or step into a situation where your center of gravity is disturbed, it can lead to a serious fall. You may be able to regain it in some situations and avoid falling, but in many cases, this does not happen. To learn more about personal injury law, visit our website.