Premises Liability and Slip & Fall Lawyers

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere—from grocery stores and shopping malls to sidewalks and workplaces. Understanding the most frequent causes can help victims recognize when they may be entitled to compensation.

Wet or Slippery Surfaces

The most common cause of slip and fall accidents is wet or slippery surfaces. Water, oil, or other liquids on the floor—whether from spills, leaks, or cleaning activities—create hazardous conditions that can catch people off guard. Businesses and property owners are responsible for ensuring that floors are kept dry or clearly marked with warning signs when they’re wet.

Uneven Flooring or Sidewalks

Cracked, uneven, or poorly maintained flooring and sidewalks are frequent culprits in slip and fall accidents. This includes torn carpets, broken tiles, unstable or loose floorboards, and even raised sidewalks due to tree roots and weathering. Property owners are expected to repair or mark uneven surfaces to prevent accidents.

Inadequate Lighting

Poor lighting can make it difficult for people to see obstacles, uneven surfaces, or wet spots, which increases the likelihood of a slip and fall. This is especially dangerous in areas such as parking lots, stairwells, hallways, and entrances and exits.

Inadequate lighting is often a result of poor property maintenance, and the responsibility lies with the owner to ensure all areas are well-lit and safe for visitors.

Clutter and Obstacles

Debris, wires, merchandise, or other items left in walkways create tripping hazards. In high-traffic areas, it’s critical for property owners and employees to keep floors clear of obstacles.

Defective or Broken Staircases

Broken handrails, loose steps, or uneven stair heights are common causes of falls on staircases. Property owners and managers must ensure that staircases are maintained and compliant with safety codes to prevent accidents. A fall down stairs can lead to particularly severe injuries, such as head trauma or spinal damage.

Weather Conditions

Rain, snow, and ice can create hazardous conditions, especially when not properly managed. Icy sidewalks, slippery entryways, and rain-soaked floors increase the risk of slip and fall accidents. While property owners can’t control the weather, they are responsible for taking reasonable steps to minimize danger, such as shoveling snow, salting icy areas, and providing mats for wet shoes.

A slip and fall injury might seem minor at first, but the consequences can be long-lasting and severe. These accidents can lead to physical, emotional, and financial challenges, affecting nearly every aspect of your life. At Morgan & Morgan, we understand the profound impact slip and fall injuries can have, and we are here to help victims recover the compensation they deserve.

Physical Impact

The most immediate and noticeable effect of a slip and fall injury is the physical harm it causes. Injuries can range from minor bruises to severe, life-altering conditions, such as:

• Broken bones: Fractures in the arms, wrists, ankles, or hips are common, especially in older adults.
• Head injuries: Slip and fall accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries (TBI), concussions, or skull fractures, which may lead to long-term cognitive and physical impairments.
• Spinal cord injuries: A fall can damage the spine, leading to chronic pain, limited mobility, or even paralysis in severe cases.
• Soft tissue injuries: Ligament tears, sprains, and strains can cause ongoing pain and require months of rehabilitation. These injuries may require surgery, physical therapy, or extended hospital stays, all of which can disrupt your daily life and limit your independence.

Emotional Impact

The emotional toll of a slip and fall injury can be just as significant as the physical damage. Victims may experience:

• Anxiety and fear: After an accident, it’s common to feel anxious about walking in public places or even within your own home, fearing another fall.
• Depression: The loss of mobility or independence can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression, especially if the injury prevents you from working or enjoying activities you once loved.
• Social isolation: If your injury limits your ability to engage in social activities, you may feel cut off from your community, contributing to loneliness and emotional distress. These emotional struggles are a legitimate and important part of the recovery process, and victims deserve compensation for the mental anguish caused by a slip and fall accident.

Financial Impact

The financial burden of a slip and fall injury can be overwhelming. Costs associated with medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care add up quickly, and without adequate compensation, victims may find themselves facing serious financial difficulties. Key financial challenges include:

• Medical bills: Hospital visits, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and ongoing medical care can quickly become expensive, especially if your injury requires long-term treatment.
• Lost wages: If your injury prevents you from working, you may lose weeks or even months of income. In some cases, victims may be unable to return to their previous job or may face reduced earning capacity due to their injury.
• Rehabilitation costs: Long-term physical therapy, home modifications, and assistive devices (such as wheelchairs or walkers) can create additional financial stress. A successful slip and fall claim can help cover these expenses, allowing victims to focus on their recovery without the added burden of financial worry.

Impact on Quality of Life

A serious slip and fall injury can significantly reduce your quality of life. You may face challenges in performing daily activities, such as:

• Loss of mobility: Injuries like fractures or spinal damage can limit your ability to move freely or care for yourself.
• Chronic pain: Many slip and fall injuries result in ongoing pain that affects your ability to sleep, work, or enjoy recreational activities.
• Loss of independence: Some victims may require assistance with personal care or mobility, forcing them to rely on others or move into assisted living facilities.

In some cases, these changes are permanent, and victims are left with a diminished quality of life that impacts their ability to engage in hobbies, maintain relationships, and enjoy their day-to-day experiences.

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall or another accident on someone else’s property, you have the right to hold the property owner accountable for their negligence. Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain safe premises, and when they fail to do so, they can be held liable for injuries that occur as a result. 

Premises liability law holds property owners responsible for injuries that occur on their property due to unsafe conditions. This applies to various settings, such as homes, businesses, apartment buildings, and public spaces. The key to a successful premises liability claim is proving that the property owner’s negligence directly caused your injury.

You must demonstrate that:

• The property owner owed you a duty of care: This duty varies depending on your status as a visitor. For example, customers are owed the highest duty of care in retail spaces, while trespassers are generally afforded less protection.
• They breached that duty: The property owner failed to fix or warn you about hazardous conditions, such as a wet floor or broken handrail.
• The breach caused your injury: There must be a clear connection between the unsafe condition and your injury.
• You suffered damages: You must show that your injury led to damages such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

To do this, gather evidence, such as photographs or videos of the hazard, witness statements, incident reports, and medical records from your injuries and treatment. Report the accident to the property owner in order to create a record of the incident. Finally, contact a slip and fall lawyer at Morgan & Morgan.

Premises liability claims can be complex, and having an experienced attorney by your side will increase your chances of a successful outcome. At Morgan & Morgan, we have over 35 years of experience handling premises liability cases, and we know what it takes to hold negligent property owners accountable. Our attorneys work diligently to gather evidence and build a compelling case that proves the property owner’s responsibility for your injury.

If negotiations with the property owner’s insurance company don’t result in a fair settlement, your attorney may advise filing a premises liability lawsuit. This formal legal action seeks to hold the property owner legally and financially responsible for your injury. Compensation can cover various damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages from missed work, and pain and suffering.

To successfully prove that a property owner’s negligence caused your slip and fall accident, you’ll need to gather solid evidence, including:

• Photographs or videos of the hazardous condition (a wet floor, broken steps, uneven surfaces) that caused your fall.
• Witness statements from anyone who saw the accident or can confirm the dangerous condition.
• Incident reports, if the accident happened at a business or other commercial property. Ask for a copy.
• Medical records that document your injuries and the treatment you’ve received, as well as how the injury affects your daily life.
• Maintenance logs or inspection reports that show whether the property was regularly checked for hazards or if safety standards were neglected.

All of this evidence can help prove that the property owner or manager failed to take reasonable steps to prevent accidents.

The amount of compensation you can recover from a slip and fall lawsuit depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, and the impact on your life. Generally, compensation may cover medical bills related to your injuries, lost wages from missed work while recovering, financial relief for the physical and emotional trauma caused by the accident (pain and suffering), diminished quality of life, permanent disability, or even future loss of earning capacity.

Since every case is unique, the amount of compensation will vary. An experienced attorney at Morgan & Morgan can assess your case and give you a clearer picture of what you may be entitled to. You learn more with a free case evaluation.

The timeline for resolving a slip and fall case depends on different factors such as the complexity of your case, the severity of your injuries, and whether the property owner’s insurance company is willing to settle for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Some slip and fall cases are resolved in a few months, while others can take a year or more if litigation is necessary. At Morgan & Morgan, we strive to resolve cases as quickly as possible while still pursuing maximum compensation for our clients. 

Our army of over 1,000 trial-ready attorneys is prepared to fight to the very end for the compensation our clients need and deserve to move forward with their lives. When you work with Morgan & Morgan, your attorney will keep you informed about the progress of your case at every step of the way.

Yes, you can still file a lawsuit even if you didn’t report the slip and fall accident right away. However, reporting the incident as soon as possible strengthens your case, as it creates an official record of what happened. If you didn’t report it immediately, you’ll need to provide other compelling evidence to support your claim, such as witness statements from people who saw the accident, medical records that tie your injury directly to the fall, or photographs or videos showing the hazardous condition.

A Morgan & Morgan attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence and build a strong case, even if there was a delay in reporting the incident.

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you should first and foremost seek medical attention. Your health should be your top priority. Even if your injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor as some injuries may not appear immediately.

If you’re at a business or commercial property, notify the manager or property owner and request an incident report. Also be sure to take photographs or videos of the scene, especially the hazard that caused your fall. If anyone saw the accident, get their contact details, as their testimony may be important later.

As you continue to recover from your injuries, document your medical treatment, any missed work, and other ways the injury has affected your life.

The second most important thing you can do, next to seeking medical treatment, is to consult an attorney. An experienced personal injury attorney can guide you through the legal process and ensure that your rights are protected.

What if you slip and fall in your apartment building and end up injured? It might not be clear if you’re able to sue your landlord. This depends on the law in the state in which you reside. 

Generally, a landlord is responsible for maintaining all of a property’s common areas in a reasonably safe condition. 

As with other property owners, if a landlord knows an unsafe condition exists, or should have known about it, and does nothing to fix it, then the landlord might be responsible for paying damages to the injured party. 

Proving this depends on the circumstances of each case. To determine this, courts will look at such factors as the length of time the unsafe condition existed and the severity of the hazard. In certain circumstances, landlords can also be held liable for slip and falls that occur within a tenant’s apartment. 

When a new tenant moves in, the landlord must inform the tenant of any known defects on the premises. The failure to inform a tenant of defects that the tenant could not have discovered during a reasonable inspection of the property could mean the landlord is liable if a slip & fall accident occurs. In addition, a landlord may be held liable for slip and falls that occur within a tenant’s apartment when there is a violation of a building code or ordinance. As always, it depends on the circumstances of the case and local laws.

Airbnb is a popular alternative to traditional hotels and other standard accommodation options for travelers around the world. Staying in homes and other properties listed on the service is often cheaper than hotels or resorts, but what happens if you or your family get hurt at someone else’s property? Whose insurance covers your slip and fall accidents?

Airbnb is known for providing its hosts with Host Protection Insurance, which is the primary insurance policy in effect for hosts during a guest’s stay and carries $1 million worth of coverage per stay. This means that if you’re injured on a host’s property, you’d likely seek compensation for your medical bills and other expenses from Airbnb’s insurer. Airbnb’s million-dollar insurance policy applies on a per-occurrence basis for an accident involving bodily injury or property damage, according to Airbnb materials on its site. 

For example, if you’re staying at a property listed on Airbnb and slip, fall, and injure yourself, you can bring a claim against Airbnb’s insurance. So, too, if your child trips and falls down stairs. If you’re staying at an apartment listed on Airbnb and you’re injured in the building’s gym, the Airbnb insurance would ostensibly cover that, too, according to the company. 

However, the Airbnb insurance doesn’t cover product liability, asbestos, or Chinese drywall claims, nor certain other limitations, the company says. If you or a loved one was injured while staying at someone else’s property through Airbnb, contact our attorneys for a free, no-risk case evaluation today. Our slip and fall attorneys might be able to help you get the compensation you deserve.

If a property owner claims they were unaware of the hazardous condition, it does not necessarily absolve them of all liability. 

To hold them accountable, you must prove that the property owner or their employees should have reasonably known about the hazard through regular maintenance and inspection. If an employer is doing their job properly, then they should be aware of any issues or hazards.

Evidence such as surveillance footage, maintenance logs, witness statements, and photos of the dangerous condition can help in demonstrating that the hazard existed long enough that the owner should have been aware of it.

In slip and fall cases, shared responsibility is evaluated under the “principle of comparative negligence.” This means that if you are partially responsible for your injury, your compensation could be reduced by your percentage of fault. 

For example, if you were 20% responsible for the fall because you were distracted, and the property owner was 80% at fault for not fixing a hazard, your compensation would be reduced by 20%. A slip and fall attorney at Morgan & Morgan can help you to build a strong case that minimizes your level of fault and maximizes your recovery.

A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit for when a case can be filed after a certain event. The statute of limitations for filing a slip and fall lawsuit varies by state, but it generally ranges from one to four years from the date of the accident.

Missing the deadline can result in losing your right to pursue compensation, so it’s important to be prompt. Consulting with an attorney soon after your accident will help ensure that you file within the appropriate time frame. A Morgan & Morgan slip and fall attorney can help to ensure you file correctly and on time.

Yes, you can file a slip and fall lawsuit if your injury occurred on government property, but there are special rules and shorter deadlines involved. 

Government entities are typically protected by sovereign immunity, which limits liability, but many states and federal laws allow for exceptions in slip and fall cases. To sue a government entity, you usually must file a notice of claim within a specific timeframe, often much shorter than the typical statute of limitations. Due to these complexities, it's highly recommended to consult with an experienced attorney who understands the unique requirements of filing claims against government bodies.

At Morgan & Morgan, our team of experienced slip and fall attorneys has successfully represented countless clients in similar situations, securing millions in compensation. As the largest personal injury law firm in the country with over 1,000 lawyers nationwide, we have the resources, knowledge, and dedication to fight for your rights. 

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t have to pay unless we win your case. Morgan & Morgan believes justice should be accessible to all, so our motto is the Fee Is Free™—you only pay if we win.

We take pride in ensuring that negligent property owners are held accountable for the harm they’ve caused. Don’t bear the burden of your injuries on your own because of someone else’s negligence. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.