Bridgeport, Connecticut Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

Lawyers Helping Hold Property Owners Responsible for Fall Injuries in Bridgeport, CT

While slip and fall accidents may not always seem serious, they can have lasting consequences that may affect victims for months, years, or the rest of their lives. What seems like a simple fall at first can result in issues such as broken bones, head injuries, back injuries, and other forms of serious harm that may require extensive medical treatment. These accidents are not always caused by bad luck or clumsiness. In many cases, they occur because property owners fail to maintain safe conditions and keep their premises free from potential dangers to visitors.

Property owners and businesses are required to take steps to ensure that people who enter their premises can do so safely. When there are hazardous conditions, owners must either fix these problems or provide clear warnings. Failure to meet these obligations can lead to unreasonable risks that result in preventable injuries. At Tremont Sheldon P.C., our premises liability attorneys can help injury victims take steps to hold negligent property owners responsible for the harm they have suffered.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Hazardous conditions on properties can create slip, trip, and fall risks for visitors, customers, and others. These issues may include:

• Wet or Slippery Floors: Spills of water, food, beverages, or cleaning products can create slick surfaces where people will be likely to lose traction and fall. Rain or snow tracked inside buildings can make entryways and lobbies dangerous. Freshly mopped floors without warning signs can catch people by surprise. Leaking pipes or roof leaks can create puddles that cause someone to slip. Property owners should clean spills promptly, place warning signs when floors are wet, and use appropriate cleaning methods and materials that do not cause surfaces to be excessively slippery.
• Ice and Snow Accumulation: During Connecticut winters, parking lots, sidewalks, building entrances, and stairs can become treacherous when property owners fail to remove ice and snow or apply salt and sand. While property owners may not be responsible for conditions during active storms, they have a duty to address accumulations within a reasonable time period after snow stops falling.
• Debris and Obstacles in Walkways: Electrical cords running across floors, boxes placed in hallways, merchandise left in store aisles, and construction materials blocking pathways can create tripping hazards. Wrinkled floor mats and rugs, loose carpeting edges, and transitions between different flooring materials can cause people to catch their feet and fall.
• Uneven Surfaces and Flooring Defects: Cracked or broken sidewalks, potholes in parking lots, uneven floorboards, loose tiles, and sudden changes in elevation without warning can create fall risks. These hazards can be dangerous when people do not expect surfaces to be irregular and do not notice problems until they have already fallen.
• Poor Lighting: When visibility is low, people may be unable to see hazards such as steps, elevation changes, spills, and obstacles. Burned-out light bulbs in stairwells, inadequate exterior lighting in parking areas, and dimly lit hallways can make it difficult to navigate these areas safely. Property owners should maintain proper lighting levels in areas where people are expected to walk.
• Damaged or Dangerous Stairs: When treads are broken, uneven, or slippery, people may fall down stairs. Worn stair edges and inconsistent heights of steps can create conditions in which falls will be more likely. Outdoor stairs can become slippery due to weather conditions. Interior stairs may become hazardous when carpeting is worn or loose.
• Missing or Broken Handrails: Railings are important safety features that can help prevent falls on stairs, ramps, balconies, or upper levels. Handrails should be secure, at appropriate heights, and continuous throughout the entire area where support is needed. When handrails are absent, loose, or broken, people may be unable to catch themselves if they begin to fall.
• Defective or Irregular Walking Surfaces: Sidewalks that bulge due to the growth of tree roots, cracked concrete, broken pavement, and gratings with openings large enough to catch people's heels can create unexpected changes in walking surfaces. Ramps that are too steep or do not have proper slip-resistant surfaces can also be dangerous.

Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can occur in multiple types of settings. Retail stores and supermarkets are common sites for falls. Spills in grocery store aisles, produce departments with water on floors, wet floors near refrigerated cases, and crowded aisles with merchandise blocking pathways can create hazards. Big box stores with warehouse-style layouts may have inconsistent flooring and poor lighting in some areas.

Restaurants and bars are locations where slip and fall accidents can occur in dining areas due to spilled food and drinks, kitchens with grease on floors, and bathrooms that become wet and slippery. Outdoor dining areas may have uneven surfaces or poorly maintained decks.

Parking lots and parking garages may have hazards such as potholes, uneven pavement, poor lighting, ice and snow accumulation, and oil or fluid spills. Inadequate lighting in parking structures can create additional dangers when people cannot see where they are walking.

Shopping malls and commercial centers have high foot traffic. Food courts are areas where slip and fall accidents may occur due to spills. Wet floors in restrooms and exterior entrances where rain and snow may be tracked inside can also put customers at risk. Accidents can occur on escalators or elevators if equipment is not properly maintained.

In office buildings, falls may take place in lobbies with wet floors, stairwells with inadequate lighting or damaged stairs, and parking garages. Janitorial work during business hours can create hazards if wet floors are not properly marked.

In hotels, slip and fall accidents may take place in lobbies, pool areas, bathrooms, and parking facilities. Sidewalks and public walkways may present hazards when municipalities or property owners fail to maintain them properly. Cracked concrete, tree root damage, and uneven surfaces may cause pedestrians to trip and fall.

Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents

Falls can cause a wide range of injuries that may vary in severity depending on how people land, the surface they strike, and their age and health status. Broken bones are among the most common slip and fall injuries. Wrist fractures can occur when people try to brace themselves as they fall. Ankle fractures can result from twisting during falls. Hip fractures can be particularly serious, especially for elderly victims. Arm, leg, and shoulder fractures also occur frequently, and they may require casts, surgery, and physical therapy.

Head injuries in falls may range from minor concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries. When people fall and strike their heads on hard surfaces, the results can be catastrophic. Brain injuries may cause cognitive impairments, memory problems, personality changes, and physical disabilities. Even seemingly minor head injuries can have lasting effects.

Spinal cord injuries from falls can result in temporary or permanent paralysis. Landing on the back or neck can damage vertebrae and the delicate nerves they protect. These devastating injuries may require lifelong care and assistive devices.

Soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, and torn ligaments, can cause pain and limit a person's mobility. Ankle sprains, knee injuries, and shoulder injuries are common in falls. While these may seem less serious than fractures, severe soft tissue injuries can require surgery, and they may cause chronic problems.

How Slip and Fall Accidents Can Affect Victims

The impact of the injuries suffered in a slip and fall accident can touch many aspects of a victim's life. Medical expenses can accumulate quickly. Emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging, orthopedic care, surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment can generate large medical bills. Serious injuries may require hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care.

Lost wages can create financial hardship when injuries from a fall accident prevent a person from working. These issues may lead to lost income at the same time that medical expenses are accumulating. Some victims may not be able to return to their previous jobs if their injuries have caused permanent limitations.

Pain and suffering can affect a person's quality of life during their recovery. These issues may affect a person for a long period of time if injuries have caused chronic problems. Dealing with pain while trying to heal, manage daily activities, and maintain a normal life can lead to significant stress.

Contact Our Bridgeport Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Fall accidents can cause serious injuries, and in many cases, they could have been prevented if property owners had maintained safe conditions. When negligence has caused you to suffer harm, the lawyers at Tremont Sheldon P.C. can help you obtain compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. We will investigate your accident thoroughly, build a strong case on your behalf, and fight for the full compensation you deserve. Contact our Bridgeport, CT slip, trip, and fall accident attorneys at 203-335-5145 to arrange a free consultation.