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Rainy Season and Slip and Fall Accidents

Posted by Kevin Sciantarelli | Jun 23, 2016 | 0 Comments

Rainy Season and Slip and Fall Accidents

 Slip and fall accidents are responsible for more than eight million hospital emergency room visits, and a significant number of those occur during the rainy season when surfaces are wet and slick. This type of accident with injury represents the primary cause of missed work days, is the leading cause of workers' comp claims, and is even one of the primary causes of on-the-job injury for those 55 and older. When the rainy season begins, slip and falls in public areas like grocery stores, restaurants or shopping malls increases, as do slip and falls in the workplace.

In fact, slip and falls are the number one cause of accidents in hotels, restaurants and public buildings, with 70 percent of those accidents occurring on a flat, level surface—which may be slippery from rain, snow, ice, or a spilled substance. In places where entrance areas tend to get wet and slippery during the rainy season, it is up to the owner or manager of the store or workplace to ensure the area is regularly cleaned, and even to possibly add a non-slip coating or treatment to the floor.

Injuries from a Rainy Season Slip and Fall Accident

A slip and fall accident on a floor which is wet from rain can lead to serious injuries. Most typically, such an accident results in fractures, torn ligaments in the knee, broken hips, back and neck injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries when the head strikes the hard surface of the floor. For the elderly, in particular, a slip and fall injury can be very serious, even leading to a lack of mobility which can last for a significant period of time—or for the rest of the person's life. A broken hip or a serious head injury can effectively put an end to the independence of an elderly person, therefore can be a major occurrence.

What is Required for a Personal Injury Claim

In order to have a successful personal injury claim regarding your slip and fall on a surface wet from the rain, you must be able to show the following:

  • The owner of the public building was aware the floor was wet from the rain, yet failed to clean up the floor in order to avoid accidents;
  • The wet floor was wet and slippery for a significant period of time—long enough that it would have been—or should have been—discovered prior to the accident, and
  • The area becomes wet when it rains on a regular basis, therefore it was foreseeable that the area would become wet at the time your accident occurred.

Investigating Your Slip and Fall Accident

It is important, if you have suffered a rainy season slip and fall accident, that you have the accident investigated as soon as possible. Taking photographs of the place you fell is crucial, if you are at all able to do so. If you are hurt too severely to take photographs and obtain witness statements before the conditions change, you might have a friend or family member take care of those tasks for you. Having photographs which clearly show there was a hazard which should have reasonably been cleaned up prior to your accident can greatly assist your attorney in building a solid case on your behalf.

A slip and fall accident requires an experienced legal professional who can carefully and thoroughly investigate the accident in order to either negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf, or litigate your case in front of a jury. Having a knowledgeable slip and fall attorney on your side, protecting your rights and your future can be extremely beneficial for your eventual settlement.

Contact Our Louisville, Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky and Jeffersonville, Indiana Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

At Sciantarelli Law Firm, our Louisville slip and fall accident attorneys are ready to fight for you and your rights. If you have been injured in a slip and fall or premises liability accident, we can help you obtain the money you will need to fully recover. To learn more about your legal rights, contact experienced Louisville slip and fall accident attorney, Kevin Sciantarelli, today for a free consultation. Call 1-855-538-4611 or fill out our online contact form for more information.

About the Author

Kevin Sciantarelli

Kevin Sciantarelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who loves working with injured clients to get the money they deserve from the insurance companies. With 17 years of experience and five years of experience running his own firm handling all types of personal injury claims, Mr. Sciantarel...

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