(300+)The short answer: Three of the most common causes of falls are wet or slippery floors, uneven or damaged walkways, and poor lighting. Add cluttered walkways, and you’ve covered most slip-and-fall accidents in Philadelphia. A property owner can be responsible when they knew, or should have known, about the hazard and didn’t fix it or warn you. In Pennsylvania, you usually have two years to file a claim.
A fall in a store, an apartment lobby, or a parking lot can leave you with a broken wrist, a hurt back, or something worse. In the aftermath, many injured people blame themselves and wonder whether they should have watched their step more carefully. The truth is that most of these falls are caused by hazards the property owner should have addressed. If that describes what happened to you, you have options worth exploring.
At Gibbons Legal, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, slip and falls are our bread and butter. Our Philadelphia slip and fall attorneys handle these cases across southeastern Pennsylvania and southeastern New Jersey, and your first consultation is free.
In this article, we discuss:
– The most common causes of slip-and-fall accidents
– When a property owner is responsible for your fall
– What to do after a slip and fall in Philadelphia
– How Gibbons Legal can help
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Slip-and-fall Accidents?
A few preventable hazards cause most slip-and-fall accidents. Here are the most common types.
Wet or slippery floors
Wet floors cause more falls than almost anything else. A spilled drink, a freshly mopped floor with no warning sign, tracked-in rain, or a leaking cooler can turn a walkway into a hazard in seconds. When staff don’t clean up a spill or post a warning, that carelessness can make the owner responsible.
Uneven or damaged walkways
Cracked sidewalks, broken steps, loose floorboards, torn carpeting, and sudden changes in floor height send individuals to the ground every day. Philadelphia’s older buildings and sidewalks make this a common problem. You cannot watch every inch of ground, and you shouldn’t have to. Owners are expected to repair or clearly mark these hazards.
Poor lighting
Dim or broken lighting hides the hazards you need to see. A dark stairwell, a burned-out bulb in a parking garage, or a poorly lit hallway can turn a small step or spill into a serious fall. When an owner ignores the lighting they’re supposed to maintain, they put everyone at risk.
Cluttered or obstructed walkways
Boxes in a store aisle, cords across a floor, debris on a stairway, or merchandise left in a walkway create tripping hazards that owners can easily prevent. Keeping paths clear is basic maintenance. When a business skips it, and you trip and fall, that’s on them.
Got hurt in a fall that wasn’t your fault? Get Gibbons! Call 215-274-0173 for a free consultation.
When Is A Property Owner Responsible For Your Fall?
A property owner is responsible when they knew about a dangerous condition, or should have known about it, and failed to fix it or warn you in time. This is the heart of almost every slip-and-fall case, and it comes down to carelessness (the legal term is negligence).
Owners have a duty to keep their space reasonably safe for everyone they invite in. If a hazard sat there long enough that a careful owner should have caught it, they can be held responsible when someone gets hurt. The details decide the case, so we gather footage, incident reports, maintenance records, and witness statements.
What if you were partly at fault? Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102. You can still recover compensation as long as you weren’t at greater fault than the owner, though your share of the blame reduces what you receive. Don’t assume you have no case just because an insurance company blames you.
What Should You Do After A Slip And Fall In Philadelphia?
Receive medical attention first, then protect your claim. See a doctor right away, even if you feel fine, because some injuries take days to appear and a medical record ties them to your fall.
If you can, take a few simple steps at the scene.
Photograph the hazard, the area, and your injuries.
Report the fall to the store, landlord, or property manager.
Obtain contact information for any witnesses.
Keep the shoes and clothing you wore.
Save every medical bill and record.
Time also matters. In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. Wait too long and you can lose the right to recover anything, and evidence, such as surveillance video, often disappears within weeks.
How Gibbons Legal Can Help
While you focus on recovering, our attorneys at Gibbons Legal, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers take over everything the claim requires. That means digging into how your fall happened, going toe-to-toe with the insurance companies, and fighting for compensation that reflects your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Slip and falls are what we do best. We represent injured individuals across southeastern Pennsylvania and southeastern New Jersey from our office at One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street in Philadelphia. You won’t pay anything upfront, and your consultation is free.
Got hurt? Get Gibbons! Call 215-274-0173 today for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip-and-fall Accidents
What are three common causes of falls?
Three of the most common causes of falls are wet or slippery floors, uneven or damaged walkways, and poor lighting. Cluttered walkways are a close fourth, and each one is preventable.
How long do I have to file a slip-and-fall claim in Pennsylvania?
You generally have two years from the date of your fall to file under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. Call an attorney quickly because key evidence can disappear fast.
What if I were partly at fault for my fall?
You may still recover compensation. Pennsylvania lets you recover as long as you weren’t more than 50% at fault, though your payment drops by your share of the blame.
How much does it cost to hire Gibbons Legal?
Your consultation is free, and you don’t pay anything upfront. We only receive payment if we recover compensation for you, so there’s no risk in finding out whether you have a claim.
