Slips, trips, and falls can happen anywhere—at the grocery store, office, a restaurant, or even someone’s home. According to the NFSI (National Floor Safety Institute), falls are responsible for over 8 million hospital emergency room admissions annually, representing the leading cause of visits (21.3%). Slips and falls alone account for over 12% of all falls.

When these accidents occur because of someone else’s negligence—especially a business owner, property manager, or landlord—you may have grounds to pursue a premises liability claim. An experienced Huntsville slip and fall injury lawyer can ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

The Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Several factors contribute to indoor and outdoor slip and fall accidents. Understanding these causes can help you identify potential hazards and take preventive measures.

  • Wet or Slippery Floors: Spills, puddles, freshly mopped floors, plumbing or roof leaks, and wet weather conditions can make walking surfaces slick.
  • Uneven Surfaces: Cracked or potholed sidewalks, loose mats or rugs, torn carpeting, and improperly secured or uneven flooring can all create tripping hazards.
  • Poor Lighting: Dim lighting, burned-out bulbs, and lack of adequate illumination in parking lots, stairwells, corridors, and walkways may hide trip hazards.
  • Cluttered Pathways: Boxes, loose cords, misplaced clutter, and debris obstructing walkways can cause an accident if not cleaned up.
  • Outdoor Conditions: Rain, ice, snow, wet leaves, and mud are common causes of outdoor slip and fall injuries if proper precautions are not taken, such as shoveling and raking.
  • Inappropriate Footwear: Wearing shoes without adequate traction and grip can increase the risk of slips and falls, especially on smooth surfaces like tile floors. Employers should provide proper non-slip footwear for certain work conditions.

Dangers in Specific Work Environments

Certain occupations and work settings present a heightened risk of slips, trips, and falls due to inherent hazards. Examples include:

  • Construction Sites: Construction sites are rife with potential hazards, including uneven ground, loose materials, and potentially dangerous equipment. Workers must wear proper protective gear, and site managers should ensure that the area is well-maintained and hazards are marked.
  • Warehouses and Industrial Facilities: Warehouses and industrial facilities present a high risk for slips, trips, and falls because of their busy, high-traffic operations. Oil, chemicals, or grease spills are common issues, and when combined with the movement of heavy machinery, they create hazardous conditions.
  • Offices: Office environments may seem safe, but can also present slip and fall risks. Spills, electrical cords, and loose carpeting can all cause accidents. Regular safety inspections and prompt attention to spills and clutter can help maintain a safe office environment.

Premises Liability in Alabama

In Alabama, property owners and occupiers have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions and fix or warn visitors to the property of potential hazards, with the level of duty determined by the visitor’s legal status.

If you are an invitee, such as a customer or client, the owner owes the highest duty of care to keep the premises safe and provide warnings of dangers. For licensees (social guests), owners must warn of known hazards. Even trespassers are owed a duty to avoid willful or wanton injury.

Who is Liable for a Slip and Fall?

To recover compensation after a slip and fall accident in Alabama, you must prove that a property owner or occupier’s negligence caused your injuries. Common examples of negligence include:

  • Failing to clean up spills, leaks, or wet floors promptly
  • Not using visibly placed warning signs or barricades to warn of hazards
  • Allowing walkways and stairs to deteriorate with cracks, broken steps, or uneven surfaces
  • Inadequate lighting that hides tripping dangers
  • Cluttered aisles or paths obstructed by items
  • Not following safety codes for snow/ice removal

Potentially negligent parties include businesses, landlords, homeowners’ associations, and government entities. An experienced premises liability lawyer gathers evidence proving a hazardous condition existed, the owner knew or should have known about it, and still failed to address it–leading to your preventable slip and fall injury.

A Qualified Premises Liability Attorney Can Help Protect Your Rights

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a slip and fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence, don’t try to navigate the claims process alone. The skilled Huntsville premises liability attorneys at Tyler Mann Injury Law have extensive experience holding negligent property owners accountable while protecting clients’ rights to compensation.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options and learn how our firm can pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.