Slip and fall accidents are unpredictable, but there are several well-known danger zones that are trip hazards and can result in lacerations, broken bones, head trauma, and other injuries. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident attributed to a property owner’s negligence, you can receive compensation for your accident-related damages by filing a personal injury claim. 
Common Locations of Slip and Fall Accidents
Locations where slip and fall accidents often occur include:
Gyms
Broken equipment or slippery floors can cause people to be injured while exercising, especially if the person did not receive instruction about how to properly use the equipment. Signing a liability waiver may limit your ability to recover damages, but you can still file a claim if the waiver is poorly worded or if there is evidence of gross negligence.
Hospitals
Slippery floors and clutter can be hazards, especially when people are distracted due to worry about the illness of a loved one. Patients may also fall due to dizziness, head injury, or general confusion if staff members don’t take appropriate precautions.
Shopping malls or individual retail stores
Crowds, narrow walkways, and displays of merchandise that impede visibility can lead to injuries. For example, the chaotic environment of Black Friday sales is well known to cause slip and fall accidents.
Restaurants
Food spills, tight spaces, and servers carrying trays stacked high with food create danger zones for restaurant patrons.
Supermarkets
Product spills, wet spots from shoes or umbrellas, or merchandise that has fallen from shelves can cause accidents. Shoppers may also be injured in collisions with other people in the establishment, especially if they are rushing to get their items and not paying attention to their surroundings.
Hotels
Hotels have a number of potentially dangerous areas on their property, including common areas such as the gym, indoor pool, parking lot, or on-site restaurant, as well as hazards within the rooms themselves.
Playgrounds
Children can get hurt when playgrounds are poorly designed, debris is not properly removed from the area, or the equipment is not maintained safely.
In any of these locations, additional danger zones include:
- Elevators
- Escalators
- Bad carpet or broken tiles
- Stairs with damaged hand rails
- Poorly lighted areas
- Cracked or broken sidewalks
- Parking lots
Receiving Compensation
A property owner is not automatically liable for your damages if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident. To receive compensation, you must be able to prove that the owner knew about or should have known about the hazard that caused your injuries. You may need to provide evidence in the form of witness testimony, photos of the accident, surveillance video, or copies of past building code violations to support your claim of negligence.
A personal injury claim is a type of civil suit seeking monetary compensation for the damages you’ve suffered as the result of the accident. Compensation can include:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, diagnostic tests, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits
- Anticipated future medical expenses, if your injuries are severe enough to result in a disability needing ongoing care
- Lost wages from the time you were unable to work due to recovery from your injuries
- Anticipated loss of future earning potential, if applicable
- Pain and suffering
You may be determined to be partially responsible for your injuries under Louisiana’s comparative negligence law if you were engaged in horseplay, were intoxicated, ignored posted warning signs, entered a restricted area, or failed to take reasonable safety precautions when faced with an apparently dangerous situation. You can still receive compensation for your injuries if you are determined to be partially at fault. However, your compensation will be proportionally reduced by your assigned percentage of fault to reflect your own liability for the expenses you’ve incurred.
In cases involving minors who have been injured, note that children are only expected to behave in a manner that is appropriate for their age and development. For this reason, a young child is unlikely to be found partially at fault even if his horseplay and inattentiveness contributed to the accident.
Have You Been Injured In A Louisiana Slip And Fall?
If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall you need to speak with an experienced slip and fall attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Alexandria office directly at 318.541.8188 to schedule your free consultation.