Slippery floors can cause problems for unsuspecting house guests, shoppers, customers, clients, or employees. Every year, people end up in hospitals because of injuries from wet floor accidents in Jackson. While some of these injuries are minor, others can lead to permanent pain, suffering, and other limitations.
When you or a loved one are recovering after falling on a slippery floor, you should consider consulting with an experienced legal representative. A knowledgeable premises liability attorney from Reaves Law Firm, PLLC could help you understand your legal rights and pursue financial recovery in a personal injury claim.
Many different types of injuries can occur from slipping on a wet floor.
Broken bones are common after falls. When falling, many people instinctively stick out their arms to stop their falls, resulting in fractured wrists, hands, or elbows. Other people put extra stress on their ankles and legs when they try to regain their balance, resulting in broken or twisted ankles and knee injuries, such as torn ligaments.
People who fall backward on wet floors risk serious back injuries. They can injure their spinal cords, which could cause permanent disabilities. Even when someone avoids falling directly on their back, they can still damage their back and spine. Twisting their torso or neck could result in a herniated disc, whiplash, or other painful injuries.
When a person hits their head after slipping on a wet floor, they can develop serious health consequences. If they fall forward onto their face, they may suffer a broken nose or facial lacerations. If they fall backward, they might sustain a concussion or other serious brain injuries, which could lead to physical and cognitive symptoms.
After any kind of a fall, an individual can suffer injuries. Even if those injuries are not immediately apparent or visible to the naked eye, they should still seek a medical evaluation to understand the potential scope of their damages.
Additionally, a person who is injured from slipping on a wet floor should meet with a knowledgeable Jackson attorney to learn if they might have a viable legal claim.
When visitors to a property in Jackson slip on a wet floor, they might have grounds to sue the property owner, manager, or caretaker where the accident happened. Those in charge of buildings and land are legally responsible for making their premises reasonably safe for legal visitors. When the property has a wet floor due to a plumbing issue, spilled drink, or after being freshly mopped, the property’s caretaker must act to protect visitors from harm. They can resolve the issue by promptly cleaning up the liquid, or if there is no easy way to dry the floors quickly, they could put up warning signs letting people know that there is a potentially hazardous condition.
A skilled Jackson attorney could learn more about the circumstances surrounding a specific wet floor accident to see if a reasonable property owner would have acted differently. They could find out how long the floor was wet and if the owner knew about it. For example, if a fall happened in a grocery store where a customer slipped on a floor immediately after another customer spilled a gallon of water, that store manager would likely not be responsible. However, if the fall happened two hours after the customer spilled the water, the store would likely be liable because a reasonable and responsible store manager would have cleared the floor within that two-hour time period.
A simple fall on a slippery walking surface can change your life. Wet floor accidents in Jackson can cause you to suffer pain and incur costly medical expenses. If your fall happened while at someone else’s business or home, you might have legal grounds to sue.
Speak with a well-practiced attorney at Reaves Law Firm, PLLC to evaluate your legal options and learn about your rights.
