Living in the Northeast can be particularly challenging during the winter months if you are someone who does a lot of walking. Easton and the surrounding Lehigh Valley can be inviting to those who enjoy dining out and experiencing the arts, but sometimes special care has to be exercised because not all walkways are the same. From College Hill to Center Square and the State Theatre, walking is easy around the city. However, not all homeowners and businesses are as conscientious as the law demands when it comes to warning and protecting pedestrians from hazardous walkways. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, an Easton slip and fall lawyer is ready to help you.
For more than 30 years, the personal injury law firm of Drake, Hileman & Davis, has been helping those who have been injured due to slip and fall or trip and fall accidents in and around Pennsylvania. Call us at 610-258-9493 or complete the online questionnaire to the right of this page. We will be happy to meet with you to discuss your case in our Easton office or in the convenience of your own home. There is never any fee, unless we are able to obtain a recovery for you.
Dangerous Conditions In and Around Stores
Icy walkways and uneven walking surfaces can be particularly dangerous. At times it can be difficult to tell if a walkway is just wet or if it is covered with ice. We have also seen situations where downspouts are positioned directly into the pedestrian travel ways instead of underneath or away from these walkways. This poor run-off design is simply asking for trouble during times of melting and refreezing.
While slips and falls that occur outside are among the most common, we have also handled many cases of clients who have been injured inside businesses and places of public accommodation. Such falls can occur due to dangerous displays and hidden tripping hazards. However, the most common causes of inside slip and falls are wet floors, where the business owner simply failed to put out signs or adequately clean up a spill. Sometimes ceilings leak or a refrigerated display case is broken and the building owner just continues to put off the repairs. Water on a light-colored floor is particularly hard to see. Whether falling forward or backward, landing on a hard surface can have devastating effects.
Store Owner Liability
In addition to the situations described above, the Easton slip and fall attorneys at Drake, Hileman & Davis, have also handled unique cases involving everything from defectively designed indoor play places to water parks and amusement rides. While play areas and amusement rides can provide great fun for children, they may also contain hidden dangers if the ride or play area is not properly designed or maintained.
Children are owed a special duty of care because depending on their age, it cannot be argued that they “should have known better”. In designing and maintaining areas where children play, the business owner is responsible to take steps to discover all of the risks of injury and taking action to eliminate the danger.
Where Slip & Falls Occur in Easton
Stores are not the only places where slip and fall accidents occur. Some other places familiar to our Easton slip and fall attorneys are:
Apartment Buildings
Apartment buildings are a frequent source of slip and fall accidents. Causes include poor flooring, such as uneven flooring or flooring that is very worn. Other causes are uneven stairs and poor lighting. No matter the cause, it may take some investigation by our Easton slip and fall attorneys to determine who is liable for the slip and fall accident. Possible responsible parties are the owner of the building, the management company over the building, the landlord, or the maintenance crew.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes house some of our most senior citizens, and as such, special care should be taken to ensure their safety. Causes of slips and falls around nursing homes can include poor lighting, debris in walkways, and improper bed heights. When a slip and fall accident occurs in a nursing home, the responsible party is typically the facility itself, although each case should be reviewed by our Easton slip and fall attorneys to ensure the proper party is held liable.
Parking Lots
Parking lots are a hotbed for slip and fall accidents. Common causes include potholes, cracks, speed bumps, loose debris, and inadequate lighting. When a person is injured in a slip and fall accident in a parking lot, it may take some investigatory work by our Easton slip and fall attorneys to determine the party that is liable. Possible parties include:
- The owner of the parking lot
- The party that rents the property and is as a part of that lease is required to maintain the parking lot
- The government, if the parking lot is owned by a governmental entity (although they may have some immunity)
- Whoever designed the parking lot, if the faulty design led to the slip and fall accident
Restaurants
People are in and out of restaurants at all hours of the day, with food and drink being carried back and forth from the kitchen to tables. With so much movement, it is not a surprise that spilled food and drinks are a leading cause of slip and fall accidents at restaurants. Inadequate lighting and obstacles in pathways where customers walk are other leading causes. When a person is injured in a slip and fall accident in a restaurant, the responsible party is typically the owner of the business, although there may be other parties liable.
Shopping Malls
Shopping malls are busy establishments with people of all ages coming to one location to shop, eat, watch movies and socialize. Common causes of accidents in shopping malls include cracked or torn flooring, spilled substances on the floor, debris in aisles, and unsecured electrical cords. When a person is injured in a slip and fall in a shopping mall, it often takes the skills of our Easton slip and fall attorneys to determine who should be held liable. This is because different parts of the mall are leased by different businesses, and one company may be in charge of all the leasing agreements as well as common areas. Also, there are likely contracts with cleaning crews and other professionals who are responsible for keeping all areas of the mall clean and in good working order. Any or all of these parties may be liable.
Movie Theaters
Movie theaters can be a great escape from the monotony of everyday life, but they are also a place where slip and fall accidents are prone to happen. One of the most common reasons is the combination of dim lighting and spilled refreshments. When a slip and fall injury occurs in a movie theater, the owner of the theater is generally the liable party for any injuries sustained in the slip and fall accident.
Facts & Figures About Slip & Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are more prevalent and more costly than they may seem. Following are some facts and statistics from the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) about slip and fall accidents that you probably do not know:
- Slips and falls constitute the primary reason most workdays are missed
- Half of all accidental deaths in the home are caused by a fall
- Slip and falls are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims
- Fatalities from falls are almost equally divided between men and women
- Falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits
- Every year in the United States, one out of three people aged over 65 will experience a fall
Finding the Best Easton Slip and Fall Lawyer
We know that finding the right lawyer to handle your case is important. You not only want someone who knows and understands the law, but also someone who is easy to work with and has a proven track record. The team of slip and fall attorneys at Drake, Hileman & Davis has the knowledge and skill to successfully navigate through the issues of liability and damages that all slip and fall cases present.
We know that the results matter. To see a sample of our verdicts, settlements, and awards, including those for a trip, slip, and fall accidents, click here.
If you have questions, we have answers. We are available 24 hours per day. Just call us at 610-433-3910, and ask to speak with an Easton slip and fall lawyer for a free case evaluation. You can also use the online form to the right of this page. Once we have properly evaluated your case, we will set up an appointment to meet in our Easton office or at the convenience of your home. There is never any fee unless we obtain a recovery for you.