Slips and Falls occur when a person slips, usually on a foreign substance or trips as a result of a dangerous or broken condition. A common slip and fall accident can occur when someone slips on an icy sidewalk, either in front of a business or a home. Another common slip and fall accident occurs when a customer slips in a grocery store, either on a slippery substance or food item, or on a piece of material carelessly left behind on the floor by a  worker from the grocery store.

The premises owner may or may not be liable for the plaintiff’s injuries in these common cases. Although owners of the property and workers of the store have a duty to exercise reasonable care to maintain the premises to protect lawful visitors, if a condition of the premises is noticed by a customer or other visitor or should be readily apparent, the property owner may avoid liability by establishing that the debris had so recently fallen on the floor, or that the ice had so recently accumulated that the responsible persons had no reasonable opportunity to correct the condition and avoid the hazard before the plaintiff fell in the first place. The plaintiff in a slip and fall case, whether it occurs in a store or elsewhere, must show that the owner had a reasonable period of time in which he could have discovered the dangerous condition and in which to remedy it. The determination of what constitutes a reasonable time will vary from case to case. Common accidents such as slips, trips and falls can present complex legal issues and complicated questions of both fact and law. Accordingly, if you have been injured in a premises-related accident, an experienced and knowledge personal injury lawyer such as The Law Offices of Michael G. LoRusso, with premises liability experience is in the best position to advise you on your rights and secure a favorable outcome on your part. If you have any questions regarding a slip, trip or fall accident, contact The Law Offices of Michael G. LoRusso for the best personal injury advice.