By the Law Firm of Brandt & Sherman

Slip and fall accidents happen in stores, restaurants, apartments, workplaces, and public spaces across Louisiana. These incidents can cause serious injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and long-term neck and back problems. Many of these falls are preventable when property owners and businesses keep their premises reasonably safe.

Understanding the most common hazards can help you spot unsafe conditions and know when a property owner may be responsible. For more on these cases, you can also review the firm’s Lafayette slip and fall lawyer page.

1. Wet or Slippery Floors

Wet or slick floors are one of the leading causes of slip and fall accidents. Common sources include:

• Spilled food or drinks
• Recently mopped or waxed floors
• Leaking coolers, refrigerators, or plumbing
• Rainwater tracked in from outside
• Smooth tile or polished surfaces without proper mats

Businesses and property owners should clean spills promptly or warn visitors with clear signage. When they fail to take these basic steps, they can be held responsible for resulting injuries. These kinds of unsafe conditions often fall under premises liability law.

2. Poor Lighting

Inadequate lighting makes it hard for visitors to see hazards in their path. Poor lighting is especially dangerous in:

• Stairwells
• Hallways
• Parking lots and garages
• Building entrances
• Outdoor walkways

When lights are burned out, missing, or poorly placed, guests may not notice spills, uneven surfaces, or obstacles until it is too late. Property owners have a duty to provide reasonably safe lighting in areas where people are expected to walk.

3. Uneven or Damaged Walking Surfaces

Defective or poorly maintained walking surfaces are another major cause of falls. Examples include:

• Cracked or broken sidewalks
• Loose tiles or floorboards
• Torn or rippled carpeting
• Broken or uneven stairs
• Sudden, unmarked changes in elevation

When property owners ignore these hazards or delay repairs, visitors are put at risk. If you suffered a serious neck or back injury in a fall, the firm’s neck and back injury page explains more about these long-term conditions.

4. Cluttered Walkways

Walkways and aisles should be clear and easy to navigate. Many slip and fall or trip and fall incidents happen because of:

• Boxes or merchandise left in aisles
• Electrical cords stretched across walking paths
• Tools or equipment left out in work areas
• Trash or loose debris on the floor

Businesses must keep walkways reasonably free of obstacles. When clutter is allowed to build up, it creates needless dangers for customers, tenants, and visitors.

5. Weather-Related Hazards

Weather can contribute to hazardous walking conditions, especially around entrances and outdoor areas. Common weather-related hazards include:

• Rainwater pooled on sidewalks or entryways
• Wet or saturated floor mats
• Mud or debris tracked inside
• Slippery outdoor steps or ramps

While property owners cannot control the weather, they are expected to take reasonable steps to reduce risks, such as placing mats, cleaning up tracked-in water, using non-slip surfaces, and checking outdoor walkways.

If your fall happened while you were on the job, you may also want to review the firm’s workers’ compensation page to understand your rights after a workplace injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be held responsible for a slip and fall accident?

Depending on where the fall occurred, a property owner, landlord, business operator, or employer may be responsible if they failed to maintain a reasonably safe environment or warn visitors about known hazards.

What should I do after a slip and fall?

Report the incident right away, take photos of the hazard and your injuries, gather contact information for any witnesses, and seek medical attention. Avoid giving detailed statements to an insurance company until you have spoken with a lawyer.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Louisiana uses a comparative fault system, which means your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover damages in many cases.

What kinds of injuries are common in slip and fall cases?

Common injuries include sprains, fractures, head injuries, and neck and back injuries. Some of these can lead to chronic pain or permanent limitations, especially for older adults.

Injured in a Slip and Fall? Brandt & Sherman Can Help.

Slip and fall accidents can change your life in an instant. Contact Brandt & Sherman for a free consultation. The firm fights for real people who need real help and can explain your options after a fall on someone else’s property.