A slip-and-fall accident happens when someone loses their footing and falls down due to a dangerous condition on someone else's property, such as wet floors, icy sidewalks, torn carpeting, or debris left in walkways. These incidents can occur anywhere - in grocery stores, restaurants, office buildings, sidewalks, or even private homes - and can result in serious injuries like broken bones, head trauma, or back injuries. What might seem like a simple stumble can actually cause life-changing damage, especially for elderly people whose bones are more fragile.
In personal injury cases, the key question is whether the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn people about it. For example, if a store employee spills something and doesn't clean it up or put out a warning sign, and someone slips and gets hurt, the store may be liable for the injuries. However, winning a slip-and-fall case isn't automatic - the injured person must prove that the property owner was negligent and that the dangerous condition actually caused their fall, which is why gathering evidence like photos and witness statements right after the accident is so important.
