Expert Advocacy

What Surfaces Lead to the Most Slip-and-Fall Accidents?

Slip-and-fall accidents often happen unexpectedly and with no time for a victim to brace him- or herself for the impact that follows. However, such accidents can be predicted when the surrounding surfaces and conditions of where an accident may occur are taken into consideration.

Various surfaces lend themselves to a higher frequency of slips, and when they are combined with other factors, such as spilled liquids and freezing temperatures, the circumstances are ripe for an accident.

Slips occur when the surface a person is walking on suddenly and unexpectedly loses friction, causing him or her to lose footing and slide.

This unexpected sliding usually results in the victim losing balance and falling forward or backward without the ability to prepare for impact.

Some of the most slip-and-fall-prone surfaces include:

• Marble, terrazzo, and granite – Very slippery when wet.
• Quarry tiles – Slippery when dirty and wet.
• Ceramic tiles – Easily slippery when not treated for slip resistance.
• Vinyl composition tile – Very little slip resistance, especially when waxed and polished or wet.

It is important to understand which types of flooring to use both indoors and outdoors, as surrounding factors like splashing water and rain can easily create dangerous conditions when combined with certain types of flooring. Pedestrians would be well advised to stay mindful of their surroundings and stay aware of what they are walking on. A floor does not need to be icy or even very wet to become dangerous.

Slip-and-fall accidents can easily result in severe injuries such as brain trauma, broken bones, fractures, sprains, and even death if the fall and impact is great enough. The San Diego slip-and-fall lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve for the injuries suffered in such an accident caused by the negligence of property owners or maintenance crews. For more information on how we can help, contact our offices today.